This project breathes new life into once-barren lands by integrating sustainable forests and captivating agricultural spaces, addressing China’s rural development challenges. Spanning 166 acres, this agricultural park harmoniously blends with the environment and restores the land’s natural terrain.
It uses local materials and adheres to EU standards for modern, eco-conscious agricultural production. The park has become a coveted destination, allowing visitors to experience enchanting rural life.
The project fosters community growth and empowerment. Generating 196 jobs, it positively impacts 30,000+ residents in nearby towns, highlighting the region’s innate charm and reaffirming the value of sustainable, responsible design.
– DESIGN’S ROLE IN RURAL AREAS
In today’s China, rural development lags behind urban centres. Rural demographics have “hollowed out” due to migration to cities, and cities have “urban malaise.” Embracing their social responsibility, project developers invested in rural revitalization and transformation. But agriculture alone can’t address the issue; the environment must be valued more. The project’s near to an ecological wetland can synergize modern agricultural production with leisure tourism. This integration boosts rural development and maximises the villages’ pastoral characteristics.
– SITE CONDITIONS
The project is in Nanchong, Sichuan, a Southwest Chinese “Fruit City” with a 2,000-year tradition of fruit tree production. Subtropical humid monsoon climate and undulating hilltop topography characterise the area. Although the site’s natural conditions were favourable, many constructions had led to land abandonment and degradation before the project. The area had decaying farmhouses, artificial ponds, linear channels, exposed hillsides, etc.
– RESILIENCE
The scattered land parcels originally present were unsuitable for modern agricultural production and required consolidation. The design complemented the natural terrain. Depressions were shallowly excavated to produce ponds, while elevated areas were gently reduced to build slopes, minimising earthwork. The ponds store water and prevent flooding while becoming scenic attractions. By maintaining the overall topography, small fields were transformed into larger ones, with fruit trees, vegetables, and other crops arranged for planting. This arrangement facilitates agricultural operations and creates a terraced landscape effect.
– SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
The park’s agriculture follows European Union standards, implementing ecological management, including integrated water and fertiliser and used organic fertilisers. This ensures the sustainable development of the land.
a)The scenic elements derived from agricultural products, allowing fruit trees and vegetables to become part of the landscape.
b)The construction materials are native and compatible. The environment’s colour pallet determines material colour, such as bamboo, pebbles, and wheat straw.
c)The landscaping techniques employed are rustic. These natural designs pay homage to traditional agriculture.
d)The park has multi-functional driveways to facilitate agricultural production (for agricultural and tourist electric vehicles), enabling visitors to tour and participate in agricultural activities easily.
– THE SCENIC ROUTE
A picturesque route connects the park’s main attractions via the twin bridges across the pond and the wetland. Thousands of weeping crabapples border this road. Their long blossoming cycle provides a dreamlike environment of pink clouds.
– SOCIAL EQUITY
The agricultural park modernised local agriculture. It produces abundant yields while offering authentic agricultural landscapes that attract numerous visitors. It also supports agricultural product processing and introduces business layouts such as restaurants and a wine estate (in collaboration with France).
The local township has undergone significant changes. Local residents are no longer solely identified as farmers but have become industrial workers, tertiary industry employees, and business managers. The Sino-French Agricultural Science and Technology Park and related projects have provided locals with hundreds of jobs, which infuses vitality into rural.
Devoloper: Sichuan Port and Shipping Investment Co., Ltd.
Location: China-France Agricultural Science and Technology Park, Jiangling Town, Gaoping District, Nanchong City, Sichuan Province, China
Design year: 2015-2016
Year Completed: 2020
