Qianhai's Guiwan Park

Honor Award

General Design

Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Field Operations
Client: Shenzhen Qianhai Construction & Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd.

Guiwan Park

Guiwan Park integrates green infrastructure with active and passive recreation, ecology, habitat, and cultural programs.

Image Credit: Holi Photography
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Network of Systems

Guiwan Park’s design brings together a network of systems for a green core that balances ecological restoration and urban development in Qianhai.

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Continuous Coastal Park

Guiwan Park features 51,000 sqm of seawater wetland, 18,000 sqm of freshwater wetland, and 255,000 sqm of parkland, naturalizing the tidal corridor.

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Rewilding the Waterfront

Guiwan Park naturalizes the waterfront, with saltwater and freshwater wetlands that transform what was once a concrete waterfront edge.

Image Credit: Shenzhen Qianhai Construction & Investment Holding Group, Shanghai Landscape Architecture Design Institute (SLADI), and ZC Studio
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Qianhai Water City

Guiwan Park is the first “water finger” built as part of Qianhai Water City, developed in 2010 as a model for an innovative and sustainable city.

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Nature in the City

Guiwan Park provides the opportunity to get close to the water’s edge and be immersed in nature, learning more about local ecology.

Image Credit: ZC Studio
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Ecological Restoration

Guiwan Park incorporates native subtropical plantings, including mangroves that have expanded from 3 to 17 species.

Image Credit: Shenzhen Qianhai Construction & Investment Holding Group
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Visitor Engagement

An app for visitors allows them to navigate the park with a digital fly-through and learn more about its ecological benefits.

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Biodiversity & Habitat Recovery

With increased biodiversity there has been a re-emergence of many species native to the area, including herons, egrets, curlew, mudskippers and crabs.

Image Credit: Shanghai Landscape Architecture Design Institute (SLADI) (left); Holi Photography (right)
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Forest Walk

Elevated above the park with layered platforms and walkways, the Forest Walk allows for new vistas and for visitors to be immersed in the tree canopy.

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Freshwater Wetlands

Freshwater wetland gardens integrate a footpath and platforms that allow visitors to directly engage with water cascades as they stroll through.

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Reconnecting with Nature

Guiwan Park allows visitors to reconnect with nature with peaceful pathways for visitors to stroll and relax within green open spaces.

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Green Core for Qianhai

Guiwan Park’s architecture and facilities were developed in harmony with the “Qianhai Green Core” concept, blending with the landscape.

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Shade Classroom

Featuring a 200-meter-long arced bench, this provides seating for resting, meditating, and conversation, providing a space for respite and gathering.

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Woodland Walk

The Woodland Walk provides a tranquil forest for visitors to pass through on an elevated footpath.

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Playground

Catering to a variety of activities, Guiwan Park includes a play space within a bridge underpass featuring unique surfaces, landforms, and lighting.

Image Credit: ZC Studio (left) and Holi Photography (right)
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“

Guiwan Park is a bold, responsible, and balanced exemplar of new urban landscape infrastructure. The transformation from hermetic canal to woven green infrastructure in just two years is a model for all waterfront cities.

”

- 2023 Awards Jury

Project Credits

Field Operations, Project Lead, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Master Planning

Shanghai Landscape Architecture Design Institute (SLADI), Local Landscape Architect

Hang Cheng Studio, Architecture

T.Y. Lin International, Structural Engineering, Pedestrian Bridge

Shenzhen Cheng Xin Hang Engineering Consultation Co., Ltd., Cost Estimating

Huasen Architectural and Engineering Design Consultants Co., Ltd., Detailed Planning Document

Arup, Engineering Consultant

Shenzhen Gongkan Geotechnical Group Co., Ltd., Survey, Geotechnical Engineering

Shenzhen Urban Transportation Planning Center Co., Ltd., Transportation Consultant

Shenzhen Dingqiang Civil Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd., Geological Survey Review

