Nestled in the scenic outskirts of Shanghai, the Xiao Kunshan Tourism Masterplan envisions a destination that celebrates the elegance of Jiangnan culture through contemporary placemaking. Inspired by the area’s historic water towns and poetic landscapes, the plan weaves together architecture, canals, gardens, and courtyards to create a timeless retreat that honors both tradition and leisure.
More than a resort, Xiao Kunshan is designed as a cultural haven—where visitors can experience slow living, wellness, and craft within a modern interpretation of classical Chinese spatial rhythm.
Location
Shanghai, China
Status
Proposal
GFA
57.7 ha
Client
Private
Services
Masterplanning & Urban Design
Cultural Landscape Integration: The Xiao Kunshan Masterplan
This aerial masterplan showcases Xiao Kunshan’s seamless integration of architecture, water, and forest to form a unified cultural destination. Anchored by a preserved woodland core and interlaced with a network of canals, the design arranges diverse program clusters—from boutique resorts and cultural villages to heritage temples and tea gardens—into walkable precincts that radiate from the central green. Inspired by Jiangnan’s traditional layout of enclosed courtyards and meandering lanes, each zone offers a unique spatial rhythm while reinforcing the overarching narrative of ecological harmony and cultural continuity. This landscape-first approach not only preserves natural topography and vegetation but reimagines tourism through a lens of quiet immersion and poetic memory.
The Xiao Kunshan Tourism Masterplan stands as a testament to the power of culturally rooted placemaking in shaping a meaningful visitor experience. By blending traditional Jiangnan aesthetics with contemporary planning strategies, the design fosters a deep connection between people, heritage, and nature. It not only revitalizes the regional identity through sensitive spatial narratives but also repositions Xiao Kunshan as a model for sustainable cultural tourism—where history is not merely preserved but actively lived and reinterpreted for future generations.
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