Project Statement

Haikou City, long plagued by monsoon flooding and urban water pollution, saw its concrete-lined waterways bereft of life and ecological resilience. Addressing this, the landscape architect led the charge in implementing nature-based solutions, revitalizing these waterways into thriving green, social-ecological systems. This transformation brought back clean water, rich biodiversity, and lush landscapes, injecting social vibrancy into the community. Eco-friendly, flood-resilient waterways and mangrove habitats replaced concrete flood walls, with constructed wetlands filtering water and incorporating recreational spaces. This sustainable and scalable approach not only improved ecological health but also met the city's social needs.

Project Narrative

1. Site and Challenges:

Rapid urbanization in Haikou, a tropical city in China, led to a population boom and neglect of natural water systems. The 23-kilometer Meishe River, previously a sewage-filled concrete canal, exemplified these challenges. Fragmented solutions had failed, worsening the condition. In 2016, the landscape architect was commissioned to revitalize the river and the 80-hectare Fengxiang Park at the river bank. This redevelopment enhanced the ecological landscape and addressed the growing population's social needs.

2. Design Strategies

The design strategy involves integrating civil engineering with ecological design. They focused on a comprehensive system combining water management with natural processes to address pollution and flooding. The river corridor was re-envisioned as an inclusive social-ecological infrastructure. Key strategies included:

Ecological Infrastructure Planning: Developing a stormwater-focused green infrastructure to manage stormwater separately from sewage, integrating the river, tributaries, wetlands, and green spaces, complemented by an interconnected network for pedestrians and recreation.

Dechannelizing: The concrete flood walls were removed and replaced with an eco-friendly river bank. The blocked waterway is reconnected to the ocean to allow tides to again enter the city; wetlands and shallow shores along the river were reconstructed so that mangroves could rehabilitate them. Continuously elevated pedestrian paths were designed to create waterfront access. The demolished concrete and excavated materials were recycled to build isles along the river to further rewild the waterway and enhance the interaction between water and earth and create habitats for diverse tropical fauna and flora. 

Bio-filtration: In Fengxiang Park, where concrete flood walls and garbage dumps once stood, constructed wetlands now line the riverbank, serving as water purification facilities. These wetlands treat two types of water: nutrient-rich non-point source pollution runoff and sewage from local urban villages lacking access to centralized sewage treatment. This natural system can clean 6000 tons of polluted water daily, improving it to swimmable quality. Additionally, mobile pre-treatment equipment at wetland inlets handles sewage, removing odors and pathogens before channeling grey water into the wetlands, and cleaning 3,500 tons of domestic sewage daily. Water flow management is flexible, with options to switch or combine flows as needed. Regular testing ensures water quality remains safe for public use.

Social Function Integration: The green corridors are enriched with diverse amenities, including a nature center for education, playgrounds for children, a plaza for Taiji and group dancing, and plentiful seating. These amenities are allocated where most accessible which transforms the greenway into a communal hub for the city, catering to all ages and fostering community engagement.

3. Achievement

This project gained Haikou International Wetland City status by Ramsar in 2018 and in 2023, Meishe River was named one of China's Most Beautiful Mother Rivers. It showcases scalable, cost-effective solutions for urban water challenges, enhancing water quality, flood mitigation, and creating public spaces with cultural and social value.