SHIBEI, QINGDAO

Project Background

On November 15, 2020, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was signed by 15 member states, establishing the world’s largest free trade zone by population and economic potential. Leveraging Qingdao’s strategic coastal location and Shibei District’s cruise port assets, the RCEP Qingdao Pilot Zone was initiated to capitalize on this historic opportunity and revitalize underutilized urban resources. The project anchors Shibei District’s core urban area, serving as a cornerstone of Qingdao’s 14th Five-Year Plan. Spanning 34.2 km² along Jiaozhou Bay’s eastern shore, it integrates five industrial clusters through a "Bay-Riverside New Economic Corridor", driven by three pillars: economic competitiveness, ecological resilience, and enhanced urban services.

Design Framework

Spatial Strategies

1. Polycentric Development – Balanced growth across multiple hubs
2. Connectivity – Integrated transport and blue-green networks
3. Walkability – Pedestrian-first urban fabric
4. Functional Hybridity – Mixed-use districts
5. Cultural Identity – Heritage-informed placemaking

Key Interventions

"Mountains-Waters-Greenways" – Ecological corridors linking sea and city

"Density Gradients" – Harmonious building massing

"Axial Clusters" – Urban nodes blending maritime and terrestrial landscapes

TOD-Centric Development – Low-carbon transit-oriented neighborhoods

Industrial Transformation

The redesign converts 18 km of industrial waterfront into a "Golden Coastline" for public life—blending history, culture, commerce, and ecology to reactivate the district.

Strategic Significance

Government and research teams identify five transformative impacts

1. Elevating Qingdao as a Belt & Road hub and global maritime city
2. Accelerating Northeast Asia’s rise as an international center
3. Strengthening the Yellow River Economic Belt’s port capabilities
4. Leading the Shandong Peninsula Urban Cluster’s economy
5. Forming a "Golden Triangle" with the Shanghai Cooperation Demonstration Zone and Shandong FTZ to reshape Greater Qingdao.

Vision & Strategy

Positioning: "An international free trade innovation district advancing ecological civilization, rooted in Shibei’s natural-cultural legacy and port transformation."

Pillars

Openness: Gateway for global trade and cross-border collaboration

Innovation: Hub for new shipping, finance, trade, and tech industries

Sustainability: Model for industrial upgrading and green transition

Livability: High-quality urban living with robust amenities

Design Tactics

Cored-led, Multi-Zone Synergy – Anchor developments spurring peripheral growth

Ecological Armature – Protecting natural and cultural fingerprints

3D Efficiency – Vertical and compact urban forms

Slow-Fast Networks – Layered mobility for a walkable city