On November 21, the 2025 International Garden City Competition global finals concluded in Istanbul, Turkey. Beijing Wenyu River Park received the “Gold Award for Environmental Sustainable Development Project” for its outstanding practices in ecological construction and sustainable development.

This year’s competition focused on the theme “Culture and Urban Sustainable Development,” with 38 projects from 30 cities across 35 countries reaching the finals, making the competition intense. The evaluation covered six core dimensions: landscape improvement, cultural heritage management, environmental response, and others. Beijing Wenyu River Park achieved the highest overall score in the project category for environment, climate response, and green economy, earning the “Special Award” as the only project to receive this distinction, making it a standout in this year’s competition.

The Chaoyang section of Beijing Wenyu River Park covers approximately 17.7 square kilometers and serves as a flagship example of the capital’s ecological civilization construction. Since 2022, the first phase of the Chaoyang section has been open to the public, featuring five themed areas from south to north: natural education, cultural integration demonstration, all-ages forest sports, ecological culture experience, and flood storage and ecological conservation. These areas provide urban residents with light outdoor activities, micro-vacations, slow living, and positive leisure spaces, allowing better connection with nature.

In September 2025, the second phase of the Chaoyang section officially opened. The park continues to focus on its core themes of “education, camping, sports, and trendy activities,” with emphasis on developing specialized facilities such as a tennis center and the Beijing Equestrian Association’s competition center. These new spaces further strengthen the park’s positioning as an “urban micro-vacation destination,” creating a new ecological leisure destination for capital residents and visitors.

With ongoing ecological management, the biodiversity of Wenyu River Park’s ecosystem has steadily improved, with over 200 new species establishing habitats in the area. Currently, the total number of plant and animal species has reached 880.

Since 2020, Wenyu River Park has followed the development goal of “initial launch in one year, demonstration in two years, formation in five years, conservation in ten years, and scenic maturity over many years.” The park implements ecological methods including ecological priority, combination of refinement and wilderness, low disturbance, and wilderness management to systematically build the regional ecological foundation. The park employs a four-level ecological zoning management system covering wilderness reserves, ecological priority areas, ecological experience areas, and ecological recreation areas, with differentiated planning, landscape design, and visitor guidance. A 9-square kilometer natural zone has been designated for wilderness management.

Currently, the main water quality indicators of Wenyu River Park remain stable at Class IV standards, with some locations reaching Class III standards, contributing to improved water quality in downstream areas. Through the two ecological corridors of Wenyu River and Qing River, biological resources are effectively distributed, enhancing biodiversity particularly for aquatic plants and animals in downstream regions.

While protecting the ecological environment, Beijing Wenyu River Park has also actively developed themed IPs including education, camping, sports, and trendy activities. Since opening, the park has established various high-quality sports facilities, developed diverse outdoor sports programs, and hosted events of different scales and formats, achieving an organic combination of green space and sports functions to become a sports park embedded within nature. Additionally, the park creates seasonal landscape features and corresponding recreational facilities.

Looking forward, the Chaoyang district will continue working to create a new vision of “city and nature coexistence,” contributing to the capital’s garden city development.

International Garden City Competition

The International Garden City Competition is a modern urban planning concept that originated in the late 19th century, inspired by Sir Ebenezer Howard’s “Garden City Movement.” It promotes the development of self-contained communities surrounded by greenbelts, integrating the benefits of both town and country living. Today, the competition evaluates and recognizes cities worldwide for their achievements in creating sustainable, livable, and ecologically balanced urban environments.

Istanbul

Istanbul is a historic city in Turkey that straddles the Bosphorus Strait, uniquely situated on two continents, Europe and Asia. It served as the capital of three major empires: the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman, and was famously known as Constantinople for over a millennium. The city is renowned for its iconic landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace, which reflect its rich and layered history.

Turkey

Turkey is a transcontinental nation bridging Europe and Asia, renowned as the historic crossroads of civilizations. It was the heart of the Byzantine and later the Ottoman Empires, leaving a legacy of magnificent sites like Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia and the ancient ruins of Ephesus. Today, it is a modern republic with a rich cultural tapestry woven from its diverse history.

Beijing Wenyu River Park

Beijing Wenyu River Park is a large urban green space built along the Wenyu River, one of Beijing’s major rivers. Its development is part of a broader ecological restoration project to clean the river and create recreational areas for the city’s residents. Today, it serves as a popular destination for walking, cycling, and enjoying nature.

Chaoyang section

The Chaoyang section is a key part of the Great Wall of China located in Beijing, constructed during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577 AD) and later rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. It is known for its steep and rugged terrain, featuring well-preserved watchtowers and fortifications. This section offers a more rugged and less-crowded hiking experience compared to other restored parts of the wall near the capital.

Beijing Equestrian Association’s competition center

The Beijing Equestrian Association’s competition center is a modern equestrian facility established to support the growth of equestrian sports in China. It was notably used for the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, which were held here after being relocated from Hong Kong due to quarantine concerns. Today, it serves as a key venue for national competitions and promotes equestrian culture in the region.

Wenyu River

The Wenyu River is a historically significant river in Beijing that originally served as a major grain transport channel during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Today, it flows through the northeastern part of the city and has been developed into an important ecological corridor and recreational green space for residents.

Qing River

The Qing River is a major tributary of the Yangtze River, flowing through the mountainous Hubei province in central China. Historically, it has been a vital transportation and trade route, famously navigable for its dramatic gorges and clear waters. The river and its surrounding landscape are also celebrated in Chinese culture and poetry for their serene and picturesque beauty.