Geography teachers and students visit GBA to watch urban planning and conservation in action
In-service geography teachers and BEd(GEOG) students learn about the importance of Haizhu Wetland to the city through the maps and information provided at the Guangzhou City Planning Exhibition Center.
When Guanggang Xincheng (廣鋼新城) and Guanggang Park (廣鋼公園) was developed, a number of industrial relics of the Guangzhou Iron & Steel Company were preserved as a reminder of the original face of the site.
In June 2024, a group of 18 in-service geography teachers and 17 Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Geography) (BEd(GEOG)) students embarked on an immersive two-day learning expedition to the cities of Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Shenzhen in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Led by Dr Karen Liu Shuwen and Dr Norman Cheung Kin-wai from the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies, the tour explored the frontiers of sustainability, urban planning, and heritage conservation in these rapidly evolving cities.
The tour began in Guangzhou, where the group visited the Guanggang Xincheng (廣鋼新城) and Guanggang Park (廣鋼公園), which is an urban renewal project based on the former Guangzhou Iron & Steel Company. In 2010, Guangzhou Iron & Steel Company (廣州鋼鐵集團) shut down its plant in Guangzhou as part of a national energy-efficiency campaign, but a number of industrial relics were left at the site. Most of the land in the area has been converted into residential areas or recreational areas for developing Guanggang Xincheng, and Guanggang Park, respectively.
“The industrial relics have been well preserved and have become part of the attractions in Guanggang Park. There, our students explored the complexity of urban renewal project and industrial heritage conservation, and witnessed firsthand how the once-thriving industrial site has been thoughtfully repurposed and transformed into a vibrant community with sustainable development,” said Dr Karen Liu, programme Leader of Certificate in Professional Development Programme on Teaching Geography of China elements in the Geography Curricula.
At the Guangzhou City Planning Exhibition Center, Dr Karen Liu explains that the Pearl River plays a crucial role in supporting the economic development and cooperation among the provinces and regions within its reach.
A staff member at the Guangzhou City Planning Exhibition Center explains how the city developed its development plan in consideration of its industrial, commercial and population needs, its traditional strengths as the commercial and cultural hub of southern China alongside with its strategic role in the Pearl River Delta.
The next stop of the tour is a visit to the Guangzhou City Planning Exhibition Center, where students had the opportunity to learn about the city's strategic development and planning initiatives. Through interactive exhibits and Dr Karen Liu’s on-site explanations, the group gained a deeper understanding about how to keep a delicate balance between economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social well-being when a city develops.
In the evening, the tour spent some hours at Yongqing Fang (永慶坊) in Liwan District of Guangzhou. The revitalisation project of Yongqing Fang turned the old district into a vibrant cultural area and a popular check-in spot that constantly draws hordes of young people and tourists. In-service geography teachers and geography students from SSPS were amazed by the success of the heritage conservation work, which the facilities have been upgraded with more economic opportunities being brought in, but the traditional architecture and lifestyle have been preserved.
The Dongshen Water Supply Engineering Memorial Park was opened in 2003. People can find a structural part of the Dongshen Water Supply system inside the park.
Dongshen Water Supply Engineering Memorial Park houses an exhibition hall. A staff member is briefing participants from the tour about the design of the Dongshen Water Supply system, including the various engineering challenges it needs to overcome.
Tour members navigate in the former site of the Kingway Brewery in Shenzhen among the huge brewing tanks. Besides these tanks, several production facilities of the former brewery remain undemolished in the brewery’s former site in Shenzhen.
Former site of Kingway Brewery in Shenzhen is transformed into a vibrant cultural and creative space — Kingway Square (金啤坊).
The first activity on the second day is a visit at the Dongshen Water Supply Engineering Memorial Park (東深供水工程紀念園). The park is located at the Jinhu Pumping Station of Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Project, also known as the Dongshen Water Supply Project, in the city of Dongguan. Dong Jiang, or the Dong River which is a tributary of the Pearl River, is a major source of water for many municipals of the GBA, including Dongguan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. In the exhibition hall of the park, geography teachers and students joining the tour learnt about how the water supply project has tackled the region's water management challenges and the innovative solutions that have been implemented to ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply for the bustling cities of Dongguan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.
The final leg of the tour took place in the former site of the Kingway Brewery in Shenzhen. In the past, the site was an industrial facility that brewed one of mainland China’s most famous beers. The brewery stopped its operation and was later transformed into a vibrant cultural and creative space. At the site, the tour group marvelled at how a series of old industrial structures of the brewery have been connected with modern extensions and elevated walkways. Exhibition spaces, an auditorium, and a viewing platform are added to the original brewery to breathe new life into it while preserving its rich industrial heritage.
They now know more about how urban planning should and can strike a balance between development and conservation. I hope they will become agents of change to deliver this message to their students.
During the two-day tour on 19 and 20 July, in-service geography teachers and BEd(GEOG) students observed closely how mainland cities have made earnest efforts to preserve the heritage sites under the pressure of rapid urban development. They also learnt that the all-important water supply system is central to the development of the GBA. “Many students and teachers joining the tour are not familiarised with the Dongshen Water Supply Project and don’t understand its significance. The visit allowed them to understand the history of the project. It also gave us real cases for our future research and teaching work,” said Dr Karen Liu.
Dr Liu stressed that experiential learning is an important element in SSPS’ geography curriculum. “The tour provided invaluable learning opportunities for the participants. Through their own eyes, participants came out from the confines of classroom to understand the application of urban planning and conservation theories in the real-world. Both in-service teachers and current geography students were inspired by the tour. They now know more about how urban planning should and can strike a balance between development and conservation. I hope they will become agents of change to deliver this message to their students,” said Dr Karen Liu.
Click here to understand more about the BEd(GEOG) programme.
