50 percent greenery

Some compounds in Shanghai feel like they were designed by committee – safe, boring, indistinguishable from a dozen others. One Park Avenue is not one of those places. Walk through the entrance on Changde Road, and you step into a different world. The central garden is massive. Mature trees shade winding paths. A small pond sits next to a barbecue area. Willow branches brush the water. Young couples...

Some compounds in Shanghai feel like they could be anywhere. Glass towers. manicured but sterile grounds. A lobby that could be in Singapore or Shenzhen. The Summit (汇贤居) is not one of those places. You feel the difference the moment you walk in. The central garden takes up nearly half the land. There is a walking path that loops around the edge. Parents push strollers. Kids kick a ball. Dog...