In a bid to track industry trends, explore synergies between urban planning and technological innovation, and strengthen cross-regional collaboration, the Urban Planning Society of Shenzhen（UPSSZ）organized a study tour for the Greater Bay Area Urban Designers Alliance on May 10th.
Sun Yuehua, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of UPSSZ, opened the program by outlining the Alliance's recent initiatives under Shenzhen's rotating presidency and expressing gratitude to co-organizers. "We hope this immersive experience fosters knowledge exchange and mutual learning among colleagues, ultimately driving sustainable prosperity for urban design across the Greater Bay Area," she remarked.
The delegation embarked on a deep dive into Liuxiandong Headquarters Base – a 1.35-square-kilometer strategic emerging industry hub masterplanned by Urban Planning & Design Institute of Shenzhen (UPDIS). As Chief Planner Li Liancai explained, the site exemplifies "precision urbanism" through its integrated approach combining industrial development (5.12 million sqm total GFA) with ecological corridors. The design features four interconnected green arteries and seven high-density development clusters, creating a "sparse-dense" urban fabric that accommodates 900 tech enterprises and 70,000 professionals within a park-like setting.
Key stops included:
Vanke Design Commune: A 0.6-plot-ratio creative cluster where 10+ architecture masters reimagined traditional industrial parks as courtyard-style offices. Now home to 100+ design firms (OCD Design, Chaihuo Maker Space) and cultural venues, the commune hosts annual design festivals attracting 100+ professional forums.
Transsion Tower: The African smartphone leader's "Cloud Core"-inspired headquarters by Aedas features suspended steel structures and collaborative workspaces reflecting its "co-creation" philosophy.
DJI Sky City: Foster + Partners' asymmetrical 160,000 sqm marvel stands as the world's tallest suspended steel structure (44/40 stories). Linked by a feather-light skybridge, the twin towers integrate R&D facilities with public amenities, showcasing drone giant's technological dominance.
Over three hours, participants witnessed how Liuxiandong evolved from raw land into a $2.3 billion innovation ecosystem attracting global players like DJI (70% global drone market share) and Tencent Cloud. The base now houses 2,500 designers who contributed to its urban fabric, with 60% of projects completed.
The event concluded with cross-city discussions on replicating such models, reinforcing the Alliance's role as a catalyst for regional knowledge exchange and collaborative innovation in the tech-urbanism era.