The “Yangtze River Delta Financial Technology Industry Center” is a key industrial project developed by the newly established Yuan Holdings Group. Situated in the core of the modern service industry park within Suzhou Industrial Park, it lies just 2 km north of Jinji Lake and the Oriental Gate. The center has earned recognition as one of the “Yiju Ke Er Rui 2021 National Excellent Park TOP10”. FTA handled the urban and architectural design, revitalizing the existing M0 and Mx land. Construction will proceed in three phases, with Phase I spanning 42,000 square meters of land and 200,000 square meters of building area.
Focused on the fintech sector, the project leverages Suzhou Industrial Park’s resource advantages to cultivate a thriving productive service industry cluster led by financial technology. The vision is to build a comprehensive modern service industry ecosystem based on “financial technology + mid-to-high-end productive services + intelligent manufacturing,” driving fintech development across the Yangtze River Delta.
△ Yangtze River Delta Financial Technology Industry Center © FTA
1. Building a Central Technology Valley Reflecting Suzhou’s Heritage
Located in the Modern Service Industry Park of Suzhou Industrial Park, the project sits adjacent to the “Dual Core Cross Axis” within a distinctive waterfront landscape. To the south, it faces Jinji Lake and connects to Suzhou’s landmark, the Oriental Gate, via Xinggang Road. The site is well-served by transportation, bordered by Loujiang Avenue and Xinggang Street overpass to the south, and the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway to the north.
△ Site Location © FTA
While the excellent transportation infrastructure is a major advantage, it also presents challenges such as environmental noise. To address this, FTA’s Phase I design adopts a “canyon” concept featuring a three-stage layout that forms an inward-facing park-style “technology valley.” This arrangement clusters the buildings to shield the interior from external noise.
△ Phase I Design Development Process (GIF) © FTA
△ Aerial View of Phase I Northwest Side © FTA
The design incorporates Suzhou’s unique cultural heritage by reinterpreting traditional gardens, corridors, and courtyards into modern towers, architectural courtyards, and walkways. Entering the park evokes the experience of a Suzhou garden, where the central garden serves as a courtyard, covered corridors act as sheltered walkways, and surrounding buildings represent peaks.
△ Phase I Internal Courtyard Landscape © FTA
The tallest tower in Phase I rises 108 meters and draws inspiration from the iconic “Guanyun Peak” in Suzhou’s Lingering Garden. Its smooth vertical façade lines symbolize “high mountains and flowing water,” reflecting a harmonious blend of nature and architecture.
△ Phase I High-Rise Tower © FTA
2. Five Functional Zones Forming a Complete Fintech Ecosystem
This project is the first international industrial park in Suzhou dedicated primarily to fintech. Its objective is to attract high-end knowledge-based technical talent, accelerate fintech cluster development, and host licensed fintech companies alongside leading technology projects serving the financial sector. It aims to provide an integrated office environment and a collaborative platform linking industry, academia, research, and investment.
Guided by FTA’s planning and architectural layout, the park is divided into five key functional zones: headquarters enterprises, research and development institutions, entrepreneurial systems, cultural life, and training activities. This zoning supports the creation of a robust fintech industry ecosystem.
Perspective view of commercial street and sunken plaza © FTA
The design encourages diverse functional combinations and informal communication spaces to address the needs of various enterprises. The ground level features a highly interactive entrepreneurial public space, the middle level accommodates professional services with moderate interaction, and the upper level offers independent space for headquarters activities.
△ Perspective view of internal courtyard and aerial terrace © FTA
Additionally, the all-weather leisure community fosters a “warm” park atmosphere, creating a convenient 30-minute leisure radius for residents and workers. It supports integrated intelligent manufacturing R&D services operating around the clock.
3. Creating a Distinctive Sunny Corridor: A Weather-Resistant Walkway
Vital to a vibrant industrial community is the seamless interaction among people. Responding to modern service park requirements for separating pedestrians and vehicles, the project features a multi-level public corridor pedestrian system spanning the entire site.
Three major theme parks and a sunny corridor able to withstand wind and rain © FTA
This pedestrian system operates vertically on three levels. The underground first and second floors connect directly to urban rail transit, allowing users to access the outdoor sunken courtyard leisure center or office spaces straight from the subway exit.
The ground floor welcomes commercial pedestrian traffic entering from street-level entrances, leading to retail areas and three major theme parks: the sports park, gathering square, and reception garden located on the first floor.
Perspective view of the west pedestrian street © FTA
The second floor above ground features a sun-drenched corridor that spans the entire complex, offering shelter from wind and rain. This expansive corridor creates an inviting pedestrian experience, linking key nodes such as the second-floor plaza and tower entrances. It supports a 24/7 creative lifestyle within the Sunshine Corridor.
The weather-protected Sunshine Corridor © FTA
By prioritizing industrial integration and human connectivity, the Yangtze River Delta Financial Technology Industry Center aims to become a “warm” industrial community, a dynamic hub for innovation, an all-weather smart park, and a globally competitive Silicon Valley for financial technology.
Project Information
Project Name: Yangtze River Delta Financial Technology Industry Center
Location: Modern Service Industrial Park, Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiangsu Province
Urban Design Scale: 872,696 square meters
Phase I Land Area: 41,707 square meters
Phase I Building Area: 202,754 square meters
Owner: Xinjian Yuan Group
Design Firm: FTA
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