Shenzhen will build seven more parks this year, the Shenzhen Evening News reported Monday.

Buxinshan, Luofang and Honggang parks will be built in Luohu District, Yinhushan and Meilinshan parks in Futian and Antuoshan Park in Nanshan. A park designed for children will also be built on Qiaoxiang Road in Futian District, on more than 20 hectares, four times the size of the existing Children's Park in Luohu District.

Shenzhen already has 179 parks, including 21 at municipal level, 13 at district level and 145 others. In the next five years, Shenzhen would build 100 more parks to make Shenzhen "a city of parks," the report said.

Shenzhen leads in national greenery coverage, with 15.1 square meters of greenery per capita, according to the report.

The city's urban management department launched a selection process in 2002 to choose outstanding public parks. Litchi Park, Children's Park and the People's Park in Luohu were granted five-star status, while Honghu Park and the Fairy Lake Botanical Garden in Luohu, Dameisha Beach Park and Haishan Park in Yantian District were given four-star status.

The selection criteria included the size of the land area, management level, service facilities among others, the report said.

Editor: Catherine