The trails feature signs every 60 steps carrying simple health advice and telling people how far they have walked and how many calories they have burned.

The routes, launched for National Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Day, follow three circles in the park and are the first in the city's 10,000-step healthy trails program. A total of 25 healthy trails stretching for 35 kilometers has been built in the districts of Huangpu, Yangpu, Songjiang, Baoshan, Nanhui and Jiading and will be opened soon.

"More healthy trails will be established later this year to guide people's lifestyle and encourage walking," said Li Zhongyang, vice director of Office of Shanghai Patriotic Health Campaign Commission.

"We are encouraging people to walk 10,000 steps a day as well as adopt healthy dietary habits. Of course, each person should adopt the method and amount of physical exercise in line with their individual situation."

The smallest circuit in the People's Park can be finished in about 400 steps, with the middle trail taking about 2,000 footsteps. The largest one, around the People's Square, Yanzhong Greenland, Xizang Road M. and Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall, takes about 10,000 steps.

"I have a habit of walking in the park for exercise every day but I never know how many steps I have walked. The new healthy trail is quite helpful," said Zhang Jian, a 60-year-old man. "I plan to ask more friends and neighbors to walk with me." The commission is also encouraging residents to cut back on salt and oil.