Longguan Biodiversity Educational Park

The project integrates science education and nature exploration, guided by the classical Chinese poetry anthology The Book of Songs (Shijing). With a strong emphasis on native plant communities and eco-friendly design, it forms a “breathing” educational space deeply rooted in local ecology.

Ecological Challenges and Three Key Design Strategies: Faced with the challenge of a compact 4,000㎡ site, the designers proposed a "dual-entrance circulation + circular walkway" model that ensures smooth flow while organically linking over 10 functional zones — such as the Shijing Garden and Herbal Garden — like an ecological puzzle. Breathable ground is achieved through permeable paving and gravel trenches, while elevated wooden platforms gently touch the earth. 80% of the plants used are native species, forming a self-sustaining ecosystem that protects and celebrates the delicate ecological texture of eastern China.

Poetic Expression of Sustainability Technologies: Green energy is harnessed via a photovoltaic-shaded corridor in the park, while a rainwater collection system nourishes a shared garden. Viewing platforms are made of FSC-certified modular timber that can be disassembled and reused. In the pottery studio, students engage in outdoor classes using recycled clay to craft new works — giving materials a second life. But the most moving stories are the ones that are “still growing”: Student-designed plant models become eye-catching entrance displays, a collaboratively cultivated herbal garden becomes a living teaching archive, while the cultural codes curated by the school’s teaching and research team are hidden within the Shijing plant directory.

From Encountering Nature to Protecting the Future: Following an immersive path themed “Encounter – Explore – Protect,” children track fireflies under the stargazing platform and upload ecological data from the monitoring station. Through sustained data recording and participation in scientific research, students engage in environmental education at a fine-grained level. The herbal garden adopts interchangeable planting modules, enabling flexible adjustments aligned with teaching needs. This “Education + Tourism + Research” model transforms the land into a green landmark for ecological civilization in the Yangtze River Delta.