I. Location of Project

Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province

II. Overall Design

We positioned the Hutuo River as a green development belt in Shijiazhuang and a demonstration zone for development along the rivers of the BTH area, and put forward planning and design requirements from five aspects: ecology, safety, culture, dynamics and intelligence. And in accordance with the development strategy of "one city and seven counties, embrace rivers in development; safety-oriented, ecologically-based; blue-green integration, beautiful scenery and well-off people", we carried out all-round ecological restoration, coordinated the construction of surrounding urban and rural spaces, and built ecological belt, landscape belt and industrial belt on both sides of the Hutuo River. As a result, we now have a wholesome river corridor featuring lucid water and lush vegetation and interaction between cities and rivers.

III. Reflection on Practice

First, governing by doing nothing that goes against nature. Ecological restoration project served as a tool to guide and assist the process of ecological restoration of Hutuo River. We always complied with the objective law, gave full play to the self-repair function of the ecosystem, minimized the scale and traces of restoration effected by man, and left blank space as appropriate. To sum it up, we did the minimal work and leave the rest to nature to arrive at a landscape that is like nature’s own doing.

Second, multidisciplinary cooperation. The Hutuo River ecological restoration project involved many disciplines including water conservancy, ecology, landscape architecture, urban planning, cultural tourism, building structure, water supply and drainage, and electricity, which called for thorough communication between multiple disciplines and the establishment of a common goal and value system. In the planning stage, led by the disciplines of urban planning and landscape architecture, we took comprehensive and systematic consideration of the ecological pattern formed by the river and its surrounding space, and paid attention to the multi-dimensional interaction and common growth of the river and the city. In the construction later, we saw to it that the landscape design not only ensure the safety of flood discharge, but also provide for the landscape effect and touring experience.

Third, adapt to local conditions. Taking comprehensive consideration of social, economic, cultural, ecological, transportation and other factors, and in light of the phased construction plan, we divided the Hutuo River into three sections of different styles, and on the basis of overall coordination and unity, we created the following spaces of unique charm: large river and wetlands, leisure field, water amusement space, and cultural tourism.