"When I'm old, I'll settle in this city"

In October, New Weekly launched the magazine "The Philosophy of Walking", and we immediately launched a call for proposals with the hashtag #Walking-Friendly City Observation#, hoping to see the most authentic side of the city through everyone's lens.

In the article "I would like Citywalk, but this city is not ready", it is said that people are the main body of walking, and urban planning should carefully consider the needs of people to walk. So, what exactly does "what a person need to walk" mean?

(Photo/"Welcome Back, Traveler")

In the lens of @月philosopher, "what people need to walk" is to feel the pleasant atmosphere of stopping in the city with others, and in the lens of @杪夏, it is a clean pavilion in the hot summer park where you can stay and enjoy the cool when you are tired.

Of course, there are always two sides to the situation. In the submissions, we also received some unfriendly "urban outpourings", such as the unfriendly smell that permeated under the viaduct, the "embarrassing toilets" left on the streets after the demolition, and so on.

The following is a list of readers' submissions from our "Walk-Friendly Cities Watch" to see the specific friendliness and unfriendliness of a city from different perspectives.

Pedestrian "soft furnishings" in sister cities

——Harmonious humanities

@月亮哲人

The people who stop on the park bench are also the casual scenery while walking.

@Beryl

"How much is left, not forgotten, the unchanging landscape, in the world, find you. The picture was taken on Changchun Tiebei 2nd Road, the filming location of the TV series "The World", and it is also the epitome of life in the Northeast in the old era.

@小亮

This photo was taken in a hurry on the way to the exam, in Panyu, Guangzhou. It can be regarded as a "pedestrian-friendly city", because the sidewalks are generally spacious, and the momentary "beauty" is willing to stay for a while.

@小白灰

Shanghai is undoubtedly a pedestrian-friendly city, and behind every old building there is a history of ups and downs, and its changes belong to the common urban memory of citizens.

@?en

The moment when strolling through the streets of Wuhan and pressing the shutter, the hurried figure of passers-by broke into the camera, and the movement and stillness had a specific depiction at this moment, as if telling the bustle and tranquility of this old city.

@今天也要开心一点

Here's a photo of an old-fashioned bus I took next to the Bamboo Slips Museum in Lanzhou. I was waiting for the traffic light, and when I saw this bus, I would suddenly feel like I was back in time to decades ago, the same place, maybe the same person stopping like I did, and watching this bus go by.

@Whisper

This photo was taken on the banks of the Songhua River in Harbin. Walking here, you can see young and old singing, singing their favorite songs, dancing and enjoying everything in the moment.

It has to be said that Harbin is a pedestrian-friendly city. Walking through various old streets, you can also taste the food that has been inherited for a hundred years, and admire the historical city architecture, which is quite flavorful.

@白夜

This is Malipo County, a small city located in the southwest border of the motherland. Time flies, more than 30 years have passed since the end of the Laoshan Battle, and the sun shines on the quiet streets of the years.

@哼哼

This photo was taken in the early morning hours of 6 a.m., and as a walker of the city, it's hard for me to judge whether the city is pedestrian-friendly or not. When there are many people at the intersection, shoulder to shoulder, as if standing on the tip of a knife, you must be afraid everywhere, so as not to bump and scratch.

But think about it, when you are in a low mood, you also have the warmth of companionship. The city is big, but we all need to settle down, walking is a basic need, and I hope that the foothold of every city can return to the people themselves.

@Ben

Actually, I've always felt that Chongqing is a good city for Citywalk, especially some of the old towns in the main city. The mountainous terrain is Chongqing's city card, and for people who are accustomed to flat terrain, Chongqing is a special existence, one scenery at a time. This photo was captured on the Zengjiayan Trail, for the community that is not facing the street, the sanitation master sometimes has to be a "stick army".

Walkable "hardware" in sister cities

-- Considering the construction of human facilities

@霖霖呀

There is a small road where the wind blows through the hall, and there are also road introductions and cultural promotions around.

@ColinSees

Dalian, walk among the mountains and seas, and meet your beautiful self in nature. (This contribution is from New Weekly Xiaohongshu)

@杪夏

In summer, take a walk in Liuzhou Liuhou Park, sit in the citrus pavilion built by the predecessors to escape the heat, and feel the coolness of summer.

@平同学

Comfortable and breezy, in a big city like Shanghai, I didn't feel oppressive at that moment, looking at the river view, and slowly walking on the road.

@tommy

In the mountain city of Chongqing, Chongqing Central Park is a suitable place to take a slow walk and enjoy the scenery, and you won't feel tired while walking. I enjoyed relaxing and hanging out here, and it was not only walk-friendly but also eye-friendly.

@510

This sunflower is planted in a green belt in the middle of the road, and you won't notice it at all if you don't walk through the intersection. I don't know what the people who planted it here thought, but when I saw it, I really felt the warmth and brightness of the sun. After the age of 30, I pay more and more attention to nature, flowers and birds, and all things have spirits, and I am moved by their every moment of hard work and blooming.

@种花小人

The nearby flowers are layered in different colors, giving people a beautiful enjoyment, and thanks to the bridge above the road, pedestrians can walk through the park on both sides without hindrance, which is suitable for walking and sports, climbing and looking overlook. The most commendable point is that it is accessible, and even people with physical disabilities can enjoy the view from above.

@GeoPhysics

This is Tanhualin in Wuchang, Wuhan City, with a certain slope, but the road surface is neat and clean, the walking experience is comfortable, and it will not be particularly tiring. The blue-grey stone pavement is complemented by orange tiles, and the greening measures are just right. You can walk leisurely, or you can climb high and look far away, stroll in the century-old neighborhood full of literary and artistic atmosphere, and you will feel the context and humor of the ancient city of Wuchang.

@钟颖

On October 18, 2023, Hongjun North Road, Jinggangshan. The straight trees, dyed with autumn colors, the air has the fragrance of osmanthus, there is a lake next to the trail, stroll Xuxing, empty for a while, full blood 100 points.

@陈见齐

When it comes to the Chengdu Giant Panda Base, everyone runs to see the flowers during holidays. In fact, you can take your time, start from the direction of Swan Lake, and look backwards, you will find that this is not only a panda base, but also a botanical garden. The dense bamboo forest, as if in the world, is sheltered by the horizontal branch, in the day is still dusk, lotus leaf fields, swans dance in the water, birds play in the countryside. Tranquil and close to nature, it is the perfect place for Citywalk.

@shy

Harbin, Majiagou Greenway, from the suburbs to the center of the city. (This contribution is from New Weekly Xiaohongshu)

@大瑞

Walking on the path paved with osmanthus flowers, smelling the faint fragrance of osmanthus flowers, the pace slowed down unconsciously, and the mood involuntarily became better.

In addition to being friendly, there are also unfriendly people in a walking city

@小镇观察者

In a small southern town, the urban area is fast-paced, the roads are narrow and old, and it is certainly not a walk-friendly city by general standards. However, residents have creatively "developed" a "green space" that is suitable for walking. Take advantage of the completed roads that have not yet been opened to motor vehicles, set up stalls, dance, and sing. That's their nighttime playground.

@橙橙

The road is crowded and narrow, people walk with their heads down, and cars are speeding by. These are urban experiences that are not friendly to walk and have no sense of well-being.

@酥小苏爱吃小酥肉

This is part of the environment on the road from the subway entrance to the residential area, and the traces after the demolition are very obvious, and every time I go home, I have to pass through this road, which can be described as not having the slightest beautiful mood, so I have to choose to pass quickly.

@子不语

The photo was taken on May 2 in Shanghai's Hongqiao District, and it is hard to imagine walking slowly near Hongqiao Airport, where you can feel like you are on the outside, blowing a cold wind that is incompatible with Shanghai's huge melting pot.

The culvert under the viaduct is filled with water, and outside the culvert there is sand and dust from the construction site to sell barbecue and fruits, and after the wall of the workers' new village is torn down, the doors of the residents facing the street are wide open, and the iron fence is separated like an exhibit for people to see. At midnight, piles of garbage were lifted by the wind, and I stayed up all night. I walked through the makeshift potholes dug under the viaduct, greeted by eager faces under my hard hat, and after the heat island effect sank, there was not a single quiet sidewalk.

@朱猪

The alley is too cramped, and motorcycles, bicycles and even cars are constantly driving behind it.

@宏

City roads are not pedestrian-friendly (people walking or cycling) and it seems that the roads are dedicated to cars. Pedestrians in the city, sometimes there is no sidewalk, to parallel with motor vehicles, to cross the road to go to the overpass, under the tunnel, although the crossing facilities, not than the road crossing, however, this design does not give priority to the needs of pedestrians.

Some main roads, the crossing facilities are far away, and it takes 20 minutes or more to cross the road and take the reverse bus, which is especially unfriendly for people with heavy loads, especially the elderly or those traveling with children.

The word "friendly" itself refers to the relationship with people, so when people discuss whether walking in a city is friendly, the first thing to consider is whether it can see people.

You know, Citywalk is one of the most popular pastimes today, and we always pay attention not only to the walk itself, but also to the walking experience given by a specific city.

When people walk in sister cities, the pace should be light, and this sense of lightness is as presented in the above submission, which comes from the pedestrians who understand the rules, clean and safe roads, pleasant green construction, and protected urban culture.

A city that is truly worth walking in, in addition to the external packaging, is more important to have a "visible people" inside.