Restoring an ecologically fragmented river basin into a resilient and biodiverse cultural asset
Chaobai River Basin Regeneration Plan
For centuries, the 28 villages of the Chaobai River Basin have thrived through adaptive coexistence with seasonal flooding, rice cultivation, and water-based cultural practices. 20th-century channelization, however, imposed rigid concrete embankments that fragmented communities and eroded ecological-cultural connections. Through a three-pronged regeneration process, Sasaki was selected by the Baodi District Planning Bureau to embark on an initiative to return the basin to an era of abundance and vitality for generations to come.
The Chaobai River Basin Regeneration Plan includes a comprehensive ecological restoration strategy to transform fragmented infrastructure into resilient, biodiverse corridors that harmonize human and natural systems. Riverbanks are redesigned as adaptive typologiesâfrom low-impact conservation zones to interactive community spaces. These interventions enhance habitat diversity, create migratory bird corridors along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, and integrate seasonal floodplains as multifunctional spaces.
A fragmented river system and over 70,000 hectares of existing monoculture rice fields are transformed into a robust, resilient, and biodiverse corridor.
The initiative integrates ecological restoration, cultural reanimation, and economic revitalization into a cohesive framework.
The riverbank leverages fluctuations in seasonal water levels to balance resiliency and diverse public experiences throughout the year.
Celebrating the Chaobai River
The plan establishes a vibrant waterfront cultural district with public spaces that celebrate riverside life, reinterprets local heritage through contemporary design, and launches agricultural-art programs rooted in regional traditions. Interactive exhibits celebrate the basinâs shipbuilding legacy; an annual Water Harvest Festival reanimates ancient rituals like floating markets to blend intangible heritage with contemporary activities, and outdoor classrooms reinterpret ancestral farming wisdom while fostering pride in local identity.
The floating market reanimates ancient water-based traditions through themed art installations, boat performances, and seasonal events.
Education programs and festivals aligned with the rice harvest calendar celebrate the regionâs cultural heritage and engender a strong sense of community.
600 kilometers of underutilized irrigation canals are retrofitted into vibrant eco-corridors, blending constructed wetlands and native vegetation to filter agricultural runoff and replenish groundwater. Agroecological practices, including rice-fish symbiosis and crab co-cultivation replace monocultures, fostering soil health and sustainable yields.
An Integrated and Diverse Agricultural Model
By introducing an economic revitalization framework, the plan supports upgrades to agricultural systems and promotes coordinated, differentiated development across the region. Upstream areas focus on wellness and agro-tourism, midstream areas include a waterfront living room and agriculture park, and downstream areas focus on low-carbon farming pilot projects.
Coordinated development diversifies livelihoods like agro-tourism, agriculture parks, and low-carbon farming, initiated by local entrepreneurs.
The Baodi New Town Central Square emerges as the new center of gravity for the Chaobai River Basin, bustling with urban amenities, vibrant public spaces, and a wide array of community activities.
A music pavilion graces the Chaobai River waterfront, infusing the urban landscape with cultural vibrancy and offering a dynamic venue for community performances and gatherings.
A new riverfront watersports facility on the Chaobai River introduces world-class venues and international events, elevating the region as a premier destination for competitive and recreational water sports.
Restored wetlands along the Chaobai River Basin enhance regional biodiversity while offering vital opportunities for environmental education, inviting visitors and residents to engage with and learn from the rich ecological landscape.
The Baodi New Town Central Square emerges as the new center of gravity for the Chaobai River Basin, bustling with urban amenities, vibrant public spaces, and a wide array of community activities.
A music pavilion graces the Chaobai River waterfront, infusing the urban landscape with cultural vibrancy and offering a dynamic venue for community performances and gatherings.
A new riverfront watersports facility on the Chaobai River introduces world-class venues and international events, elevating the region as a premier destination for competitive and recreational water sports.
Restored wetlands along the Chaobai River Basin enhance regional biodiversity while offering vital opportunities for environmental education, inviting visitors and residents to engage with and learn from the rich ecological landscape.
Breaking free from the constraints of singleâcrop farming, the project champions a diversified agroecological model that integrates lowâcarbon agriculture, valueâadded processing, and immersive ecoâtourism. This includes 2,500 hectares of rice paddies integrated with crab co-cultivation, 2,000 hectares of persimmon orchards combined with fishponds to optimize resource cycles, and a 1,200-hectare demonstration area that merges lotus cultivation and immersive tourism to create a flagship hub for sustainable initiatives. These measures stimulate youthâled enterprises and forge pathways to livelihood for the next generation of farmers.
The 1,200-hectare Lotus Park represents an economic model that drives sustainable development, and regional pride with economic opportunities.
A Restorative Plan Guided by Engagement
Critical to this transformation was a 16-month participatory process. Over 28 villages actively contributed proposals aligned with their development priorities, while cross-sector partnerships with five key government agencies ensured policy alignment and resource coordination. This platform enabled large-scale, collaborative long-term planningâa rare achievement in rural revitalization efforts. The Chaobai River Basinâs renewal exemplifies how ecological stewardship, cultural reinterpretation, and economic innovation intertwine to create landscapes of abundance where the river is no longer a boundary but a thread weaving vitality into the fabric of rural life.
The plan engaged with 28 villages and 5 government agencies to implement cross-sector strategies for ecological, cultural, and economic renewal.
For more information contact Michael Grove.