2 Achievements and Honors
2.1 Key Academic Contributions and Impacts
(1) Theoretical Innovations
l Ecological Security Patterns & Negative Planning
He pioneered planning theories and methods that prioritize ecology and reconcile the conflicts between ecological protection and urban development, on the basis of which the theory and methodology of ecological infrastructure were established. Its core proposal of “establishing national ecological security patterns” was adopted and incorporated into key national documents, supporting the formulation of regulations such as Several Opinions on Delimiting and Strictly Observing the Ecological Protection Redlines.
l Sponge City
He systematically constructed the theories, methodologies and key technologies of the “Sponge City”, advocating the use of ecological infrastructure to comprehensively address urban stormwater management, water purification and ecological restoration.
l Big Feet Revolution & Big Feet Aesthetics
He advocated a new landscape aesthetics based on ecology and production, emphasizing the ecological functionality, productivity and local cultural values of landscapes, and opposing excessively ornamental “Small Feet” formalism.
(2) Practical Impact
He led the team in the design of more than 1,000 urban ecological restoration projects, which have been implemented in over 200 cities across more than 10 countries worldwide. A large number of completed projects have become replicable models and are widely included in professional textbooks of universities in Europe and the United States.
(3) Discipline Development
He founded the Graduate School of Landscape Architecture and the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Peking University, promoted the establishment of Landscape Architecture as an independent first-level discipline in China, and facilitated Landscape Architect to become an officially recognized national profession.
2.2 Notable Academic Works
Note: More than 30 books have been published; only representative ones are listed here.
Yu, K. (2023). The Big Feet Revolution and the New Peach Blossom Spring. Shanghai Joint Publishing.
Yu, K. (2021). Tracing the Origins of Ideal Human Habitations: From the African Savanna to the Peach Blossom Spring. Peking University Press.
Yu, K., et al. (2021). Brownfield Regeneration: Design Practice and Technical Application of the 4th Hebei (Handan) International Horticultural Exposition 2020. China Architecture & Building Press.
Yu, K. (2019). Ideal Landscapes and The Deep Meaning of Feng-shui: Patterns of Biological and Cultural Genes. ORO Editions.
Yu, K., et al. (2019). Urban and Natural Ecology (Urban and Rural Development Series for Green Development). China Architecture & Building Press.
Yu, K., et al. (2017). Sponge City: Landscape Engineering Atlas. China Architecture & Building Press.
Yu, K. (2016). Sponge City: Theory and Practice (Volumes I & II). China Architecture & Building Press.
Austin, G., & Yu, K. (2016). Constructed Wetlands for Sustainable Development. Routledge.
Yu, K., et al. (2012). National Ecological Security Patterns: A Spatial Strategy for Rebuilding a Beautiful China. China Architecture & Building Press.
Yu, K., et al. (2012). Regional Ecological Security Patterns: The Beijing Case. China Architecture & Building Press.
Yu, K., et al. (2012). The Grand Canal: National Heritage and Ecological Corridor. Peking University Press.
Yu, K. (2009). Back to the Land. SDX Joint Publishing Company.
Yu, K., & Padua, M. (2006). The Art of Survival: Recovering Landscape Architecture. Images Publishing Group.
Yu, K. (2006). The Art of Survival: Positioning Contemporary Landscape Architecture. China Architecture & Building Press.
Yu, K., et al. (2005). The Negative Planning Approach. China Architecture & Building Press.
Yu, K., & Li, D. (2003). Landscape Architecture: Profession, Discipline and Education. China Architecture & Building Press.
Yu, K., & Pang, W. (2003). Local Culture and the Beauty of Wild Grasses: The Qijiang Park Case. China Architecture & Building Press.
Yu, K., & Li, D. (2003). The Path to Urban Landscape: Dialogues with Mayors. China Architecture & Building Press.
Yu, K. (1998, 2008). Landscape: Culture, Ecology and Perception. Science Press.
Yu, K. (1998, 2000). The Origin of the Ideal Landscape: The Cultural Meaning of Feng-shui and Ideal Landscapes. The Commercial Press.
2.3 Notable Journal Articles
Yu, Kongjian; Erica Gies; Warren W. Wood. (2025). To solve climate change, we need to restore our Sponge Planet. Nature Water, 3(1): 4–6.
