By Ronni Rowland
Going green in Shanghai has never been easier. Whether you’re running a quick errand a few blocks away or trekking with the family across town, several environmentally friendly transportation options have made it easy to “go eco.” Taking Shanghai’s public transportation also shows you an interesting slice of life that you might not otherwise see. The city looks different on foot, by bike, on the bus and yes, even underground. The next time you’re on the move – and want to lighten your carbon footprint at the same time – here are four eco-friendly ways:
The whole world is talking about climate control and the future health of our planet; and China is thankfully stepping up, with green zones and pedestrian-friendly paths transforming Shanghai. One of the latest renovations can be found at Pudong’s Century Park, with its twin 5km tracks around the perimeter, enabling walkers and joggers to go at their own pace. The upgrade includes more streetlights for evening walks, as well as a massive tree-planting initiative. Jinqiao is also full of dedicated walking and cycling paths.
Pedestrian-friendly areas in Puxi include the Bund, Tianzifang, Hongmei Lu, famed Nanjing Dong Lu and the tree-lined neighborhoods in Gubei and Xuhui. Just remember that cars have the right of way – yes, even when you have a green light, are walking across a zebra crossing zone or even on the sidewalk. You can, however, also learn more about Shanghai’s vibrant streets, history, food culture and more by joining a guided walking tour.
Unsure of where to start? Try these options:
• UnTour Shanghai: Explore Shanghai’s culinary delights from dawn ‘til dusk (literally) on a street-eats breakfast tour, or night-eats and wine pairing tour. untourfoodtours.com
• Shanghai Flaneur: Gain in-depth insights about topics ranging from culture and religion to urban development, all while walking with an expert in the field. shanghaiflaneur.com
• NewmanTours: These unique excursions are kid-friendly and cover a range of themes. Book ahead for the popular Shanghai Ghost Tour and Gangster Tour. newmantours.com
• Shanghai Walking Tour: Explore an ancient water town, the back streets of Old Shanghai, or try the new shopping tour and put your bargaining skills to the test. shanghaiwalkingtour.com
Mobike’s bicycle sharing program (mobike.com) took the city by storm after its launch in 2016. Starting with only 1,000 orange bicycles, hundreds of thousands of colorful rental bikes from various companies now line the sidewalks all over the city; but Mobike and Ofo (ofo.so) are the most popular.
Bike sharing couldn’t be simpler, or more convenient. It’s as easy as downloading an app, registering, scanning a QR code on a bike, riding, and then parking it almost anywhere. Mobike is currently the only app with an English option. You will need to pay an initial (and refundable) deposit and top up your account to pay for each ride, which is only ¥1 per hour. So far, you can pay through WeChat Wallet or Alipay, with users frequently rewarded with free rides.
The Mobike app tracks your overall and trip-by-trip distance, ride time and calories burned. Eco-savvy riders will be happy to note that your kilograms of carbon emissions saved are also calculated. Challenge yourself, challenge a friend, and reduce your carbon!
Pro tips for bike sharing:
• For taller riders, check out Ofo’s yellow bikes, or look for the newer Mobike models with thick black baskets – these also have adjustable seats.
• You can only rent one bike at a time, so if you wish to ride with a friend or child (12 years and up) using only one mobile phone, download more than one app.
• Puxi has designated “parking bays” on sidewalks outlined in white.
• Safety first: Ring your bell. Look around constantly. Expect the unexpected. Avoid wet roads. Wear a helmet.
Riding a Shanghai bus might not be on your bucket list of things to do, but the new Route 71 (71 路) bus line could change your mind. With its own dedicated lane on the busy Yan’an Dong Lu (it’s a red lane, you can’t miss it) this trolley bus offers 25 stops; with stations between the Bund 延安东路外滩 站 (Yan’an Dong Lu / Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu) and Hongqiao Airport.
Enter through the front or back doors and pay ¥2 and use the middle doors to disembark. Children under 1.3m travel for free, and the bus staff are eager to help riders with strollers and little ones. Be prepared to give your seat to the elderly if you’re traveling sans kids, and for a less hectic trip avoid rush hour and weekends.
Recommended stops with popular destinations nearby:
• Changde Lu Station 常德路站: This stop is surrounded by shops, dining hot-spots, and hotels; including Jing An Kerry Centre, Park Place, Réel Mall, Puli Hotel & Spa, and Jing An Shangri-La.
• Huashan Lu Station 华山路站: It’s just a short walk to Jing’an Temple and popular shops like Old Navy. Use the overpass to cross this busy street.
• Dingxi Lu Station 定西路站: Popular with teens and perfect for parties, make a reservation at Mr X room escape (825 Dingxi Lu). Then try Lotus Eatery (1112 Dingxi Lu) for authentic Yunnan style food.
• Panyu Lu Station 番禺路站: Walk about 15 minutes down Panyu Lu to the Shanghai Film Art Center (160 Xinhua Lu) for a modern cinema experience with the latest Hollywood flicks, available in English.
• Loushanguan Lu Station 娄山关路站: New Town Central Park (2238 Yan’an Xi Lu) offers free entry and plenty of lawn space, shaded pathways and park benches. Buy water and ice cream in the little shop at the Yan’an Lu entrance. To escape the heat, walk over to Shanghai Mart to find a spacious Starbucks with a tranquil water wall; Subway sandwiches and Happy Lemon are on the second floor.
With new lines being added all the time, riding the Metro is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to travel all over the city. Ticket machines offer an English option, and station stops are posted and announced in both Mandarin and English. Make your travel even more convenient with a Public Transportation Card, which can be used on the Metro, busses or in taxis. Ask for a jiaotong ka at any Metro Station Service Center. The card requires an initial ¥20 deposit and can be topped up as needed; then you’re free to explore!
One of the newest stops takes you to Shanghai Disney Resort in Pudong (Line 11). Just a short walk from the station you’ll arrive at Disney Town, Wishing Star Park and the entrance to the Shanghai Disney Resort. For something a little more old-world, head west on line 9 to Qibao water town and experience a different pace of Shanghai life. If you really want to jump into the fray, visit People’s Square, Shanghai’s busiest subway station. Expansion is planned beyond 2025 and will include tracks to Chongming Island, Suzhou and Wuxi.
For more information, check out these essential Metro resources:
• Shanghai Metro: Visit this website for all you need to know about riding the Metro. Click on “Happy Metro Tour” for a list of popular sightseeing spots and directions for how to get there by subway. service.shmetro.com/en
• Explore Shanghai: This awesome app provides an interactive Metro map. Find the nearest subway station, and plan your route by selecting your initial and final destinations. The app shows where to transfer, travel times and cost. exploreshanghai.com/metro
So just why should we be concerned about all this? Carbon, produced by burning fossil fuels, is a major source of pollution worldwide; and according to Shanghai Daily, there are over 2.5 million registered cars on the road in Shanghai. So every green step you take really does make a difference.
To put it into perspective, if you pedal 150km on your bike, you’ll save 15kg of carbon. This equates to driving an average car for 35 minutes non-stop, lighting a 13-watt CF bulb for a whopping 48 days or powering an average house for 10 hours. To calculate your own carbon footprint, check out YouSustain (yousustain.com/footprint), then power your way to a greener Shanghai.
沪ICP备15036271号-2
