Shanghai exemplifi es a typical megacity confronting signifi cant challenges, including intensifi ed urban heat island eff ects, severe ecological fragmentation, and increasing public demand for mental well-being. This paper summarizes experiences in developing urban near-natural forests through analysis of representative cases. Focusing on the Sanlin Urban Forest Project, a systematic construction methodology was devised that incorporated precise habitat suitability assessment, screening of key indigenous species, and quantitative structural confi guration. Key fi ndings are: (1) The integrated design system of “function-oriented, habitat-matching, module-combining” eff ectively translates complex near-natural succession principles into operable standardized construction units, addressing the issue of arbitrary species ratio in large-scale aff orestation. (2) The integrated application of “living soil technology” and dynamic cultivation techniques is the technical cornerstone for ensuring high survival rates and rapid forest formation in near-natural communities. (3) Through the diff erentiated combination of seven vegetation modules, the project achieves synergistic optimization of ecological services, landscape aesthetics, and residents’ psychological well-being, providing a replicable practical paradigm for ecological restoration of wedge-shaped green spaces in megacities.