by Nora M Lee
With gyms springing up and sprawling out everywhere in Shanghai, most yuppies in the city have been living their lives on treadmills, exercise bikes, hot yoga¡or anything available in gyms; another choice is a weekend spent in a suburban rock climbing center or an indoor tennis court. However, once again you see people jogging in the Central Park£only on TV this time, will you begin missing your daily jogging£the kind of exercise you¡¯ve favored and practiced since junior high? After all, jogging is traditionally and practically the idealist and most convenient aerobics; even an oxygen-filled gym is no substitute to the fresh air generated by nature¡plus that an outdoor park is forever more the Disneyland for children and the paradise for the elderly¡
Now, no more circling and crossing on your crinkled, sweat-drenched city map, no more Googling and dialing for a piece of green in downtown Shanghai¡ we are here presenting you with a reliable display weighing both the cons and the pros of the local parks located either in downtown, or places near subway stations. In illustration, we've hereby added a luscious photo gallery to make your journey more visible.
First, here's the most credited and serene one£Jinan Park
Located steps away from Hotel Equatorial and Hilton Hotel, Jing An Park has in itself the unique aura inherited from its past glory and enriched by its present charm. Surrounded by Jinan Plaza, Ninth Shopping Mall, Yimei Beauty Center, Jing An Temple, and the Historically-famous Paramount, the park is a beautiful mix of history, nature, culture, fortune and fame.
What comes in sight is a hundred-meter-long pavement guarded by French phoenix tress leading you deep down to its foyer. On one side of it, there's a cobble road stretching far into a big lawn. Across is a man-made hill with caves so intriguing that it's fit for Hide and Seek. Beside is an artificial lake dotted by lotus and reed. What's hidden and looming afar is an Indonesian restaurant named Bali Island£ best known for its pumpkin rice.
The park now has become the Mecca for wedding shooting, and a base for photography. However, regarding its layout and size, Jinan Park is not exercise-friendly; literally I've never seen anyone jogging there. But there are old people stretching out, singing, dancing, and playing chess early in the morning and some youngsters doing roller skating on weekends.
What makes Jinan park top my list is its unspoiled serenity; a walk across it will release you of a day's fatigue and bring you a feast colored and scented by nature. If you fill intolerable with your smoke-filled office or the cacophony echoing in that shopping mall across, bring your food here or buy out a scoop from Haagen-Dazs, then pick a seat and indulge yourself with a view crafted only for Jinan.
Take the subway Line 2, and get off at the terminal Zhongshan Park station.
Located at the heart of Changning district, and the end of Metro Line 2, Zhongshan Park has been favored and frequented by locals, visitors and passers-by everyday, which has, so far, made this middle-sized park a place for jogging, morning exercises, open concerts, and various events¡ 
For the kids¡¯ domain, the park is facilitated with bumper cars, swing vehicles, motor boats¡Its signature lawn is open for all people to set feet upon and have a good time. Unlike Century Park, you don't have to carry out your duffle bag and stuff it with a day's sustenance; maybe a bottle of mineral water is enough for a walk in summer. If allowed to comment on the park, I'd say that it's a age-old garden taking credits for its over-rounded service; apart from the prattle and chatter filling the fun land, there're plenty of tranquil sites made for chess players, readers, people who need to think alone and people who are in love...
However, I do have to chip in a grudge upon the insecticide the park uses to keep its plants alive. For less than half an hour in the park, I had fallen vulnerably and miserably victims to the attacks of batches of mosquitoes, and if it's not because that I have the abnormal Blood Type X, then it must be that the park has mistakenly used the antidote of a killer insecticide, which has, instead, made the park a hotbed for the creepy-crawly.
So don't wear your shorts if you don't want to be a Dalmatian with red spots. And once you are in Zhongshan Park, leave some time for the nearby East China University of Politics and Law, which is located one street across the back door of the park. For one reason, it has a line of startling European architectures left by St. John's Religious School built by the American Government in the last century; for another, don't miss out on a dilapidated outdoor tennis court there, which is, for anyhow, free of charge¡and most importantly, it's the best law school in Southeast China, and it's where I'm studying law now.
Too much for Zhongshan Park, though, let's move onto the People's Park Located at the entry of the People's Square Station, People's Park is too important to be ignored. Across the park, there stand a line of whitewashed architectures: from Shanghai Grand Theater to the Shanghai Municipal Government's Office Building, then to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. And the Raffle Plaza built at the corner of the Fuzhou Road was a land for ultimate fun!!!
A little more spacious than Jinan Park, People's Park is well-known for its English Corner run on every Sunday morning and there's also an in-built art gallery holding seasonal art shows occasionally. The Starbucks set next door has, so far, been acclaimed as the best in Puxi area. However, in recent days, the park is struggling in resistance to the commercialization of its surroundings, and¡unfortunately, its relative authority is giving out properties to both local and foreign restaurateurs. So¡ go for a visit as soon as you can before the park is converted into another shopping mall.