Yu, Kongjian. (2025). China’s model of climate-resilient territorial spatial planning and cities[J]. Urban Planning, 49(1): 4–15.
Yu, Kongjian. (2025). Building urban ecological infrastructure for the new era—Taking Beijing as an example[J]. Chinese Landscape Architecture, 41(9): 15–21.
Yu, Kongjian. (2025). Beyond “dual carbon”: the Sponge Planet concept and practices in Hainan[J]. Water Resources Development Research, 25(10): 12–17.
Gao, X., Yang, J., Song, J., Wu, S., et al. (2024). Toxicity removal from contaminated water by constructed wetlands assessed using multiple biomarkers in human stem cell assays[J]. Science of The Total Environment, 925: 171682.
Peng, X., Heng, X., Li, Q., Li, J., & Yu, K. (2022). From Sponge Cities to Sponge Watersheds: Enhancing Flood Resilience in the Sishui River Basin in Zhengzhou, China. Water, 14(19), 3084.
Yu, Kongjian. (2022). Revising the article written on the land—Address at the 2022 commencement ceremony of the College of Architecture and Landscape, Peking University. Landscape Architecture Frontiers (Chinese & English), 10(02), 5–8 + 4.
Yu, Kongjian. (2022). Don’t let more Peach Blossom Springs disappear before dawn—Three proposals for building new infrastructure to support high-quality long-stay living and for Guilin to become a world-class tourist city. Landscape Architecture Frontiers (Chinese & English), 10(01), 5–8 + 4.
Shi, Shuhan; Yu, Kongjian. (2021). Structural characteristics and contemporary value of Huizhou traditional cultural landscapes. Landscape Architecture Frontiers (Chinese & English), 9(04), 28–49.
Yu, Kongjian; Gong, Yao. (2021). Exploring an ecosystem-services-based ecological restoration model for the Yellow River floodplain—A planning and design case of Zhengzhou Yellow River Beach Park. Landscape Architecture Frontiers (Chinese & English), 9(03), 86–97.
Yu, Kongjian. (2021). Another civilization of great rivers. Landscape Architecture Frontiers (Chinese & English), 9(03), 5–7 + 4.
Yu, Kongjian. (2021). Human landscapes from the perspective of big history. Landscape Architecture Frontiers (Chinese & English), 9(02), 4–7.
Yu, Kongjian; Zhou, Shuqian; Wu, Bohui. (2021). Nature-based, adapting to nature, and making use of nature—“Sponge City” and urban ecological resilience. Architectural Practice, (01), 58–65.
Yu, Kongjian. (2021). Urban wilderness: another civilization. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 9(01), 4–9.
Yu, Kongjian. (2021). Living with mountains in view: a nature-based rural revitalization model. Construction Science & Technology, (10), 1.
Yu, K. (2020). Turning Grey into Green—Meishe River Greenway. Urban Solutions, (17), 68–73.
Yu, Kongjian. (2020). Planning, design, and construction of beautiful cities under the concept of ecological civilization. People’s Tribune · Academic Frontiers, (04), 18–36.
Yu, Kongjian. (2020). Practice research: a paradigm of innovative knowledge and methods. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 8(04), 6–9.
Yu, Kongjian. (2020). A struggle between two civilizations: nature-based solutions. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 8(03), 6–9 + 4–5.
Yu, Kongjian. (2020). What kind of playgrounds do urban children need? Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 8(02), 6–9 + 4–5.
Yu, Kongjian. (2020). Nature-based—letting nature do the work: fundamentals of territorial spatial planning and ecological restoration. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 8(01), 6–9 + 4–5.
Yu, Kongjian. (2020). The best of times. Landscape Design, (4), 2–3.
Yu, Kongjian. (2020). Sanya Mangrove Ecological Park. Landscape Design, (4), 4–8.
Yu, Kongjian. (2020). Above the mountains and waters: Quzhou Luming Park. Landscape Design, (4), 9–12.
Yu, Kongjian. (2020). Architecture living with waterlogging: Harbin Qunli Stormwater Park. Landscape Design, (4), 13–17.
Yu, Kongjian; Wang, Chunlian; Li, Dihua; et al. (2019). Concept, delineation methods, and empirical study of the “redline” for aquatic ecological space. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 39(16), 5911–5921.
