Editor's Note



This year is the 21st anniversary of the opening of the Shanghai metro. The subway has facilitated more than 13 billion journeys during its 21 years, and half of Shanghai citizens cite the metro as their favored mode of transport. To commemorate the anniversary, each week the Global Times will take an in-depth look at one metro station and its surroundings. In the case of downtown stations, we will focus on points of interest within walking distance; while for suburban areas, we will cast our net a little wider.

Jinhai Road Station on metro Line 12 will have been opened for one year by the end of this month. Located at the east end of the metro Line in north Pudong New Area, Jinhai Road Station offers a handful of cultural and amusement attractions for people to discover in its surrounding areas.

To the station's east, a number of universities and colleges create an academic ambience in that area, while offering visitors an opportunity to view distinctive architecture. Sanda University, set up in 1994 as the first private university in Shanghai, is a campus of low-profile rusty red buildings, while Shanghai Second Polytech University and Shanghai Financial University have contemporary designs such as waving roofs and ingenious sculptures.

Taoist temple

South of the station lies an ancient temple, reached by passing through an under-construction residential compound. Laochenwangmiao, or "Ancient Temple of Governor Chen," was originally built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and has been an important Taoist temple in the city since then.

The temple is a delicate red-colored building, which features a two-story high façade and two yards, each surrounded by rooms on three sides. The ridges of the roof are decorated with small sculptures of dragons, cranes and humans.

The largest hall of the temple is dedicated to the worship of Governor Chen Ping, a minister during the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220) who helped Liu Bang, the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, defeat his enemies and found the kingdom.

The other rooms are for the worship of Taoist gods and goddesses that bless people in different aspects of life, such as health, fortune, career and relationships.

Visitors can see local Taoist disciples offering prayers in the traditional Chinese manner. This involves burning three incense sticks for their sage, then plugging the incense into the altar. Each year during the Spring Festival, the temple will gather good wishes from worshippers and write them on lanterns, which will hang at the temple for one month.

Pudong Jinhai Wetland Park offers a diversity of plant and animal life, and also relaxing scenery. Photos: Sun Shuangjie/GT

Urban resort

Walking down Jinhai Road to the east, turning right at the A20 Expressway and walking onward for another 800 meters will bring you to Pudong Jinhai Wetland Park. Covering an area of 43 hectares, the wetland park offers not only a good opportunity to see a diversity of plant and animal life, but also relaxing scenery. There are more than 10 bridges of different designs in the park, and several platforms from which to fish.

In the future, there will be venues showcasing wetland life. Entry to the park is free.

New mall

To the northeast of the metro station is the new shopping mall Powerlong City Plaza, which opened at the end of last year. It has restaurants, shops and entertainment venues.

The Fantesida 5D cinema on the fourth floor is one of the most popular attractions here. It shows short films aimed at showcasing 5D effects, which include moving seats and an odor control system.

Videos are divided into categories such as thrillers and exciting journeys. Each lasts about 10 minutes. The cinema has 10 seats in total.

When watching films, the audience is advised to fasten their seat belts, as their chair will move during the viewing. Tickets are 25 yuan ($4.03) per person to watch one film.