Shanghai, 8 Aug (ZXS) -- Outdoor activities have become a new social medium for young people in Shanghai

Written by Xie Mengyuan

Changing into a quick-drying suit and wearing sneakers, Yang Xiong was ready to jog like every Tuesday, and unlike before, he had an extra ring box in his pocket on the 22nd, and he was ready to propose directly after running 5.2 kilometers with his girlfriend.

It is the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, and although the Qixi Festival has not been directly linked to marriage since ancient times, it has gradually become a festival symbolizing love in people's hearts because it is bound to the poignant love legend of the "cowherd and weaver girl".

Different from regular social dating methods such as watching movies and dinners, a group of young people in Shanghai choose to make friends by participating in different outdoor activities. Chinese mainland the "farewell to single" label set by a social platform has nearly 1100 million views, and the reporter found that the frequency of "sports dating" is relatively high.

Young people gather outdoors in Shanghai on August 8. Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Hengwei

Yang Xiong met his girlfriend through the "City Running Group". As a "white-collar worker," he admits that he spends most of his time and energy at work and has a limited social circle, "but I've always had the habit of running, and I used to run alone." After accidentally joining the 'Running Group', life became more interesting and I met a lot of new friends. ”

"There are different teams in different areas, so it's just a few minutes walk downstairs, so there's no time pressure." For him, the "city rampage" that does not require extra energy and expense has become the best choice for relaxation and socializing, "I like to think about love on the premise of improving myself and enjoying myself, rather than choosing the traditional blind date method and going straight to the topic." ”

According to Zhao Lina, director of the China Folklore Society and associate professor at the School of Communication at East China University of Political Science and Law, this reflects the increased sense of individuality of young people living in cities today when facing the problem of marriage and romance, "which is related to modernization, urbanization, population mobility and the improvement of the overall education level, and young people are less and less bound by the group to which they belong."

"The original big cities were actually rural societies, and people were still mainly connected by blood, geography and karma. Now it is mainly about karma and fun. For example, Zhao Lina said that the recent "citywalk" is not new, but is essentially a fun relationship between people because of interest.

Jogging, paddle boarding, cycling groups... Shanghai's unique streetscape and strong urban culture create a great dating atmosphere for these outdoor activities that rely on the "blood vessels" of the city.

The site of the First Congress of the Communist Party of China, Wukang Building, Shanghai General Post Office, Peace Hotel... Nowadays, people jog on the roads of Shanghai, passing by historical buildings with different styles, and it is still not difficult to feel the historical atmosphere and urban context contained in them.

As early as about 44 years ago, Shanghai implemented the Regulations on the Protection of Historical and Cultural Landscape Areas and Excellent Historical Buildings, and identified 2007 historical and cultural areas. In 144, 64 roads and alleys in downtown Shanghai were listed as protected roads, of which <> were "never widened" roads, because they could best and concentrate Shanghai's history and culture, and were required to be protected at the "highest level" and were not allowed to be widened in any way.

Even at night, young people don't have to worry about the lights not illuminating their progress. In 2017, Shanghai took the lead in the country to introduce the "Shanghai Landscape Lighting Master Plan", which coordinates the positioning of landscape lighting with the development of building an international economic, financial, trade, shipping, scientific and technological innovation center and an international cultural metropolis. At night, the Bund International Architecture Expo Group is full of light, orange lights set off a romantic atmosphere, walking from Zhapu Road Bridge Road, you can see Shanghai's landmark high-rise buildings from afar.

Not to mention the green vegetation scattered in every corner of the city, adding vitality and temperature to the city. According to official data, up to now, Shanghai has built 390 pocket parks, of which 172 are included in the urban and rural park system. By 2025, Shanghai will build and renovate more pocket parks, open up closed green spaces, and transform into ecological spaces that citizens can walk, see and touch.

"It's nice to walk with her on the road, it's very ambitious, not that you have to go to attractions or high-end restaurants." Yang Xiong said.

Nowadays, more and more young people in Shanghai explore the city with their own steps, and at their own pace, they look forward to resonating with like-minded people at the same frequency. (End)