The Dasha River runs through the Nanshan district of Shenzhen, a city in southern China adjoining Hong Kong. The river extends in a southwest direction for 18.8 kilometers, running from Yangtai mountain in Shenzhen’s northern hills and reaching the sea in Shenzhen Bay. Although short, the watercourse represents an important green axis connecting the increasingly affluent Nanshan district on the coast to the more mountainous area that defines the northern part of the city.
Historically, the river had served as a link connecting local fishing and farming communities. However, its condition deteriorated rapidly once Shenzhen began to industrialize in the early 1990s. Contamination from large amounts of sewage and other pollutants was compounded by the construction of two upstream dams, leading to reduced water flow. At the same time, misguided flood control measures saw authorities harden and straighten its once meandering banks. As a result, the formerly lively waterway quickly became disconnected from the local community.
At the same time, however, the area’s rapid urbanization had brought an influx of new residents, transforming Nanshan from an agrarian community into a densely populated neighborhood currently numbering some 1.4 million people. For a now densely populated community, the polluted waterway was both an eyesore and a missed opportunity. Authorities therefore launched a major rejuvenation program.
The resulting urban park, stretching 13.7 kilometers from the sea to the river’s upper reaches, has proved a success on a number of levels. Involving a relatively modest investment, it has:
• Restored the river basin’s original ecological function by linking preexisting patches of natural green space to form an unbroken linear park from the sea upstream.
• Provided a substantial social benefit by boosting the mental wellbeing of local residents and reconnecting the
community to green and blue open space
• Generated significant tax revenues for the district government by raising local land values and bringing an influx of new businesses and residents to adjoining neighborhoods.
Learn more about the Dasha River Ecological Corridor on Knowledge Finder.
