Context and Problems
Wuxi is an ancient city in eastern China renowned for its harmonious blend of mountains, water, and urban development exemplified by the Grand Canal and the “turtle back” ancient town beneath Huishan Mountain. The area is steeped in over 6,000 years of cultural and historical significance, having attracted notable figures throughout history and currently supporting a rich biodiversity of over 1,500 species.
Unfortunately, urban expansion has encroached on the mountain’s surroundings, leading to three key issues: a lack of visibility to Huishan mountain due to inadequate urban planning, a lack of access to Huishan mountain due to suboptimal transportation infrastructure, and featureless Huishan mountain due to the absence of gateways. These challenges necessitate a strategic urban design intervention to preserve and enhance the area’s natural and cultural assets.
Strategy and Goals
Wuxi Huishan Mountain Forest Park and Foothill Area Urban Design is a strategic initiative to address the challenges of urbanization and enhance the region’s cultural and ecological value across three scales: large regional design analysis, core urban design range and 5 implemented design nodes. The overall plan is structured around three main goals: enhancing its visibility, ensuring its accessibility, and improving its identifiability.
(1) Visibility
On the peripheral mountain area, to make Huishan Mountain more visible, the design establishes view corridors that link key green spaces with the nearest mountain’s landmarks, creating a clear line of sight. This is supported by height restrictions in a four-zone planning area, which protects the view of the mountain’s peak, ensuring that it remains a prominent feature in the urban landscape.
(2) Accessibility
In the adjacent zone, the plan proposes comprehensive street guidelines including gateways, ecological and community corridors to improve accessibility. The gateways serve as primary access points, connecting the mountain with historical areas and the ancient town. Ecological corridors facilitate connections between the mountain’s catchment areas and nearby rivers, with provisions for animal migration through an ecological bridge. Community corridors extend into various blocks, improving pedestrian access to the nearby mountain. Additionally, a multi-level trail system is introduced, offering a range of experiences from greenways for trams and bicycles to interactive forest hiking trails and elevated walkways for panoramic views.
(3) Identifiability
At the foothill’s core, the area is divided into five zones with unique themes that reflect its natural and urban functions. The Xihui Historic Park, as the main eastern entrance, will feature enhanced facilities such as fountains and memorials. The Zhiyu Terrace Park, themed around the famous cultural element of “Fish Joy,” will incorporate a fish-head-shaped platform and a rainwater cleaning system for fountains. The Northern Sports Park will transform abandoned areas into a dynamic space for sports and leisure, integrating mountain greenery and facilities like sports fields and libraries.
Vision
Huishan Mountain Forest Park and Foothill Area aims to create a renewed model for mountain-city integration. By addressing visibility, accessibility, and identifiability through strategic planning and design, Huishan Mountain will become a central, vibrant, and recognizable part of Wuxi’s cultural and urban fabric, serving as both a green heart and a symbol of the city’s heritage.
Huishan Mountain Forest Park and Foothill Area Urban Design
Designer Firm: Sasaki Associates, Inc.
Client: Wuxi Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning
Collaborators/Other Consultants:
Zhongdu Engineering Design Co., Ltd