Situated at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Yangzhou owes its 2,500-year-old urban patterns to its unique relationship with water. Once a hub for scholars, philosophers, craftsmen, and merchants, the banks of the river reflected little of their former glory by the end of the twentieth century. Neglect and isolation left the waterway economically atrophied, a backwater district disconnected from the city of Yangzhou. Through a series of interventions addressing both cultural and ecological challenges, the new redevelopment plan brings vision and hope to this significant historic area.

Overland realized regulation had hindered past efforts. They encouraged the client to shift from asking, “What are the limits?” to “What are the goals?” Peeling away decades of poor development, they uncovered the area’s historical magic. Public participation was crucial, ensuring current residents were well served and the remaining regional culture is preserved.

The redesign reflected Yangzhou’s historical character, introducing diverse activities across three segments of the river. The northern Grace Lifestyle Zone, the middle Slow Lifestyle Zone, and the southern LOHAS Zone each celebrate different aspects of local culture and sustainability, introducing diverse activities.

The northern reach [Nodes 1–4], or Grace Lifestyle Zone, is intended to recall and celebrate the rich historical memory of the Minor Qinhuai River. The middle segment of the Slow Lifestyle Zone [Nodes 5–6] captures the local cultural traditions with craft exhibitions and recreational activities that support locals and submerge tourists into the everyday life of Yangzhou. The southernmost reach, or LOHAS Zone [Nodes 7–8], promotes the impact that sustainable techniques tied to the city’s low-carbon pilot initiatives have on improving the quality of life in the city center.

This project not only revives the canal but also transforms it into a national asset, fostering connections between locals and visitors.

The canal itself presented a unique challenge as well. Improving the quality of life along the waterway meant first cleaning and restoring the quality of the water itself. Working with the client, Overland developed a hybrid of isolation and connectivity to the other canals in Yangzhou. Their solution became a model for future canal restoration projects, providing value to the entire city.

Supported by amenities such as hotels, conference, and exhibition spaces, the project will transform this fallow waterway into a national asset—a new cultural landscape for the twenty-first century.