The Dream Factory of China

Chen Keshi, vice dean of School of Environment and Urban Studies, Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, stressed on the importance of forming the cultural soft power for an economic hub at a lecture in Qianhai on June 1.

At his lecture on the future of the zone, Chen said Qianhai should learn from the successful development of cities such as New York, London and Tokyo, which all have booming financial and cultural industries.

“We should notice that an ideal city has perfected itself in three aspects: economy, environment and culture. Most of the leading cities in the world have built a good economy and eco-friendly environment, but only few of them have bred prosperous culture,” he said.

“Qianhai should set the goal higher, making efforts to build an eco-hub that is both the center of economy and culture in Shenzhen.”

He said the city planners can use Yokohama in Japan for reference. Qianhai could build entertaining and cultural facilities on its reclaiming islands and make the CBD on the coastal land.

As for the design of the city’s landscape, Chen said Qianhai can build boxy or rectangular architectures and neat, free-obstacle streets as what Marunouchi of Tokyo did.

“The aesthetic of city planning should be concise and never out-dated. The color of the buildings’ surfaces should be similar and the varieties of plants should be just one or two,” he said. “It is actually better to find a designer to lead the whole planning than taking opinions from different experts.”

Chen also said that Qianhai can build vertical landscapes by adding open-air gardens and greeneries in buildings.

“In conclusion, we need a fine planning and make Qianhai a humanized, environmental-friendly coastal city, which not only bears the high-standard aesthetics, but will grown into a global city that can produce great charm and vitality,” Chen said.