I. Location of Project

Suzhou, Jiangsu Province

II. Way of Working

Growing together with the development of Suzhou for 20 years, CAUPD came up with different planning and designs in response to the specific problems and challenges cropping up in different phase of the city’s development, playing an important leading role throughout its development.

III. “Valet” Service and its Effects

1. “Valet” Service

First, from a single place to the whole region. It requires taking the entire region into consideration and making constant transformation. Starting from Suzhou, CAUPD gradually formed a judgment on the spatial pattern of the Yangtze River Delta region, studied and predicted the bottleneck in Suzhou’s future development, and took the lead in promoting demonstration project of transformation.

Second, from the region to a single place. It refers to implementation and realization of values . CAUPD carried out “valet” planning through the following four means: ecology, people, refinement and innovation, and relevant fruits of the work have been made a part of the decision-making process of local governments. It is worth mentioning that urban design played an important role in our “valet” work, and the overall urban design ran through the whole city to specific zones and neighborhoods. Beginning as a "City Garden of Rockery and Fake Water", Suzhou went through the stages of a "City within Gardens of Real Mountain and Waters" and a "New Paradise of Lush Mountains and Lucid Waters" until finally became the "Beautiful and Happy New Paradise" it is today; every stage of its development was guided by the image and positioning established by the overall urban design.

2. Effects of Valet Service

Suzhou has been maintaining its prosperity and enduring appeal over the past two decades. Starting with Suzhou, CAUPD, with experience in “valet” planning service of 20 years under its belt, expanded its planning practice to the Yangtze River, Hangzhou Bay and the regions surrounding Taihu Lake, and established a number of practice bases in Huzhou, Nantong and Shaoxing, which facilitated our monitoring of the dynamics of the entire Yangtze River Delta and contributed greatly to our judgment of the future development pattern of the Yangtze River Delta. Meanwhile, thanks to its practical experience of planning in Suzhou, CAUPD gave strong support to national ministries and commissions on their research of key topics and projects.

IV. Reflections

The following four principles must be pursued in the “valet” planning:

First, give priority to public interests, be professional, and stay true to the original aspiration.

Second, use technology to solve complex problems, make cutting-edge research and constant innovation.

Third, Continuous overall operation on a long-term basis, government departments and the institute work as a team, central government cooperate with local governments.

Fourth, platform construction, talent cultivation, collaboration within the institute, and support outside the institute.