Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    IN recent years an old man surnamed Zhao, who lives in Paradiso, Futian, has started playing croquet with his friends. Every morning and evening, they have matches for fun.

    “Croquet is a good sport for elderly people. It has simple rules, is cost-efficient, entertaining and less physically demanding than other sports, but without the Furong greenway we couldn’t play,” said Zhao.

    Furong Urban Greenway is a 3-km-long and 15-meter-wide project renovated from a greenbelt along the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway. It passes through seven communities with trails for running and cycling, and squares for different sports like skateboarding and chess.

    The project benefits 250,000 residents and was completed in 2011. It links Shenzhen Bay Park in the west with the southern end of Xinzhou Road. Along the way there are carvings, which show the customs and traditions of Xiasha, Shangsha and Shawei villages.

    The design of the Furong greenway won the gold prize at the 2012 Idea King International Landscaping Design Competition organized by International Landscape Design Industry Association of China.

    Futian Urban Administration is extending the greenway eastward for another three kilometers. When the 40-million-yuan (US$6.5 million) project is finished later this year it will connect to Futian Checkpoint.

    The Furong greenway is part of the 50-km circular greenway network that runs through Futian District.