Yu, Kongjian. (2019). Urban planning and design concepts and methods for harmony between humans and nature. People’s Tribune · Academic Frontiers, (22), 6–24.
Yu, Kongjian. (2019). Euler’s oasis and vanished civilizations. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 7(04), 6–9.
Yu, Kongjian. (2019). Viewing social forms and landscape resilience through the lens of the “Peach Blossom Spring”. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 7(03), 6–7.
Yu, Kongjian. (2019). Beware the traps of intelligent tools. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 7(02), 4–7.
Yu, Kongjian. (2019). On the services of landscape. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 7(01), 6–7.
Yu, Kongjian. (2019). Landscape design must be “truth, goodness, and beauty”. Design, 32(16), 72–75.
Yu, Kongjian; Lin, Guoxiong; & Zhang, Yu. (2019). Ecological restoration of the Meishe River in Haikou. Construction Science & Technology, (Z1), 83–87.
Yu, Kongjian. (2019). Sponge city: concepts and methods. Construction Science & Technology, (Z1), 10–11.
Jiang, Qianzi; Yu, Kongjian; & Wang, Zhifang. (2018). Study on the stormwater regulation and storage capacity of pond systems based on SWMM and its application. China Water & Wastewater, 34(11), 132–138.
Yu, Kongjian; Yu, Hongqian; & Song, Yu. (2018). A “Five Waters Co-governance” demonstration project: the Puyang River ecological corridor in Jinhua. Landscape Architecture Frontiers (Chinese & English), 6(1), 64–75.
Yu, Kongjian. (2018). On a global perspective and local action. Landscape Architecture Frontiers (Chinese & English), (1), 5–7 + 4.
Yu, Kongjian, Toh, F. (2018). Creating sponge cities. CUBES, May 2018, 81–87.
Yu, Kongjian. (2017). The “new movement of going to the mountains and the countryside” and the conservation and revitalization of heritage villages—Practice in Xixinan Village, Huizhou. Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 32(07), 696–710.
Yu, Kongjian. (2017). On “sponge cities” and “sponge territory”. Architectural Design Management, 34(02), 5–6.
Yu, Kongjian. (2017). Green Infrastructure through the Revival of Ancient Wisdom. Bulletin of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 70(4), 35–39.
Yu, Kongjian. (2016). Anthropocene ecosystems and ecological restoration. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, (01), 6–9.
Yu, Kongjian; & Li, Lei. (2016). To mitigate urban flooding, we need to build “sponge cities”. China Economic Report, (08), 52–55.
Yu, Kongjian; Liu, Yujie; & Gao, Zhengmin. (2016). Above the mountains and waters: Quzhou Luming Park. Architectural Journal, (10), 30–37.
Yu, Kongjian. (2016). On ecological water governance: “sponge cities” and “sponge territory”. Academic Frontiers, (21), 4–18.
Yu, Kongjian. (2015). Key technologies for building water ecological infrastructure. China Water Resources, 784(22), 9–12.
Yu, Kongjian. (2015). Water ecological infrastructure for a Beautiful China: theory and practice. Journal of Poyang Lake, (01), 5–18.
Yu, Kongjian; Yu, Hongqian; Song, Yu; & Zhou, Shuiming. (2015). Resilient landscape—Design of Yanweizhou Park, Jinhua. Architectural Journal, (04), 66–70.
Yu, Kongjian; Jiang, Qianzi; Wang, Zhifang; & Li, Minghan. (2015). Research progress and review of pond landscapes. Areal Research and Development, 34(03), 130–136.
Yu, Kongjian. (2015). Three key strategies for sponge cities: infiltration, slowing down, and adaptation. Southern Architecture, (03), 4–7.
Yu, Kongjian; Li, Dihua; Yuan, Hong; et al. (2015). Theory and practice of “sponge cities”. Urban Planning, (06), 26–36.
Yu, Kongjian; Xu, Tao; Li, Dihua; et al. (2015). Research progress on resilience of urban water systems. Urban Planning Forum, (01), 75–83.
Yu, K. (2015). Landscape Architecture: A tool for environmental stewardship. Journal of Landscape Architecture, 45, 44–49.
Yu, K. (2015). A Resilient Landscape. Topos, 90, 84–89.
