Pocket park next door: A step away from a green zone

Shi Jiahua, 73, has been living in No 5 Tianshan Estate for most of his life. Although he lives close to the posh shops on Loushanguan Road, he rarely visits cafés or underground malls there. The only place he likes to walk around is the riverside park which is 40 minutes' walk away. As he grew older, Shi could no longer go that far, leaving him only to sitting on a wooden chair in the aisle between buildings and basking in the sun all morning.

How to increase the green zone despite the limited urban space? How to cleverly use the "leftover space" of neighborhoods to provide residents with a natural garden for strolling, viewing and relaxing?

In February this year, a 3,000-square-meter green space was completed nearby which is very convenient for residents of No 5 Tianshan Estate. "Now we are in the pocket park as we step out of the community compound."