Shenzhen Water Planning & Design Institute Co., Ltd., Water & Soil Conservation, Flood Control

Shenzhen Investigation & Research Institute Co., Ltd., Geological Hazards Consultant

Shenzhen Power Supply Planning Design Institute Co., Ltd., Power Supply Planning

China Academy of Railway Sciences, Subway Impact Consultant

Urban Planning & Design Institute of Shenzhen, Traffic Impact Consultant

Shenzhen Shendayuan Architectural Technology Researching Co., Ltd., Review of Architecture Construction Documents

Shenzhen Dazheng Construction Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd., Review of Landscape Construction Documents

Shenzhen University, Mangrove & Environmental Research and Monitoring

China Railway First Group Co., Ltd., General Contractor, Service Building 5 & 6

Second Construction Limited Company of China Construction, Eighth Engineering Division, General Contractor, Service Building 4

Shenzhen Geokey Group Co., Ltd., Monitoring, Guiwan Park, Service Building 5 & 6

China Overseas Supervision, Park Construction Supervision

Shenzhen Xilun Civil Engineering Reconnaissance & Design Co., Ltd., Pedestrian Bridge Construction Supervision

Pubang Landscape Architecture Co., Ltd., Landscape General Contractor, Phase 1

LingNan Eco & Culture-Tourism Co., Ltd., Landscape General Contractor, Phase 2

Shenzhen Zhonglv Environment Group Co., Ltd., Landscape General Contractor, Phase 3

China 15th Metallurgical Construction Group Co., Ltd., Landscape Structures General Contractor

Youking Wayfinding, Signage Design

Shenzhen Jieshida Industrial Co., Ltd., Lighting Engineering & Construction

Shenzhen Shida Smart Science & Technology Co., Ltd., General Contractor, Smart Park System

Project Statement

Guiwan Park is the first “water finger” to be built for Qianhai Water City, an innovative and sustainable new city. As the green core, Guiwan Park supports the city center and creates large-scale blue-green infrastructure for stormwater management, flood protection and habitat recovery. A continuous coastal park, Guiwan Park features 51,000 sqm of mangroves, 18,000 sqm of freshwater wetland and 255,000 sqm of parkland, naturalizing the tidal corridor and creating a harmony of beauty and ecological performance. The park combines ecological, social and urban functions with zones that support sports, leisure, recreation and nature exploration, creating a “hyper-nature” that brings together natural ecology and strengthens an urban energy web.

Project Narrative

Qianhai Water City

Qianhai Water City creates a new identity for a coastal city with five development districts defined by large green “water fingers” between neighborhoods. This framework outlines a strategy for a more resilient, ecological city.

Guiwan Park is the first of five “water fingers” to be built in Qianhai. The park provides a one-of-a-kind amenity by integrating blue-green infrastructure with active and passive recreation, ecology, habitat and cultural programs, centered around a tidal channel that protects the city and inland area from flooding and improves water quality.

As a central park, this large-scale open space is critical to the city’s needs as it develops. The 2.2-kilometer-long, 45-hectare park incorporates programming that caters to an urban context in the west and transitions as it becomes more residential in the east. By synchronizing a pedestrian network, canopy system, wetlands, the canal, and soft surfaces, Guiwan Park cultivates interaction between them, fostering an integrated ecosystem.

Ecological Performance

Guiwan Park’s three terraces—woodland, freshwater wetland, and saltwater wetland—accommodate a steep elevation change between the park’s main road, which sits at 6 meters above sea level, and the central channel water level, which varies from -1 to 2.0 meters. As part of China’s “sponge cities,” the park and its terraces absorb and treat rainwater, including water from the surrounding roads, capturing 90% of annual rainfall and reducing nonpoint source pollution by 72%.

Guiwan Park utilizes low-impact development strategies for stormwater management, including grass and gravel swales along main pathways, rain gardens with a sunken greenbelt, and underground tanks for a rainwater filtration and reuse system.

