Weiliu Wetland Park | Xianyang, China | Yifang Ecoscape

Background: the mother river under pressure

As the urbanization of Xi’an and Xianyang City took progress, the once natural riparian areas of Wei River have gradually been replaced by concrete banks and decorative greenery planting. The constant degradation of the wild riverside landscape has also contributed to the loss of the sense of belonging, for the people who have lived in this rural area for generations.

Weiliu Wetland Park was constructed on a section of Wei River’s riparian zone outside of Xianyang City, which was one of the few naturally flooded river sections that remained. It is approximately 3200m long and 470m wide, with a total area of 125ha.

Overall Strategy: Creating integrated Green Infrastructure

In order to restore and reconstruct the local riparian ecosystem, a plan was developed to create a piece of urban Green Infrastructure through strategies including adaptive flood control, stormwater management, water quality improvement, waste water reuse and biodiversity restoration.

Creating resilient, flood adaptive landscape

In order to restore the resilience of flood retention and utilize riparian spaces, an adaptive landscape was created based on the existing topography: the lowest areas were designed to be floodable natural wetlands, areas of lower flood risk were used for constructed wetlands and the highest areas on site were designated for recreational and leisure spaces. Bioengineering techniques such as willow mattress revetment, riprap, gabions, and grassed slope were used for flood protection, biodiversity restoration and habitat protection.

Reusing the original dyke for green corridor

The main spine of the park was a green corridor that moved through the center of the park, built upon an existing earth dyke flanked by willow trees. The trees were all retained and quickly became a unique scenic feature of the new park.

Purifying waste water for reuse

A buffer belt of constructed wetlands was created between the city and the river. All polluted water from the drainage channels that ran through the site was firstly collected into WWTP and then the outlet water treated by constructed wetlands, producing recycle water that meet Class III-IV standards using for landscape irrigation, the aquatic playground and finally directed to replenish the natural riparian wetlands.

Assisting natural recovery process

The project set its goal on recreating a diverse local habitat. Using existing trees and wild reed ponds as a foundation, the design applied minor earth shaping and careful replanting of local trees, shrubs and aquatic plants to restore shelters and habitats for aquatic life, amphibians and birds.

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Returning of rural lifestyle and natural experiences

Leisure areas such as civil squares, aquatic playgrounds, urban farms and rustic fitness zones were included in the park with a touch of local cultural elements, which gave nearby residents and park visitors plenty of opportunities to return and experience the restored natural riparian area.

Creating artistic experience in nature

One of the artistic elements was expressed through two colorful bridges in the wetland area. The two intertwining structures raised and lowered through the landscape, forming boardwalks, bridges and viewing platforms, which symbolized the integration of water and the local culture.

Low cost sustainable Landscape with high benefits

One year after the its completion, water quality monitoring spots across the park all reported results better than the Class III-IV standards, while the total quantity of water reused after treatment reached 2.4×106m3 per annum. Cost of the park was less than one third of similar local parks in Xianyang. The average scores for different areas of the park on the Shannon-Widener Index (measuring local biodiversity) were improved to 1.57-1.91 for herbaceous plant community and 2.11-2.33 for trees community. The overall satisfaction rate for the new park was 94% and nearby residents reported an increase in real-estate values of the adjacent areas after the park’s completion.

Weiliu Wetland Park – Restoration and revival of Wei River riparian zone

Design Firm: Yifang Ecoscape

Location: Xianyang, China

Budget: RMB 80 million

Image credits: Yifang Ecoscape

About Damian Holmes 3442 Articles
Damian Holmes is the Founder and Editor of World Landscape Architecture (WLA). He is a registered landscape architect (AILA) working in international design practice in Australia. Damian founded WLA in 2007 to provide a website for landscape architects written by landscape architects. Connect on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianholmes/