Introduction to Datian Greenway
▲ Aerial view of the Longqiao section in the suburbs of Datian Greenway, captured by Chosen Spring Design
▲ Aerial view of Datian Greenway, photographed by Master Duan
▲ Another aerial perspective of Datian Greenway, photographed by Master Duan
Constructing a “Tian” Pattern Greenway in Datian County
Nestled among mountains and rivers, Datian County is a picturesque mountain city. The Junxi River flows through its center, yet the city lacks sufficient public waterfront spaces. Although the surrounding mountains are winding and scenic, forest parks nearby are difficult to access. The densely built central town offers limited open areas for residents to engage in outdoor activities.
The goal of the Datian Greenway project is to enhance urban greenery and create more public open spaces, providing a breathable, green environment despite limited land availability.
▲ Creating a “Tian” (field) shaped greenway in Datian County
The Datian Greenway introduces lush greenery into the city, integrating natural features such as mountains, rivers, and roads to form interconnected suburban, riverside, and urban greenways. This network forms a distinctive “Tian” (田) pattern, blending natural and cultural landscapes seamlessly. It provides an ecological, healthy, and livable environment for residents, reshaping the character of Datian Mountain and Water Town.
▲ Datian Greenway integrating greenery into the urban fabric, captured by Chosen Spring Design
Demonstration Section: Floral Landscapes Along Datian’s Green Road
The suburban greenway in Datian serves as a pilot demonstration, stretching 6.3 km with a width of 4.5 meters and covering approximately 53,000 square meters. The design embraces the theme “flowers bloom along the path, inviting a slow return.”
Local regional flora such as the Fujian Mountain cherry blossom and the colorful Mount Huangshan Luan are carefully selected to create a tree-lined greenway that evokes a sense of home and nostalgia.
▲ Blossoming flowers create a local forest-lined greenway featuring Fujian Mountain cherry blossoms, captured by Chosen Spring Design
▲ Dynamic view of terraced fields, valleys, mountains, and forests along the greenway
Health data and the natural landscape of mountainous towns, terraced valleys, and wild forests inspire the placement of observation decks and rest stations along the route.
The design embraces Datian’s local culture by incorporating a “earthen fortress”-shaped entrance station, the pastoral “Phoenix Valley,” and the culturally significant “Bench Dragon” bridge. Facilities such as restrooms, lighting, and signage are thoughtfully integrated for user convenience.
Over 130 species and nearly 10,000 plants have been planted, creating a multifunctional urban greenway that supports fitness, recreation, ecology, education, and sightseeing.
▲ Observation and leisure stations established along the greenway
Bench Dragon Bridge
The iconic 80-meter-long Bench Dragon Bridge spans Phoenix Valley, drawing inspiration from the intangible cultural heritage of Datian’s “Bench Dragon.” This bridge abstracts the traditional form into modern design elements.
The design creatively abstracts the intangible cultural heritage of the “Datian Bench Dragon.”
The five circular bridge piers represent “connecting handles,” the main beam symbolizes “benches,” and the irregular hyperbolic steel grid mimics the “dragon’s body.” The diamond-shaped grid pattern evokes the bamboo woven skin of the bench dragon. The grid’s ends blend with greenery, representing the dragon’s head and tail.
This transparent grid structure conveys the artistic concept of an invisible dragon, moving away from traditional concrete dragon forms. Instead, it modernizes and elevates local cultural imagery using steel materials and urban sculptural techniques.
▲ Construction process of the Greenway Bench Dragon Bridge
▲ Before and after comparison of the Datian Bench Dragon Bridge implementation
▲ The Bench Dragon Bridge harmoniously integrated with the terraced valley landscape, captured by Chosen Spring Design
▲ Detailed photography and design of the mesh-scale skin of the Datian Bench Dragon Bridge
▲ Light and shadow effects on the scale skin of the Datian Bench Dragon Bridge
▲ Experience crossing the Datian Bench Dragon Bridge, captured by Chosen Spring Design
▲ Animated image of the Datian Bench Dragon Bridge
▲ Animated light and color effects on the Datian Bench Dragon Bridge
▲ Production process of the Greenway Stone Bench Dragon
▲ Night scene photography and lighting design of the Greenway Stone Bench Dragon
Guanfengtai Station
Guanfengtai Station, featuring flat rest areas on both sides of the greenway along the mountains and slopes, offers visitors the best views of the suburban “Phoenix Valley” and the local culture embodied in the “Bench Dragon” Bridge.
▲ Terraced fields, valleys, and Bench Dragon Bridge viewed from Guanfengtai Station, captured by Chosen Spring Design
The rest station on the slope provides panoramic views, while the adjacent greenway offers a bird’s-eye perspective when leaning against the railing.
▲ Guanfengtai Station design blending red rust steel with Datian’s characteristic red soil, captured by Chosen Spring Design
The design draws inspiration from Datian’s nationally protected historic “Tu Bao” earthen fortress. The wooden gridwork symbolizes the fortress walls, the “rice bucket” style wooden windows represent observation openings, and steel pipes mimic the fortress eaves. The red rust steel, which naturally changes over time, reflects Datian’s unique red soil and harmoniously blends with the environment.
▲ Greenway station that integrates Datian’s “earthen fortress” culture
▲ Leisure area at Guanfengtai featuring stainless steel wall panels, benches, dragon motifs, and scenic pavilions, captured by Chosen Spring Design
▲ Viewing pavilion design inspired by Datian earthen fortress walls and observation windows, captured by Chosen Spring Design
▲ Rusted steel landscape wall with dynamic virtual and real effects serving as an interactive children’s play space
▲ Greenway station combining restroom facilities, retail, and leisure spaces, captured by Chosen Spring Design
▲ Wooden post station under construction, showcased day and night (animated)
▲ Small post station design inspired by Datian earthen fortress walls and observation windows, captured by Chosen Spring Design
▲ Small wooden post station construction, shown day and night (animated)
Integration of Water and Greenery Along the Riverside Section of Datian Greenway
The riverside demonstration section begins at the south gate of Datian County’s town, linking the old city’s riverside boardwalk to the suburban riverside greenway. The design transitions from man-made elements to natural landscapes.
To improve accessibility to the water and counteract the current lack of engagement caused by a uniform flood control wall along the Junxi River, a 4-meter-wide wooden boardwalk is elevated over one meter above the water surface, creating Datian’s first truly hydrophilic boardwalk.
▲ Riverside boardwalk design inspired by the intangible cultural heritage “Datian Bench Dragon”
▲ Datian Greenway riverside section, coordinated with local river chief system
Former mudflats and vegetable fields have been transformed into artificial wetlands. A viewing and leisure platform has been constructed at the river dam to enjoy cascading waterfalls.
The green space near the south gate bridgehead has been redesigned to create an inviting entrance to the riverside greenway. This area supports leisure, directs pedestrian flow, connects land and water spaces, and features clear signage for greenway access.
▲ Citizen fitness and rest square constructed at the riverside greenway bridgehead, captured by Chosen Spring Design
The waterfront boardwalk continues beneath Nanmen Bridge, connecting seamlessly to the original boardwalk in the old city area, enhancing continuity along the riverside.
The riverbank’s green belt has been renovated to preserve mature trees, and leisure platforms have been added to create a shaded forest fitness greenway.
▲ Qiaotou Square features multi-level platforms for fitness and viewing, captured by Chosen Spring Design
▲ Dragon scale-shaped railings and bridge piers reflect the culture of the Datian Bench Dragon, captured by Chosen Spring Design
▲ Animated image of the riverside boardwalk designed in the shape of a bench dragon
Project Information:
Project Name: Design of Fitness Greenway and Riverside Boardwalk in Datian County, Fujian Province
Project Location: Datian County, Fujian Province (stretching from Xiantingshan Park to Baiyanshan Park)
Project Scale: 5.7 km long and 4.5 m wide
Developer: Fujian Xingtian Urban Construction Investment Co., Ltd.
Design Team: Shanghai Xuanquan Architectural Landscape Planning and Design Co., Ltd.
Longqiao Section Design: Shanghai Wuyi Furniture Technology Co., Ltd. (under Xuan Quan Design)
Furniture Design: Shanghai Wuyi Furniture Technology Co., Ltd. (under Xuan Quan Design)
Design Period: 2015–2016
Completion: 2017
Photography: Chosen Spring Design, led by Master Ota River Chief System
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