1. Favorable Ecological Environment and Advanced Infrastructures
Public parks are spotted everywhere in Hongkou District, including two city-level parks—Peace Park and Lu Xun Park, as well as other middle or small sized ones, like North Sichuan Rd. Park and Quyang Park, etc. Up to the end of 2003, the green coverage in the district amounted to 336.47 square meters, with the afforesting rate reaching 16.87%. The water system in the district is quite developed and Hongkou Port is the only inland river leading to Huangpu River, with many water-merry spots along the banks.
In recent years, the district government has further improved the working plans for urban construction and management. Since 2003, it has launched the “Hundred Roads Optimization Project” and started to broaden the major roads and streets, together with efforts to improve the views along the roads. As a result, traffic congestion in the district has been greatly mitigated and road conditions have been largely improved. Meanwhile, along with the new round of urban construction, the government is also active to boost the reconstruction of the old and shabby areas. Accordingly, while people’s residential conditions are improving, the quality of the overall urban environment in the district is also ameliorated.

2. Convenient Transportation Network with Complete Business Facilities
With the Inner Rind Road, Middle Ring Road, Light-rail Line 3, Line 4, planned Line 4 and 10 and Dalian Rd. Tunnel, transportation in Hongkou District is quite convenient. The Hongkou Football Stadium Transportation Hub under construction will become the largest transferring center for subways and public buses in the northeast part of Shanghai.
In the past few years, the investment structure has been constantly upgraded. With government’s support to the investment of office buildings, the business facilities in the district have been continuously improving. The emerging office building economy has become a fresh force to attract investment from home and abroad. In three to five years, a number of office buildings and hotels will be completed in the North Bund, which will provide a favorable business environment for the development of the shipping service industry.

3. Wholesome Functional Organizations and Innovated Service System
In order to invite more high-quality companies to develop their business in Hongkou District, the district government and other related departments have been actively transforming their governmental functions. An Investment Service Center has been established to facilitate the examination and approval procedure. Through establishing key company green paths and comprehensive information platform, setting service hotlines and paying regular visits to companies, government departments provide manifold services to companies, including policy consultation, financing guaranty and other functional services.

4. Special Shipping Service Organization and Concentration of Shipping Related Associations
For the purpose of promoting the development of the shipping service industry in Hongkou District, the district government has formed “Hongkou District Shipping Service Development Office” which is responsible for the study of shipping polices and industrial planning, the examination of shipping-related enterprises in the district and the investment attraction work in the shipping service field. Hongkou District has also gathered together a large group of shipping-related functional organizations and associations, including: Shanghai Shipping Exchange, Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration, Shanghai Ports Associations Shanghai Ship Owner Association, Shanghai International Freight Forwarders’ Association, Shanghai Customs Declaration Association, Shanghai Warehousing Association, and Shanghai Branch of China Maritime Arbitration Commission. These organizations and associations are indispensable elements to construct a favorable development platform for the North Bund shipping service industry.