Yu, Kongjian; & Chen, Yiyong. (2014). International experience in traditional agricultural water adaptation and water-adaptive landscapes. China Water Resources, (03), 13–16.
Yu, Kongjian; Lin, Shuangying; Cong, Xin; & Wu, Di. (2014). A landscape-design approach to building island stormwater management systems—A case study of Turtle Island, Bali, Indonesia. Chinese Landscape Architecture, (01), 29–33.
Yu, K. (2014). Designing New Hydrological Infrastructures. Lotus International, 155(155), 28–31.
Turenscape/Yu, K. (2014). Slow Down: Hydrological Infrastructure for Liupanshui, China. Topos, 87, 10–11.
Zhao, J., Yu, K., Li, D. H. (2014). Spatial characteristics of local floods in Beijing urban area. Urban Water Journal, 11(7), 57–72.
Chen, Yiyong; & Yu, Kongjian. (2013). Theory and practice of vernacular landscape research in the United States—A guide to Discovering the Vernacular Landscape. Human Geography, 28(1), 155–160.
Mo, Lin; & Yu, Kongjian. (2012). Building an urban green sponge—Planning research on ecological stormwater regulation and storage systems. Urban Development Studies, (05), 4–8.
Yu, Kongjian; You, Hong; Xu, Liyan; et al. (2012). Development pressure of residential land and urban expansion scenarios in Beijing—An analysis based on resistance surfaces. Geographical Research, 31(7), 1173–1184.Yu, K. (2012). The Big Feet Aesthetics and the Art of Survival. Architectural Design, (220), 72-77.
Baraona Pohl, E., Yu, K. (2012). Nature as Infrastructure. Domus, Jan., 60-65.
Yu, Kongjian. (2012). Capitalizing on Foothills: Restoring the Relationship between People and Land. Harvard International Review, Summer, 34(01), 40-45.
Yu, Kongjian; Chen, Yiyong; Wang, Chunlian; & Li, Dihua. (2011). Landscape-design approaches to ecological restoration of riverine shoal wetlands after reclamation—A case study of Xinji Shoal on the Yangtze River. Resources and Environment in the Yangtze Basin, 20(10), 1255.
Fu, Wei; & Yu, Kongjian. (2011). A study on urban spatial design methods in arid desert regions—A case study of Erenhot City, Inner Mongolia. Journal of Central South University of Forestry & Technology, 31(06), 217–224.
Yu, Kongjian, Wang, Sisi., Li, Dihua. (2011). The negative approach to urban growth planning of Beijing, China. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 54(9), 1209–1236.
Yu, Kongjian. (2011). Stormwater Park for a Water Resilient City: Qunli National Urban Wetland. Topos, 77, 72–77.
Zhou, Nianxing; Yu, Kongjian; & Huang, Zhenfang. (2006). Greenways and research progress. Acta Ecologica Sinica, (09), 3108–3116.
Yu, Kongjian, Li, Dihua, Li, N. (2006). The evolution of Greenways in China. Landscape & Urban Planning, 76(1–4), 223–239.
Zhu, Qiang; Yu, Kongjian; & Li, Dihua. (2005). Width of ecological corridors in landscape planning. Acta Ecologica Sinica, (09), 2406–2412.
Yu, Kongjian; & Li, Dihua. (2003). Roads of the urban landscape. Qunyan, (11), 9–13.
Yu, Kongjian. (1999). Landscape ecological security patterns for biodiversity conservation. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 19(01), 8–15.
Yu, Kongjian. (1998). Methods for identifying strategic points in landscape ecology and the surface model of theoretical geography. Acta Geographica Sinica, 53(B12), 11–18.
Yu, Kongjian. (1996). Security patterns and surface model in landscape ecological planning. Landscape and Urban Planning, 36(1), 1–17.
Yu, Kongjian. (1995). Ecological security patterns in landscapes and GIS application. Geographic Information Sciences, 1(2), 88–102.
Yu, Kongjian. (1995). Cultural variations in landscape preference: comparisons among Chinese sub-groups and Western design experts. Landscape and Urban Planning, 32(2), 107–126.
Yu, Kongjian. (1993). Infinity in bottle ground: understanding the Chinese garden. Arnoldia, 53(1), 2–7.
