Aerial view of the Lujiazui Central Greenbelt, Pudong, Shanghai, showing its lake, grass and plants [Photo/Xinhua]

The Lujiazui Central Greenbelt in Shanghai's Pudong New District recently made it onto the list of the top 100 most beautiful places in Shanghai, local media reported on Jan 18.

The places were selected by local residents and will function as references for city planning. Authorities want to create a better environment to attract more talented personnel to live and work in the city.

The Lujiazui greenbelt got the honor due to its beautiful natural scenery. Although surrounded by skyscrapers such as the Shanghai World Finance Center and Jin Mao tower, the area has been referred to as a "green lung", and is a significant part of the city's ecological system. It features a 65,000-sq-m lawn dotted with plants such as camphor, willow, ginkgo, cedar, and red maple trees, and an 8,600-sq-m artificial lake.

It is also a place where locals can relax, enjoy the landscape and take in various cultural events such as the financial culture festival, afternoon music concerts, an outdoor music festival, poetry competitions and art exhibits.