Xujiahui Sports Park draws crowds after partial opening

After nearly five years of renovation, Xujiahui Sports Park, the largest sports complex in Shanghai, was partially opened to the public in February.

Among the facilities currently accessible by the public is Wantihui, a new two-story structure located in the southwest corner of the 36-hectare park. Wantihui consists of soccer fields, outdoor basketball and tennis courts as well as indoor spaces for badminton and ping-pong.

The rest of the venues within the park are in their final stages of renovation and are expected to open by the end of 2022.

Considered the city's sporting landmark, the park houses the Shanghai Gymnasium, the Shanghai Swimming Pool, the Shanghai Stadium, all of which have hosted important events including the 48th World Table Tennis Championship and the 5th National Games of China.

According to local media reports, nearly all courts in Wantihui were booked during the recent Spring Festival holiday. The badminton courts are still facing high demand, with slots for the coming days fully booked. The booking fees for the court are 50 yuan ($7.5) per hour in the morning and 100 yuan per hour in the afternoon.

The park is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm. Reservations can be made through the WeChat accounts for Shanghai Sports or Juss Stadium Xujiahui Sports Park.

Xu Shuwei contributed to this story.