Also visible and approachable here are artificial hills, cobble roads, a manmade lake and some swing chairs. The blessing is that the park is way more tranquil and elegant than Zhonashan Park£thanks to the surrounding 5-star office buildings. But, sorry again, Mr. and Ms. Joggers, here is too crowded for jogging, and you won't even like to try roller-skating inside; maybe a cup of Cappuccino on a swing chair will make your day, instead. 
Out of the People's Park, a walk down the North Chendu Rd. for approximately 15 mins, you will see a stretch of greenbelt, and the grandiose Shanghai Music Hall£with stains of fresh painting still visible. So this is the so-called Yanzhong Green Land.
To stand in par with the rattling and screaming of everyday traffic without bursting out or breaking down is what we call as a miracle. And it doesn't take a genius to know how much work it takes to talk hundreds of real estate giants out of setting their eyes on this land of fortune and fame.
The greenbelt is no other than an oasis in the dessert, though undeniably, without the exceedingly fabulous scenes of its surroundings, the greenbelt is simply a corner of your backyard. You can take some gorgeous pictures on the nearby crossover overlooking the lighting and traffic below. So once go there, don't forget your digi-camera, and my advice is that be there after the dark falls. If you are interested, you can also buy a ticket to enjoy some great music in the Music Hall; the choice is all up to you.
Walk back now to take the subway line 1, and then get off at South Shanxi Road. Walk down the Xiangyang Road until you see Mr. Donald, and¡right beside is the beautiful Xiangyang Park.
Once again, you can only expect to have a walk around. But you can bring here your favorite novel and enjoy a getaway for as long as you want.
For extra bonus, go and see yourself that love-hate Xiangyang Market£you'll regret if you don't. Try shaking off some nervous energy by bargaining till either you or the vendor feels sick or begins to tremble. And then go back to the Park; eat a Donald to gain more energy.
Once ready, dash back for relentless loot.
Nice Porsche, huh?
Well, take a 10-min walk ahead, then you'll see the trademark of the fabulous made-in-Germany in a square outside the Huaihai Park. My suggestion is don¡¯t walk in£unless you want to mingle with the locals. Just have a seat outside, drink your favorite Starbucks available from across the street, and then dream your dreams with any Porsches on display. 
Beach in Shanghai??? No way. But here, the water is clear, and the sand is real, and¡a perfect place for jogging, badminton, roller-skating, dancing, photography, excursion¡and falling in love if you desire. Ningshi Park, located near the stretched Yanchang Station of MetroLine 1, was first developed by its surrounding real estate agencies. Now, it's a private park charging a ticket of 2 yuan for a time, and 8 yuan yuan for a month£ nice deal, isn't it?
The park is probably second to the Century Park in size, and it's, so far, the most picturesque and the best constructed and designed one I¡¯ve ever seen in the city ; you don't really see any gardeners around, however, the foliage here are all exquisitely primed, and for both professional and amateur photographers, the park is like a lure: once you step in, you won't like to go out anyway..
The featuring spots include an artificial white sand beach, and a replica of The Arch of Triumph in Paris. The park is split into two parts by a river running by. On side is dominated by the Arch, and a square for various activities; Samba, Taiji, Fan Dancing, singing¡I once even saw a couple shuffling around and it was so fun! One the other side, there are creeks, ponds, hills, sand dunes, lodges made of straw, bamboo forest and cobble roads extruded almost from nowhere, and extending to a never-never land¡
Thanks to its relatively remote location, this unspoiled, newly-established park is home only to a minority of committed joggers, photographers and kids living nearby. So if you are preparing for an excursion or want to arrange for a outdoor activity, keep Lingshi Park on mind. And if you live in Puxi, don't attempt for the Century Park any more, come here for an .awesome jogging, and the ticket is way cheaper than in the Century Park.
Everybody knows the Century Park?
£Great, then. Nothing more to say. 
If you live in Pudong, then lucky you; if not, take the Metro Line 2, and get off either on the Shanghai Science and technology Museum Station or the Century Park Station. Once in Shanghai, you deserve to see the best and biggest park in Shanghai, so for those who've never been to the Century Park, pick a cloudy day, and bring with you some food and water or other necessities£but you don't have to if you are willing to pay quadruple for whatever you need in the park. Oh, don't forget your digi-cam; a picture taken inside will cost you a fortune. And you'd better bring more money with you, cause you ll need a tourist bike to look around, and they require a deposit of 100 kuai. Last but not least, don't expect it to be a replica of your hometown Yellow Stone Park; here's Shanghai, not Tibet; an inch of land is super-precious.
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