Biodiversity & Habitat Recovery

Guiwan Park features a coastal and continuous topography that incorporates native subtropical plantings, including 51,000 sqm of mangroves that have expanded from 3 to 17 species. The park’s diverse living ground includes forests, bosques, lawns, freshwater wetlands, and saltwater wetlands that increase biodiversity and create new and unique habitat conditions. There has been a resulting re-emergence of many species native to the area, including herons, egrets, curlew, mudskippers, and crabs. Within the first year, the new wetlands have attracted 21 species of macrobenthos, contributing to a healthy marine ecosystem.

Smart Park

Guiwan Park incorporates technology that monitors soil, irrigation, insects, water levels, and tree conditions. This data is used by maintenance staff to support operations and monitor as the park’s species develop and mature. The same data has been used in partnerships with local institutions to better understand ecological restoration within urban environments, using Guiwan Park as a case study. In addition, an app for visitors allows them to navigate the park with a digital fly-through and learn more about its ecological benefits.

Impact

Guiwan Park sets a new benchmark, creating a vibrant park that blends design with ecological performance and social interaction. As coastal cities face the effects of climate change, Guiwan Park serves as an example of ecological rehabilitation on a damaged and reclaimed site, leading the way for a more resilient city that harnesses the impact of large-scale blue-green infrastructure while creating restorative open spaces.

Products

Furniture
- Custom wood benches: Dongguan Yuyuan Construction Engineering Co., Ltd / Foshan Jieyu Wood Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.
- Precast concrete benches: Shanghai Taifu New Material Technology Development Co., Ltd.
- Custom woodwork: Dongguan YuyuanConstruction Engineering Co., Ltd / Foshan Jieyu Wood Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.
- Trash receptacles and water fountains: Shenzhen Youkun Logo Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- Signage: Shenzhen Youkun Logo Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Drainage/Erosion
- Slot drains and custom drains: Miya Building Materials (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
- HDPE polyethylene pipe: Guangdong Shensu Industrial Co., Ltd./ Miya Building Materials (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
- Concrete pipe: Huizhou Huijian Cement Products Co., Ltd.
- Infiltration canal module: Shenzhen Dr. Yu Rainwater Utilization Equipment Co., Ltd. / Shenzhen Zhishen Construction Technology Co., Ltd.
- Rainwater harvest system: Shenzhen Dr. Yu Rainwater Utilization Equipment Co., Ltd.
Irrigation
- Pump station: Shanghai Dongfang Pump Industry (Group) Co., Ltd.
- System valves: Toro (China) Irrigation Equipment Co., Ltd. / Tianjin Tanggu Watt Valve Co., Ltd.
- Valve boxes: Toro (China) Irrigation Equipment Co., Ltd. / Guangzhou Light Rain Irrigation Technology Co., Ltd.
- Sprinklers: Toro (China) Irrigation Equipment Co., Ltd. / Guangzhou Light Rain Irrigation Technology Co., Ltd.
Lumber/Decking/Edging
- Lumber: Dongguan Shenle Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
- Decking: Foshan Jieyu Wood Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.
- Steel edging: Foshan Xinronghua Jiasheng Metal Materials Co., Ltd. / Foshan Xingrong Stainless Steel Co., Ltd.
- Bamboo-wood fiberboard: Shenzhen Longgang District Dazhuang Flooring Firm / Jiangxi Zhushang Bamboo Industry Co., Ltd.
Parks/Recreation Equipment
- Playground: Guangdong Childhood Impression Playground Equipment Co., Ltd.
- Climbing wall: Huizhou Entre Prises Sports Facilities Co., Ltd.
- Interactive screens: Hemai Technology Development (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
- Data wires: Shenzhen Linghai Technology Co., Ltd.
- Data collection/storage/analysis: Shenzhen Hikvision Co., Ltd.
Structures
- Steel trellis: Huizhou Rongying Steel Structure Co., Ltd.
- Forest walk: Zhaofa Metal Technology (Dongguan) Co., Ltd.
- Swing: Foshan Shunde Xiancen Furniture Co., Ltd.
Water Management/Amenities
- Freshwater wetland water circulation system: Shanghai East pump (group) Co., Ltd.
- Water cascading edge: Shanghai East Pump (group) Co., Ltd.
- Mist system: Guangzhou Light Rain Irrigation Technology Co., Ltd.
Soils
- Planting soil and saltwater wetland soil: Shenzhen Lvyuan Plant Medium Technology Development Co., Ltd. / Huizhou Qidi Agriculture Co., Ltd.
- Filter fabric: Guangzhou Tengfei Construction Engineering Materials Co., Ltd. / Taicang Xunda Roadbed Materials Co., Ltd. / Dezhou Dongfang New Material Engineering Co., Ltd.
- Waterproofing: Taicang Xunda Roadbed Materials Co., Ltd. / Shanghai Muying Ecological Co., Ltd.
- Geo textile and erosion: Shanghai Muying Ecological Co., Ltd.
- Gabion walls: Fujian Quanzhou Shuncheng Stone Industry Co., Ltd.
Hardscape
- Granite pavers: Rongcheng Stone Factory, Shijing Town, Nan'an City / Fujian Nan'an Jinqi Stone Co., Ltd. / Guangzhou Zhenzhuang Building Materials Co., Ltd.
- Hexagon grates: Taian Linghang Geosynthetic Materials Co., Ltd. / Shandong Yunwei New Material Technology Co., Ltd.SS grates: Foshan Xinronghua Jiasheng Metal Materials Co., Ltd. / Toshi Group Dongfang Special Steel Co., Ltd.
- Stone stepping stone: Fujian Quanzhou Shuncheng Stone Industry Co., Ltd.
- Rubber surfaces: Guangdong Chuanao High-tech Co., Ltd.
Lighting
- Bollard, pole, and smart pole lights: Thorn Lighting (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.
- Woodland path bar lights: Thorn Lighting (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.
- Ground mounted lights: Thorn Lighting (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.
- Warning lights: Thorn Lighting (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.
- LED color and tracing lights, LED stripe: Thorn Lighting (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.

