On July 9, the Cultural Walking activity — part of the 2026 Summer Green Community Programme — was successfully held, jointly organized by the China-UK Low Carbon College (LCC) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the  University for the Elderly of Nanhui New Town. Under the theme “Exploring Sponge City and Visiting Green Factories”, the activity led 50 members from various inter-generational families — comprising elderly and young members —  out of the classroom and into the Lin-gang area, where they visited green ecological and low-carbon industrial sites to experience first-hand the vivid practice of “Harmonious Coexistence between Humankind and Nature” in green community development.

The first stop was Lin-gang “The Environment of Starry Sky” Sponge Park. As a key demonstration project for the second batch of national sponge city pilot schemes, the park covers an area of 54 hectares. Centred on sponge technology and with the theme of “The Environment of Starry Sky”, it is an urban park that integrates sponge functions, leisure and entertainment, as well as ecological greenery. Led by the experts from the Design and Research Institutes of Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute (Group) Co., Ltd. (SMEDI - Shanghai Municipal Engineering Group), the participants were able to observe various sponge city facilities up close, including rain gardens, grass-lined ditch, bioretention basins, ecological dry streams and permeable paving. They gained a first-hand understanding of how rainwater, through the natural processes of “infiltration, detention, storage, purification, utilization and discharge”, forms a comprehensive rainwater management system that helps the city achieve an ecological environment where light rain does not cause waterlogging, heavy rain does not lead to urban flooding, and river water remains clean. The engaging on-site explanations, combined with the actual scenery, brought the concept of “sponge city” to life.

During the interactive Q&A session, family representatives raised their hands and vied to answer the questions, applying the knowledge they had just learnt about sponge city into immediate practice. With the lively atmosphere, the session further deepened the understanding and retention of sponge city for the participants.

The group then visited “Shanghai Green Factory” — the Solidware Industrial Tourism Centre — to take part in a corporate study tour centred on the themes of new-quality productive forces and zero-carbon factories, gaining immersive insights into cutting-edge green manufacturing practices. First, the participants immersed themselves in the history of China’s communist revolution at the historical museum, experiencing the patriotic spirit of their forebears. The group then proceeded to the smart production workshop, where they observed zero-carbon smart manufacturing scenarios — including the “Dark Workshop”, the photovoltaic power generation system and wastewater treatment facilities — at close quarters. Finally, at the Stainless Steel Materials Science Centre, they learnt about the innovative applications of low-carbon materials and the development journey of the factory’s zero-carbon initiatives. Throughout the tour, the elderly and young members observed and discussed together, experiencing first-hand the practical explorations of this local brand in green manufacturing, technological innovation and cultural heritage through this immersive journey.

The activity was underpinned throughout by the concept of “Inter-generational Joint Learning”, with the elderly and young members walking hand in hand, learning and developing through the immersive tour and experience. Participating families flocked in the “Community Green Family Development Plan”, turning low-carbon principles into daily family actions in the community through observation, recording and hands-on experience.

This Cultural Walking activity forms an integral part of the 2026 Nanhui New Town Summer Green Community Specialized Course series. Moving forward, the programme will continue to organize summer green craft workshops and community co-creation activities, supporting green development in local communities, fostering the collaboration between the university and the local area, and helping to embed green conceptions in communities and families, with all parties working together to write a vibrant chapter in the green development of Lin-gang.