△ Rendering of Jiaxing Santali Commercial Project
01. Origins: Canal Culture and Song Dynasty Charm
The architectural design for the Santali Plot development in Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, has recently received approval from the National Cultural Heritage Administration. With construction planning and building permits secured, the Jiaxing Santali project, designed by Shanghai Sanyi, officially enters the construction phase.
△ Bird’s-eye view of the south side along the river
Situated in the heart of Jiaxing’s historic city center, the Santali project occupies what was once one of the last urban villages in the area. To the west lies Yuexiu South Road, while Hangzhou Tang borders the south. Nearby cultural heritage sites include the Blood Seal Zen Temple and Yuewang Temple, quietly nestled around the site. As the core area of Song Yun culture, this location adjoins the buffer zone of the World Cultural Heritage Grand Canal, offering a unique and prestigious setting.
△ Project location
However, after more than three decades, the area’s infrastructure has become outdated, and many buildings show clear signs of aging and deterioration. This has created a significant disconnect between the site and the rapidly evolving urban development and modern living demands around it. As a result, a comprehensive upgrade and renovation have become urgently needed.
△ Original appearance of the project site
02. Design Concept: Forest Box Green Valley
The Santali project covers approximately 20,000 square meters above ground. Shanghai Sanyi’s design team has positioned it as a “refined urban neighborhood commercial block,” distinct from the surrounding large-scale commercial complexes.
This project honors the rich heritage of nearby historical landmarks like Blood Seal Zen Temple and Yuewang Temple, skillfully blending canal culture with the charm of the Song Dynasty. Through a commercial layout focused on leisure tourism and innovative retail formats, Santali aims to harmonize tradition and modernity, invigorate the local commercial atmosphere, stimulate regional growth, and spearhead the area’s revitalization.
Plan concept: “Forest Box Green Valley”
Northwest aerial view
Compared to the large commercial buildings nearby, the surrounding historical and cultural structures are relatively smaller. To respond to this, the design team introduced the “Forest Box Green Valley” concept, which emphasizes a compact arrangement of small commercial units connected by corridors and complemented by setback landscaped areas.
This design balances natural ecology with a lively commercial atmosphere, harmonizing with the adjacent cultural buildings while engaging in a dynamic dialogue with larger commercial blocks nearby through cultural and landscape elements. This approach enhances the district’s overall character and vitality.
△ Diagram showing design concept development
△ Bird’s-eye view of the south side along the river
The Grand Canal presents both a key opportunity and challenge for the design team. Located near Hangzhou Tang on the south side, a critical element of the Grand Canal Cultural Corridor, and within the visual corridor of the Three Towers — Haogu Tower and Yanyu Tower — the project must comply with strict setback and height restrictions mandated by Grand Canal protection regulations.
Grand Canal Cultural Corridor
To respect these constraints, the design gradually reduces building heights towards the canal: four floors at the northern edge tapering to two floors along the southern canal side. This tiered setback strategy not only complies with regulations but also enhances the skyline’s visual hierarchy, creating an elegant, ascending urban silhouette when viewed from south to north along the canal.
△ Visual analysis diagram
△ Riverside pedestrian perspective rendering
03. Facade Style: Curved Elegance with Radiant Clarity
The facade design embraces the cultural essence of the Grand Canal and Song Dynasty architecture, featuring flowing curves and a luminous aesthetic. On the south side, the design incorporates raised roofs with intricate “bends” on layers of ecological small boxes, topped with a single-slope contemporary roof.
Framing elements and nested facade topologies blend modern style with the traditional charm of the adjacent historical buildings, achieving a refined, graceful appearance that harmonizes Song Dynasty elegance with contemporary fashion.
△ Facade concept: curved elegance with radiant clarity
△ Bird’s-eye view of the south side along the river
△ Facade details
Decorated with curved, upturned motifs symbolizing the harmony between heaven and earth, the architecture creates a stunning blend of structure and a gentle, elegant skyline.
△ Riverside pedestrian rendering
△ Second-floor corridor rendering
04. Themed Spaces: Immersive Commercial Experience
The design team deeply integrates operational insights by tapping into canal culture and weaving Jiaxing’s traditional style, Song Dynasty charm, and historical references into the streetscape. Key thematic streets and spaces include Heguangping, Changshuiping, Zhao Song and Dance Pavilion, Lansheng Street, Luofanping, Wanzhong Lane, Yuebo Lane, Yaji Street, Suxi Bridge, Baidaofang, Tingquanping, Yuanpu Guifan, Huanshaping, Chachan Lane, Xizhuangping, Chachan Cooking Moon, and Qiandeng Street.
△ Heguangping
△ Changshuiping, Zhao Song and Dance Pavilion, Range Rover Street
△ Yuebo Lane
△ Suxi Bridge, White Shipyard, Tingquanping
△ Qiandeng Street
The design empowers the space by creating engaging scenes that encourage social gatherings. Coupled with future operational and investment strategies, rich cultural elements will be incorporated into various storefronts and block nodes, adding spiritual depth to the commercial environment.
The objective is to craft a scenario-based commercial street that satisfies both material needs and spiritual enjoyment, offering visitors a place to explore, shop, and connect emotionally.
△ Rendering of South Commercial Street
△ Interior street rendering
△ Second-floor terrace rendering
05. Project Progress: Construction Fully Underway
On October 23rd, the much-anticipated Santali commercial project officially broke ground, marking a transformative rebirth for this historically rich area of old Jiaxing.
The total construction period is planned for 430 days. According to the current schedule, the main structure is expected to be topped out by June next year, with full completion targeted for January 2026.
Project Details
- Project Name: Santali Land Development Project
- Project Type: Commercial Street
- Location: Intersection of Yuexiu South Road and Mingyue Road, Xinxing Street, Nanhu District, Jiaxing City
- Site Area: 19,734.8 m2
- Building Area: 36,676.84 m2
- Floor Area Ratio: 1.06
- Design Period: October 2023 – Present
- Construction Period (Expected): October 2024 – January 2026
- Developer: Jiaxing Zhongjia Human Resources Co., Ltd
- Design & Construction Unit: Shanghai Sanyi Architectural Design Co., Ltd
- Lead Architects: Yu Xiaoxiao, Zhang Weiwei
- Project Leaders: Yu Xiaoxiao, Zhang Weiwei
- Design Team: Li Yangyang, Wang Shuo, Pan Mengyuan, Guo Jingyu, Wang Ying
- Construction Drawing Managers: Zheng Yan, Ye Xia
- Architectural Design: Gao Shanjie, Jiang Wenjun, Lu Linlin, Zhu Miaomiao, Ye Xia, Chen Yingxin
- Structural Design: Hu Yu, Hu Wenxiao, Huang Xindong, Xiong Jingfeng, Liu Ming, Chen Siqiang, Song Yingling, Wang Gang, Wang Jingjing, Teng Yanyao
- Mechanical & Electrical Design: Jiang Hong, Liu Ning, Zhang Hang, Yu Xiaohui, Chen Ying, Chen Xinlin, Huang Liangwen, Lin Jun, Yang Cheng
- Overall Design: Gao Shanjie, Zhao Bin
- Water Supply & Drainage: Yu Xiaohui, Chen Ying, Chen Xinlin
- Electrical Design: Huang Liangwen, Lin Jun, Yang Cheng
- HVAC Design: Jiang Hong, Liu Ning, Zhang Hang
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