James Baquet

    NUMEROUS friends have complained that the roads in Shenzhen aren’t suitable for jogging or running (or even, sometimes, walking).

    The solution? Try the parks. My wife has been running in Shenzhen for about a year now, and together we’ve compiled this list of prime running spots:

    Dashahe: You can reach this large park via bus 392 from Window of the World stop, to Songpingshan stop. A 1.7-km loop road runs around the park, with gentle ups and downs; it’s seldom crowded. If you want more, leave the park’s west gate and run on the pathway along the river itself.

    Shenzhen Mangrove Nature Reserve: From the entrance east of Qiaocheng Road East (near Hongshulin bus stop on Binhai Boulevard), you can run west approximately 5.5 km along the bay. There are more buses at the crossing of Shahe Road West, or you can do an about face for a 10-kilometer-plus.

    Lianhua Hill: For those who like uphill runs. From the main gate (west of Children’s Palace Metro Station in Futian), run north and turn left at the first major crossing. Run along the south end of the lake, then turn right and begin the right-trending road that leads to the top of the hill. Over 2 kilometers, three-quarters of which is uphill.

    Central Park: Start on Shennan Boulevard in the center of town and run either north or south on wide, gently looping paths. More crowded with evening strollers than some others, but still not heavily impacted.

    Donghu Park: Along East Lake, the spillway of Shenzhen Reservoir in Luohu. Over 2 kilometers, from the northwest gate on Aiguo Road to the south gate on Luosha Road.