Zhangjiagang turns idle spaces into vibrant sports venues

Zhangjiagang is breathing new life into underused corners of the city through micro-renovations, transforming scattered idle spaces into accessible sports and fitness venues.

A recent example is "Jinling Park +", once the waiting hall of a long-distance bus station. As high-speed rail became more popular and private cars became part of everyday life, demand for traditional long-distance bus services declined, leaving the spacious waiting hall in need of a new purpose.

The hall had major advantages. Its dimensions, ceiling height, span and layout were all remarkably well suited to the spatial requirements of ball games and other sports. As a result, the 2,200-square-meter waiting hall has been transformed into a sports complex featuring seven badminton courts, as well as areas for squash, fencing, basketball and fitness. A cafe and a leisure area have also been incorporated into the space.

The long-distance bus station in Zhangjiagang has been transformed into a sports park. [Photo/WeChat account: zjgwenming]

The transformation extends beyond the hall itself. The former ticket-checking passageways now lead to different sports areas, while the space once used for buses to queue and depart has been turned into an outdoor sports venue.

The results are reflected in the numbers. Zhangjiagang now has 5.76 square meters of sports facilities per capita, ranking first among counties, county-level cities, and districts in Jiangsu province. The qualified rate in national physical fitness assessments has remained high. The city is home to more than 5,600 sports venues, over 1,060 kilometers of fitness trails and 20 distinctive sports parks. A fitness network that puts sports facilities within a five-minute walk in urban areas and a 10-minute reach in central towns has become part of everyday life for Zhangjiagang residents.