Situated at the coast of Yantian in the eastern part of Shenzhen, the 19.5 km long Yantian Waterfront Boardwalk is the most famous waterfront for the spectacular ocean views. It is a reconstruction project after the hit of Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, which is the strongest typhoon hitting Shenzhen since 1983, reaching Beaufort scale level 14, brought devastating destruction to the existing boardwalk.

The implemented part has a length of 11km. Tourist spots with spectacular sceneries, including Dameisha, Xiaomeisha and Beizaijiao, are connected by the new boardwalk. The leisure path, with tourist and sports elements, also extends to the Seafood Street, which is a promenade along local commercial blocks.

The new boardwalk has an alignment with higher safety requirements and details with better climate resilience. It provides open spaces with higher inclusiveness and flexibility. By taking the chance of reconstruction, the Waterfront Boardwalk links up the fragmented urban fabric with the natural tourist spots, redefining the relationship between living and natural landscape. The new Yantian Waterfront Boardwalk would become a sustainable, vigorous, and world-class waterfront.

The Dameisha Section of the Waterfront Boardwalk consists of three levels of corridors: the existing road, the bicycle trail and footpath at the upper portion and suspended boardwalk at the lower portion. Located at larger areas where the topography is comparatively flat, the new Service Stations act as entrances for the visitors who can enjoy the spectacular view of Dapeng Bay at the viewing platforms on the roof of the Service Stations. Paths and stairs move gently down the slope from the service station to the suspended boardwalk, enhancing the vertical connection between the two corridors. Viewing Platforms are located along the bicycle path, while Surs are located at the shoreline next to the suspended boardwalk. These two kinds of recreation platforms, which provide distinct experiences of sea-viewing, are the indispensable catalysts for a dynamic waterfront.

The Seafood Street Section of the Waterfront Boardwalk situates at one of the most prosperous commercial and retail areas in Yantian District. The promenade along Seafood Street was devastated during the hit of Typhoon Mangkhut. The design team treated the reconstruction project as an opportunity to reshape Yantian District. Seafood Street Section is a recreational promenade with bicycle trail and walkway. Part of the wider section is sunken for a closer experience with the coast. The bottom part of the balustrade is made up of prefabricated concrete modules, while the top part comprises stainless steel and treated wood handrail. At the other side of the promenade, retaining wall with prefabricated concrete modules echoes with the dynamic waterfront living. The feature high-chairs provide the best location for visitors to enjoy the marvelous views of Yantian Port. The tropical style planting design is reflected by the row of palm trees along the path. The overall design of the Seafood Street Section of the Waterfront Boardwalk shapes itself into a popular destination for citizens to relax and play.

Yantian Waterfront Boardwalk provides an open space with higher inclusiveness and flexibility for both Shenzhen’s citizens and visitors. By taking the chance of reconstruction, the Waterfront Boardwalk links up the fragmented urban fabric with the natural tourist spots, redefining the relationship between living and natural landscape. The new Yantian Waterfront Boardwalk would become a sustainable, vigorous, and world-class waterfront.

We believe this reconstruction project is a good opportunity to explore the everlasting issue: Should people confront or obey the force of nature? This project presents a dynamic equilibrium on the site – to protect human habitats from the natural disasters, while maintain a sustainable use of land and natural resources – which is the important strategy of the entire process of the reconstruction project. We discovered that the root of this dynamic equilibrium is that the human activities on the site, both communal and individual, both commercial and cultural, both sports and recreational, form the distinct urban lifestyles that full of vitality. This dynamicity is the true bond of urban fabric and promenade space, creating a sustainable and resilient waterfront.

Other landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape:

Construction Drawing: LAY-OUT PLANNING CONSULTANTS CO., LTD

Structure: CCCC WATER TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANTS CO., LTD

Architecture offices involved in the design: N/A

Client: Shenzhen Yantian District Public Works Bureau; China Resources (Shenzhen) Limited

Project location: Yantian Coastline, Shenzhen, P.R.China

Design year: 2019

Year Built: 2020

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