Hongfu Road Urban Axis Regeneration redefines the transformation of urban infrastructure in Dongguan from a vehicle-oriented traffic corridor into an inclusive, ecological, and people-centered public realm. Located along the city’s central axis, the 4.5-kilometer-long and 520,000-square-meter project explores a regeneration pathway that shifts from rapid urban expansion toward refined, high-quality urban living.

Guided by the concept of “returning the road to the people,” the project integrates transportation reconfiguration, ecological restoration, public space renewal, and cultural activation into a unified urban infrastructure framework. Through complete-street design standards, the project establishes a safe and efficient slow-mobility system, restructures street interfaces, and creates a continuous network of public open spaces and all-age activity scenarios. The intervention transforms Hongfu Road into a multifunctional urban spine integrating mobility, ecology, culture, commerce, and daily life.

Located within Dongguan’s “Golden Double Axes” framework, Hongfu Road serves as the city’s primary landscape and cultural corridor. Prior to regeneration, the site was heavily shaped by car-oriented planning, resulting in fragmented pedestrian systems, insufficient public space, poor ecological continuity, and weak cultural identity. Parking lots occupied valuable street frontage, slow-traffic routes lacked safety and coherence, and disconnected green spaces limited environmental performance and urban vitality.

The project addresses these challenges through a systematic restructuring of both spatial organization and public life. The corridor is divided into five characteristic functional zones and three hierarchical intersection systems, creating a rhythmic and differentiated urban sequence. More than ten landscape nodes strategically connect civic institutions, commercial districts, transit stations, residential neighborhoods, and cultural facilities, reinforcing the role of Hongfu Road as Dongguan’s urban backbone.

Integrated street-section standards establish clear separation between vehicular traffic, cycling lanes, sidewalks, green buffers, and parking areas, ensuring spatial equity and safety for all users. A continuous double-row street tree canopy extends across five kilometers, improving microclimate conditions, reducing urban heat-island effects, and strengthening ecological continuity. Permeable materials, rainwater recycling systems, and ecological slope restoration further enhance environmental resilience and sustainable infrastructure performance.

The project also redefines the relationship between streets and buildings through a U-shaped complete-street strategy integrating roadways, sidewalks, and building frontages into a unified public interface. Inefficient parking lots and leftover spaces are transformed into open plazas, pocket parks, shaded seating areas, and community gathering spaces, significantly increasing the accessibility and stay ability of the urban axis.

Cultural narrative plays a key role in shaping urban identity. The project incorporates thematic plazas, public art, narrative paving, and cultural sculptures inspired by Dongguan’s basketball culture, city flower, and local history. Existing landmarks, including the iconic “Little Ben” sculpture, are preserved to maintain collective memory and strengthen civic belonging.

Social inclusivity and everyday public life are central to the design. More than ten new public open spaces support recreation, social interaction, and community activities. Children’s play areas, understory resting spaces, artistic street furniture, and barrier-free facilities create a comfortable and inclusive environment for users of all ages.

The project establishes a replicable model for contemporary urban infrastructure regeneration in high-density Chinese cities. By integrating ecological systems, public life, cultural identity, and mobility infrastructure, Hongfu Road demonstrates how transportation corridors can evolve into resilient, people-oriented, and socially vibrant urban public spaces.

Landscape Architect: Guangzhou S.P.I Design Co., Ltd.

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