Shanghai to shut down animal island

In addition to the reconstruction of the animal island, renewal of infrastructure such as the main road, the upgrading of entertainment facilities, the addition of a basketball court and other sports venues, and the improvement of water quality of the park's lake, will also be key focuses of the renovation, said Wang Xuan, director of the park.

As a national AAA tourist scenic spot, the park was built to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and to allow future generations to remember history and love peace. It is located in Hongkou district, which served as a haven for Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis during World War II.

Wang said that an average 20,000 people visit the park each day, most of them local residents.

"Although the animal island will be no more, I believe the renovated park will be more attractive and provide a better experience for visitors," Wang said.

Chen Shufen, 70, who lives a kilometer from the park, said it's hard to see the park closed for reconstruction, but she believes the effort will be worthwhile.

"I have been visiting the park since I was 7 years old," she said. "Many people like me come to the park every day to relax and talk to each other. We all have a deep affection for the park."

Lu Weihong, director of the Landscape Engineering Design Institute at Tongji Architectural Design, said they plan to reconstruct the park as an organic part of the city, bearing New York's Central Park in mind.

"The park's reconstruction, which will be both challenging and innovative, is an epitome of the city's dedication to building itself into a park city," Lu said.

According to the municipal government's park management authority, there were 352 urban parks, seven country parks and four national forest parks in Shanghai as of August. By the end of this year, the total number of parks in Shanghai will exceed 400, which is closer to its vision of becoming "a city in the park", the municipal government said.