Revitalizing the Landscape: Pan'an Wetland Park

Transforming a Coal Mining Subsidence Area into a Sustainable Wetland Park

The project, which started in January 2011 and was completed in August of the same year, spans a total planned area of 52.89 square kilometers, including a core area of 16 square kilometers. The design was inspired by the concept of sustainable development, focusing on repairing the devastating damage to the land rather than overthrowing, stripping, and rebuilding. The transformation of the soil was completed using the absorption and purification effect of plants, gradually covering the site with a green landscape to purify the environment.

The Pan'an Wetland Park stands out for its innovative approach to ecological restoration and transformation. The project insisted on combining subsided land remediation with ecological restoration, focusing first on restoring the vitality of the soil. The project analyzed the different conditions of the subsidence area, such as soil type, structure, stability, and depth of water accumulation, and used soil reconstruction techniques to restore soil fertility. The Bulao River and Tuntou River that run through the north and south were used to form a circulating water system, providing continuous nourishment for the wetlands and maximizing the purification effect of the wetlands on urban water quality.

The design also features distinctive land and water spaces, promoting interaction between man and nature. The project forms a criss-crossed water space with rich scales and levels by connecting the north and south water systems, attracting birds with aquatic plants, and setting up sightseeing routes for cruise ships. The land space uses native plants to form a planting structure of arbor, shrub, and grass communities, adopting a natural and wild plant landscape matching form of wetland parks, and at the same time, the space is dense and artistically treated.

The project faced significant challenges due to the harsh environment caused by years of coal mining. However, through the use of vegetation, water systems, and other natural methods to purify and restore the land, the project has been able to reconstruct the ecological environment in a sustainable way, saving construction costs. Despite the need for long-term investment of manpower and material resources for the operation and management of the wetlands, the project has managed to bring the overall assets and operation of the wetland park into a virtuous circle.

The Pan'an Wetland Park design has been recognized for its innovative approach to sustainable development and ecological restoration, winning the Silver A' Landscape Planning and Garden Design Award in 2021. This prestigious award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. The design of the Pan'an Wetland Park certainly fits this description, showcasing a remarkable level of excellence and introducing positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.