A lush view of the Greenhouse Garden at the southern section of the Shanghai Expo Culture Park. [Photo by Xia Miao/english.shanghai.gov.cn]

Shanghai's cultural landscape was enriched with the unveiling of the new southern section of the Shanghai Expo Culture Park on Sept 20.

This long-awaited development has swiftly emerged as a magnet for city residents seeking leisurely pursuits and immersive sensory experiences.

In commemoration of the fifth anniversary of Shanghai's vision of constructing a "people's city", the park stands as a tangible embodiment of this concept.

Initiated in 2017, its construction culminated in the grand opening of its northern section on Dec 31, 2021, showcasing attractions such as the Shanghai Garden, World Expo Garden and the Tranquil Forest.

Since its inauguration, the park has welcomed 6.9 million visitors, with a notable surge following the introduction of the newly accessible attractions in the southern section.

Among these, the artificial Twin Hills and the Greenhouse Garden have emerged as standout favorites—having drawn 325,106 and 130,533 tourists, respectively, as of Oct 29.

Standing tall at an elevation of 48 meters and spanning an expansive 300,000 square meters, the Twin Hills beckon visitors with their two meticulously crafted peaks adorned with a lush canopy of over 7,000 trees.

Nestling at the foothills is a children's playground, adding a touch of whimsy to the natural splendor.

Tourists take photos of the fish at the Greenhouse Garden on Oct 30. [Photo by Li Junfeng/english.shanghai.gov.cn]

Adjacent to the Central Lake and framed by the Twin Hills, the Greenhouse Garden sprawls across 22,000 sq m, holding the title of the largest glass greenhouse garden in Asia.

Divided into three sections, the garden displays the landscapes of deserts, tropical rainforests and canyons, housing a rich array of flora such as the towering sky-high tree and the intriguing arrow poison tree.

"The Shanghai Expo Culture Park is a vital example of the concept of building a 'people's city'," said Chen Zhu, deputy general manager of the Expo Shanghai Group.

"We believe that implementing this concept into every aspect of our work is of great importance in our long-term sustainable future operations."