The fourth episode of the series will focus on Wuhan, the City of Design. A bird's eye view of Wuhan shows that the Yangtze River seems to separate the historical city's past from its present. As the modern industrial center of China, why could Wuhan be successfully approved as the "City of Design"? What are the strengths of Wuhan design? After the successful bid for the honor as the City of Design, what outstanding achievements have Wuhan made to make an old city shine with new charm in the new era? Follow ICCSD and check it out!

Overview: Wuhan, A World Leader in Engineering Design

Bridge Design: "Wuhan Brand" Burnishes the City's New Name Card

Design Week: Various Activities Spark Innovation

Building of the City of Design: Old City with New Life, Design-Driven Future

On November 1, 2017, with the endorsement of Irina Bokova, then Director-General of UNESCO, Wuhan was officially selected as the "City of Design" of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), becoming the fourth "City of Design" in China after Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing, and the first "City of Design" in the Chinese mainland. At the plaque-awarding ceremony on November 21, Francesco Bandarin, then Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Culture, noted, "Wuhan's well-deserved inclusion is the result of long-time effort. I hope Wuhan will give full play to its role as a member city, implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations, and make due contributions to the network of creative cities."

In April 2020, the Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO Ernesto Ottone R. noted in an exclusive UN news interview, "The city can lift its lockdown overnight, restore orderly traffic, help businesses gradually step on the right track, but it needs to be rebuilt culturally and spiritually in terms of the deeper impact brought by the pandemic." He also added, "Wuhan is one of the most involved cities in China in terms of design. We share a common commitment to making creativity the driving force behind sustainable development, and Wuhan has been playing an important role in this advocacy and effort."

Wuhan, A World Leader in Engineering Design

Located in the heartland of the Yangtze River Basin, Wuhan has been known as the "Oriental Tea Port" on the Tea Road since the 17th century and the site of the 1911 Revolution, which ended China's feudal system. In 2017, Wuhan joined the UCCN as a City of Design. According to UNESCO, Wuhan's creative industries are thriving and have become an innovation engine for economic and social development. For example, the Wuhan Design Biennale, which focuses on the fusion of art and sci & tech, is already well known. According to the data of Wuhan City, in 2018, the revenue of cultural and creative enterprises above designated size in Wuhan reached 141.78 billion yuan (22.2 billion U.S. dollars), and it planned to achieve a design industry revenue of 220 billion yuan (34.5 billion U.S. dollars) and add 60,000 new employees by 2021.

Notably, Wuhan leads the world in the field of engineering design. Its rail-road bridges, unique architecture and colorful design activities all demonstrate Wuhan's design strengths as a "City of Design".

Wuhan East Lake Cherry Blossom Garden

"Wuhan Brand" Burnishes the City's New Name Card

In the development process of the City of Design, what are the outstanding typical cases of Wuhan?

Bridge Design Supports "City of Design"

Wuhan's engineering design and bridge construction represent the highest level in China, and its innovative design capabilities in bridge engineering, high-speed railways and urban planning are leading the world. There are currently 11 Yangtze River Bridges in Wuhan. The world's longest-spanning rail-road bridge, China's first sea-crossing bridge, and the world's longest sea-crossing bridge, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, were all designed by Wuhan's bridge engineering designers. Most of the 10 longest-spanning bridge types in the world are designed in Wuhan.

Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge

The First Bridge of the Yangtze — Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge

The Yangtze River Bridge opened to traffic in 1957. It was the first rail-road bridge built over the Yangtze River after the founding of New China. The construction was led by the bridge expert Mao Yisheng. The bridge has become the main artery connecting north and south China, playing a vital role in promoting the economic development of north and south China.

Wuhan Parrot Island Bridge

What is it like to climb to the top of the main tower of Wuhan Parrot Island Bridge, 129 meters above the bridge surface? Designed by China Railway Major Bridge Reconnaissance & Design Institute, the bridge is the fifth milestone in the development of Chinese bridge building. It boasts the largest span, heaviest load and biggest width among the rail-road cable-stayed bridges built in the world. The bridge won the George S. Richardson Medal at the 27th International Bridge Conference.

Excellent Architecture Demonstrates Design Strength

(Photo via official website of Wuhan Design)

Wuhan's New Optics Valley: Future Technology City. Wuhan Future Technology City is a modern satellite city with a high density of intelligence, sunrise industries and a population of 300,000. It has already attracted Huawei Technologies, Taiwan MediaTek, Deutsche Telekom, China Mobile, China Electronics Power Battery Research Institute, Wuhan Future Science and Technology Research Institute and other projects.

(Photo via official website of Wuhan Design)

Zhang Zhidong and Hanyang Iron Plant Museum is the only special museum about Zhang Zhidong and "Made in Hanyang" in China, showing the relics of the arms plant and the "Westernization Drive" leader Zhang Zhidong, as well as truly reflecting the historical style of the Hanyang Iron Plant and the difficult course of the development of China's national iron and steel industry. It is the famous architect Daniel Libeskind's first work in the Chinese mainland and sits at the former site of Hanyang Iron Plant. Its shape draws inspiration from the ancient architecture elements of "upturned eaves on roof corners", like an ark about to sail. The main structure is the suspended museum. Since its opening in 2018, it has quickly become a landmark attraction for Internet influencers.

(Photo via official website of Wuhan Design)

The Han Show Theater, with the traditional Chinese "red lantern" image, stands on the shore of Wuhan East Lake, featuring a strong Chinese style. It was specially designed for Han Show by Mr. Mark Fisher, the master architect. It was the first water show theater in the world to use movable seats. At the beginning of the performance, the swivel seats in the front area are closed. During the performance, they will turn and open. The area enclosed in the middle of the seats is the performance pool.

