“Yantai Zhifu Bay Strategy Promotion and Urban Design” Selected as a Typical Case of Urban Design in Shandong Province

Recently, the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Department of Shandong Province announced the 2023 typical cases of urban design, and the project titled “Yantai Zhifu Bay Strategy Promotion and Urban Design” was successfully selected.

Urban design plays a crucial role in improving the spatial structure of cities, shaping urban identity, and creating enjoyable spaces for activities. The “Yantai Zhifu Bay Strategy Promotion and Urban Design” departs from the conventional inland-centered spatial model and reimagines the four rigid finger piers, transforming them into four cohesive, enclosed harbors with a pleasant scale. This transformation of the spatial layout opens up new possibilities for the development of Zhifu Bay, assigning each harbor a distinct theme, such as cultural tourism, international exchange, future living, and technological innovation. The design also introduces industrial resources related to finance, commerce, creativity, and research, with a particular focus on cultural tourism and marine-related industries, aiming to create a comprehensive, world-class urban area.

Traditional land reclamation projects often disrupt ocean currents, reduce water exchange, and cause eutrophic sedimentation, negatively impacting the water quality of the inner bay. In addressing these challenges, the “Yantai Zhifu Bay Strategy Promotion and Urban Design” incorporates strategies that prioritize ecology. The project proposes three key measures: permeable channels, ecological islands, and tidal inner pools. Additionally, transportation has long been a challenge for the development of Zhifu Bay. To tackle this, the project proposes a multi-scale transformation of the road system, addressing short-term challenges while reserving space for long-term improvements within manageable costs.

The “Yantai Zhifu Bay Strategy Promotion and Urban Design” integrates natural resources to establish a harmonious relationship between the harbor and the city. The design features a mountain-sea corridor, integrates scattered green spaces, and enhances the urban image of Yantai, known as the “Fairyland on Earth.” The project envisions Zhifu Bay as an ecological harbor, a vibrant international bay, a hub for innovation, and a livable urban area. It also aims to create a city with a unique space-time imprint, using strategies that preserve the old, remove the excess, and introduce new elements. The project also involves the reorganization of existing industrial sites and proposes targeted renovation strategies, focusing on the creation of a blue-green area centered around the sea. The piers will be transformed into harbors, and a linear park will be built along the historic railway, serving as a spatial axis linking the four piers. At the center of the third pier, a low-density “ecological axis” will be created to integrate urban and marine functions.