Plant List

Antidesma bunius
Sterculia nobilis smith
Celtis sinensis
Cinnamomum camphora
Citrus paradisi
Sterculia lanceolata Cav.
Ixora chinensis
Albizia falcataria
Ficus altissima
Ficus religiosa
Ficus microcarpa L. f.
Ficus binnendijkii
Ficus benjamina
Bischofia javanica
Pongamia pinnata
Ormosia pinnata
Syzygium cumini
Taxodium distichum
Chukrasia tabularis
Mangifera indica L.
Cassia siamea
Terminalia arjuna
Terminalia muelleri
Syzygium jambos
Syzygium samarangense
Peltophorum pterocarpum
Melaleuca quinqenervia
Swietenia mahagoni
Melaleuca viridiflora ‘Red’
Carallia brachiate (Lour.) Merr
Ficus variegata Bl. Var. chlorocarpa (Benth.) King
Michelia alba
Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.
Terminalia catappa
Lysidice rhodostegia
Terminalia mantaly ‘Tricolor’
Tabebuia pentaphylla
Tabebuia chrysantha
Tabebuia aurea
Cassia bakeriana
Koelreuteria bipinnata
Ilex corallina
Bauhinia variegate
Xanthostemon chrysanthus
Mangifera persiciforma
Plumeria rubra
Spathodea campanulate
Lysidice rhodostegia
Spathodea campanulate
Lagerstroemia speciosa
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Crateva religiosa
Ceiba insignis
Tabebuia impetiginosus
Bombax ceiba
Hibiscus tiliaceus Linn.
Delonix regia
Pongamia pinnata
Brringtonia racemose
Saraca dives