Yu Kongjian’s plan was to preserve as much of the natural river corridor as possible, promoting the lush, diverse natural vegetation as a key draw.

ASLA Honor Award Recipient, The Red Ribbon — Tanghe River Park, Turenscape (Beijing Turen Design Institute) and Peking University Graduate School of Landscape Architecture (Photo: Kongjian Yu, Cao Yang)

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Instead of paving over the riverfront with hard pavement and ornamental flower beds, the design uses a “red ribbon” steel structure stretching 500 meters along the riverbank. The idea was to provide access for jogging, fishing, and swimming with minimal intervention in the landscape.

ASLA Honor Award Recipient, The Red Ribbon — Tanghe River Park, Turenscape (Beijing Turen Design Institute) and Peking University Graduate School of Landscape Architecture (Photo: Kongjian Yu, Cao Yang)

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The Red Ribbon snakes along a boardwalk, providing walking access throughout the park. Many of the park visitors are former farmers and “newly urbanized.” The park provides helps maintains visitors’ environmental connection with rural China.

ASLA Honor Award Recipient, The Red Ribbon — Tanghe River Park, Turenscape (Beijing Turen Design Institute) and Peking University Graduate School of Landscape Architecture (Photo: Kongjian Yu, Cao Yang)

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The Red Ribbon provides access for wildlife, with animal crossings built into the ribbon at different points.

ASLA Honor Award Recipient, The Red Ribbon — Tanghe River Park, Turenscape (Beijing Turen Design Institute) and Peking University Graduate School of Landscape Architecture (Photo: Kongjian Yu, Cao Yang)

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Native vegetation, including local wolf tail grass, is featured throughout the park. Plant species are grown strategically within the Red Ribbon’s steel structure.

ASLA Honor Award Recipient, The Red Ribbon — Tanghe River Park, Turenscape (Beijing Turen Design Institute) and Peking University Graduate School of Landscape Architecture (Photo: Kongjian Yu, Cao Yang)

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The site also educates. Each of the four pavilions is named after a local plant species.

ASLA Honor Award Recipient, The Red Ribbon — Tanghe River Park, Turenscape (Beijing Turen Design Institute) and Peking University Graduate School of Landscape Architecture (Photo: Kongjian Yu, Cao Yang)

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Bikers can use a previously inaccessible site, encouraging community buy-in. While urban, modern, and accessible, Red Ribbon Park highlights and preserves riverfront’s natural ecological systems.

ASLA Honor Award Recipient, The Red Ribbon — Tanghe River Park, Turenscape (Beijing Turen Design Institute) and Peking University Graduate School of Landscape Architecture (Photo: Kongjian Yu, Cao Yang)

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