In 2025, Qingdao reached a significant milestone by officially becoming a city of 1,000 parks, with a total of 1,048 parks. This accomplishment underscores the city's commitment to creating a high-quality, harmonious bayfront city where residents can seamlessly live, work, and enjoy leisure.

The year saw the addition of five comprehensive parks and 65 uniquely designed pocket parks. These small green spaces, cleverly repurposed from urban corners, have become popular community spots. Qingdao focused on activating these spaces.

Beyond expanding green spaces, Qingdao emphasizes "managing" its park assets as valuable green infrastructure. By integrating diverse amenities and activities, the city turns parks into vibrant, participatory, and shareable spaces, creating lively environments for all citizens to enjoy.

A standout feature was the Qingdao summer art lantern festival, a major initiative combining parks and tourism. As the largest summer lantern festival in northern China, it attracted over 300,000 visitors, generated over 4 million visits to Taipingshan Central Park, and increased nearby business footfall by over 40 percent.

The city also promoted openness and shared governance by opening 76 green spaces for public use, totaling 542 hectares. A notable grassroots program, the "micro-garden" initiative, involved residents in co-designing and maintaining 100 small community gardens, transforming neglected corners and fostering a deep sense of ownership among citizens.

Looking ahead, Qingdao will continue to refine its park system, aiming to create a greener, more vibrant, and people-centered city for all.

Qingdao reached a significant urban milestone by officially becoming a city of 1,000 parks in 2025, with its total number of parks reaching 1,048. [Photo/Guanhai News]