Why is Songshan Lake so popular? Perhaps because it offers a harmonious blend of technology and nature. This is Songshan Lake Scenic Area.
It sits in the heart of Dongguan near Shenzhen’s Guangming District. The area is known for beautiful lakes and graceful hills. High-tech companies like HUAWEI have set up headquarters here. Many scientific research labs are also nearby.
Decades ago this area was first designed. Over time it grew without a clear plan. This no longer met the needs of the growing community. Residents workers and visitors now use the lake’s perimeter. The linear site covers 42.5 acres. A road ran through the center before it was redesigned. There were also broken sidewalks dense plants and separate water areas. The ecology here was getting worse so a redesign was needed.
The Songshan Lake Management Committee led this effort. They focused on bringing the lake back to life. The goal was to create an urban public space. It needed to combine nature urban life and ecology. The main road was changed. It now makes room for bikes people and cars. Restoring nature was important. The redesign respected the original plans. It turned Songshan Lake into a popular place for the community.
Plants here were in bad shape. About 37% needed work. The ground cover was not taken care of. It was overgrown. The first step was to protect the old trees. Unwanted plants were removed to make it safer. This also made room for new plants and ground cover. Invasive plants were taken out. Local low-maintenance plants were added. This made the area naturally beautiful. These changes restored the natural parts of the site. People can now enjoy the space and connect with nature.
The water on the site used to be cut off. This caused bad conditions because of oxidation. There was also some flooding along the lake. The second step was reconnecting the water areas. This helped restore them to a natural condition.
An eight-acre water area was redesigned. This included a wetland system. It cleans the water and helps prevent flooding. More than ten swales were added to channel runoff. Water is redirected from buildings to the wetland. Adaptive aquatic plants were added. This has improved the water quality. It has created better conditions for fish frogs birds and insects. They have returned to live in and around the site.
A road used to cut through the southern part of the site. It split the area into three sections that were not used much. The redesign included shaded public spaces. These spaces are along a walking path. This changed the road’s boundary. The public spaces connect with each other. They have an interactive fountain streams and seating. People can now interact with each other. The redesigned lakefront is now a hub. People gather access nature and host community events here.
The original design mixed cars bikes and walkers. This caused conflicts. The fourth strategy was to create a greenway system. It needed to be safe for everyone. Bikes and walkers are now separated from cars. The natural landscape can be fully enjoyed. More parking space was also added. A jogging path was added along new sidewalks. This prevents runoff from entering the sewer system. The greenway is successful. It is now being expanded into a 75-mile system. This will connect nearby communities.
These improvements are part of a larger plan. The goal is to redevelop the entire lakefront. Other projects with similar needs have been identified. These areas will be re-naturalized. This will improve the ecology. Enjoyable public spaces will be created. Affordable housing will also be available for low-income families. Once finished the lakefront will cover 1335 acres. It will be an integrated system for everyone. It can be used as a model for regional connection communities and sensitivity.
The Songshan Lake area is not just a scenic spot. It is also a science city. It is home to research labs and universities. A walk around Songshan Lake combines nature with innovation.