(Photo via official website of Wuhan Design)

The Wanlin Art Museum is shaped like a flying stone, surrounded by green trees and adjacent to Jianhu Lake of Wuhan University. Looking far, you will see more than half of the building hanging in the air, so some people call it a "flying stone". The interior adopts a large amount of white space, showcasing simplicity and grandeur. When the cherry trees are in full bloom in front of the museum, the visual effect is amazing.

Various Activities Spark Innovation

Since it was selected as the "City of Design" in 2017, Wuhan has designated November 1 as "Wuhan Design Day" every year. Design Day activities and Wuhan Design Biennale jointly develop design culture and convention & exhibition cultural brands. Wuhan vigorously shares its development experience with member cities of UCCN, injecting new impetus into the building of a modern, international and ecological Wuhan and enabling its citizens to enjoy a high-quality life.

(Photo via Wuhan Broadcast & TV Station)

Wuhan Design Day and Wuhan Design Biennale

Standing at the converging point of implementing China's two centenary goals in 2021, the Wuhan Design Day 2021 & The 6th Wuhan Design Biennale was held in Wuhan from November 1 to 12, with the theme of "True Qualities of the City". In the five years of construction and development of Wuhan as the City of Design, the city vigorously implements the 14th Five-Year Plan and the visional goal by 2035, focusing on "Building Five Centers and A Modernized Wuhan". People-oriented creative design is intended to elevate city development, and the old city has gained new life while retaining its historical elements and cultural essence.

Wuhan Design Day 2019 and The 5th Wuhan Design Biennale

Starting from May 11, Wuhan collected the concept design scheme of the Key Vision poster for the Wuhan Design Day 2021 & The 6th Wuhan Design Biennale from all walks of life. The measure was intended to showcase the development connotations of Wuhan as the City of Design and "old city with new life", as well as enhance the influence of the Wuhan Design Day 2021 & The 6th Wuhan Design Biennale.

Wuhan Creative Design Competition

Wuhan Creative Design Competition in 2021, with the theme of "Creativity Showcases City Beauty", focused on the renovation of old residential areas, the protection of historical blocks and buildings, and the innovative design of ecological space and infrastructure, to help spark creativity and build a beautiful home. The event started collecting in August. During the Wuhan Design Day 2021 & The 6th Wuhan Design Biennale, which opened on November 1, 2021, the exhibition of designs was launched independently, and a grand ceremony was set up to award the winners.

(Photo via official website of Wuhan Design)

Wuhan's First International 15-Second Event

Wuhan's First International 15-Second Event was held in Red T Fashion Creative Block, Jianghan District, Wuhan. It was one of the series of activities designed for Wuhan Design Biennale, empowering creative industries with design and new vision. A brand new international platform of integration, exchange and cooperation facilitated the exploration of new cooperation patterns, the building of an international exchange bridge and the joint creation of a bright future.

Old City with New Life, Design-Driven Future

The development of Wuhan as a "City of Design" is closely related to the government's policy support. Various measures have been adopted to  optimize the business environment, expand the design industry, encourage design innovation, support the cross-field development of design enterprises, and stimulate the innovation potential of design enterprises. In recent years, in order to promote the high-quality development of Wuhan's design industry, elevate city development, establish the important national design innovation R&D base, build the City of Design with Wuhan's characteristics, Wuhan Municipal People's Government has focused on supply-side structural reform, and established an development pattern featuring "government guidance, main market players, citizen participation, and international cooperation".

As an important city of national engineering survey and design industry that has been under construction since the First Five-Year Plan period, Wuhan has become the center of Chinese engineering design. 10 years ago, Wuhan Engineering Design Industry Alliance of China was established. In the past 10 years, the "Wuhan Design" joint fleet has attracted more than 160 members, and the output value of the engineering design industry has increased five times compared with 10 years ago, realizing the "five 1" goals. It has established 1 international brand, winning the honor as the City of Design in 2017. It has cultivated 10 industry survey and design masters, built 100 innovative design enterprises, developed an industry worth about 100 billion yuan (15.7 billion U.S. dollars), added 10,000 senior technical personnel in the industry. In addition, Wuhan has also implemented the Wuhan City of Design Young Designer Training Program, increased capital input, focused on supporting projects included in the "Wuhan City of Design Construction Project Database", enhanced cooperation and exchanges at home and abroad, and vigorously applied to hold UCCN Conference, annual UNESCO Cities of Design Subnetwork meeting, and other related activities.

Sustainable development is the goal pursued by Wuhan. The rapid development of the creative design industry and the strengths of design education provide strong support for urban transformation and development. Efforts have paid off in the establishment of Wuhan City of Design Promotion Center, Wuhan Animation Association, Crowd Innovation Space for Youngsters — Cultural and Creative Industry Supporting Project, Wuhan Urban Planning Association and other key enterprises, as well as Zhai Yage, the living room of Wuhan City of Design, which launches brands, promotes communication and exchange for Wuhan City of Design.

(Photo via official website of Wuhan Design)

After overcoming the impact of COVID-19, Wuhan's economy has seen a strong rebound. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Wuhan will, in order to integrate engineering survey and design industry into city development, fully leverage the international platform offered by the City of Design in UCCN, vigorously develop the City of Design, and build itself into a special industrial zone of engineering survey and design industry, a hub of sci-tech innovation, talents and exchanges between China and foreign countries.