Yu, Kongjian. (1991). Research on landscape sensitivity and threshold evaluation. Geographical Research, 10(2), 38–51.
Chen, Chuankang; Gao, Yugong; Yu, Kongjian; et al. (1990). A study on tourism development of the Danxia Scenic and Historic Area. Acta Geographica Sinica, (03), 284–294.
Books and Book Chapters (Chinese entries translated)
Kongjian Yu, & Dong Wang. (2024). Modular Approach Creating Low-Maintenance Sponge City: Benjakitti Forest Park in Bangkok, Thailand. In: Carl A. Smith. Representing Landscapes: Visualizing Climate Action. New York: Routledge, pp. 172–188.
Yu, K. (2022). Foreword to Oxford Very Short Introduction—Landscape Architecture. In Landscape Architecture (pp. 1–11). Yilin Press.
Yu, K. (2022). Sanya Dong’an Wetland Park, Hainan, China. In G. D. Newman & Z. Qiao (Eds.), Landscape Architecture for Sea Level Rise—Innovative Global Solutions (pp. 177–183). Routledge.
Yu, K. (2022). Qunli Stormwater Park, Harbin, China. In R. Murray (Ed.), Why Cities Need Large Parks—Large Parks in Large Cities (pp. 436–445). Routledge.
Yu, K. (2022). Species-Town Life: Urban Imaginaries in the Post-Pandemic Era. In C. Waldheim et al. (Eds.), 50 Species-Towns (pp. vii–viii). The Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Office for Urbanization.
Yu, K. (2021). Sponge city and Turenscape’s practice. In F. Ameen (Ed.), deCode Asian Urbanism (pp. 196–215). A+D Museum and The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asian Institute at Harvard University.
Yu, K. (2021). Creating and restoring urban ecologies: Case studies in China. In M. P. Zari, P. Connolly & M. Southcombe (Eds.), ECOLOGIES design—Transforming Architecture, Landscape, and Urbanism (pp. 49–61). Routledge.
Yu, K. (2021). The sponge city: Planning, Design and Political Design. In S. Pelsmakers & N. Newman (Eds.), Architecture and the Climate Emergency (pp. 47–55). Design Studio 2021 Volume 1.
Yu, K. (2021). Qunli Stormwater Park. In The Ideal City: Exploring Urban Futures (pp. 182–185). Space 10 Gestalten.
Yu, K. (2021). Moon-floating Temple. In C. van Uffelen (Ed.), China: The New Creative Power in Architecture (pp. 328–333). Braun.
Yu, Kongjian. (2021). A new aesthetic of “seeing the big in the small”. In Leng Bingchuan (Chief Ed.), Aestheticism (pp. 72–75). Guangxi Normal University Press.
Yu, K. (2021). Beautiful cities in the post-industrial era: ecology and heritage urbanism. In Editorial Committee of the 4th Hebei International Urban Planning and Design Competition (Tangshan) (Ed.), Multi-dimensional Urban Renewal in the Context of a New Era (pp. 26–27). Liaoning Science and Technology Press.
Yu, K. (2020). Beautiful China and the Mission of Landscape Architecture. In R. J. Weller & T. L. Hands (Eds.), Beautiful China: Reflections on Landscape Architecture in Contemporary China (pp. 22-29). ORO Editions.
Yu, K. (2020). Shanghai Houtan Park. In N. Kishnani (Ed.), ECOPUNCTURE: TRANSFORMING ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM IN ASIA (pp. 256-271). BCI Media Group.
Yu, K. (2020). Yanweizhou Park. In N. Kishnani (Ed.), ECOPUNCTURE: TRANSFORMING ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM IN ASIA (pp. 290-303). BCI Media Group.
Yu, K. (2020). Yichang Yunhe Park. In M. Ezban (Ed.), Aquaculture Landscapes: Fish Farms and the Public Realm (pp. 38-41). Routledge.
Yu, K. (2020). Qian’an Sanlihe River Ecological Corridor. In An Architecture Guide to the UN17 Sustainable Development Goals Volume 2 (pp. 208-210). Royal Danish Academy.
Yu, K. (2020). Minghu Wetland Park. In An Architecture Guide to the UN17 Sustainable Development Goals Volume 2 (pp. 182-185). Royal Danish Academy.
Yu, Kongjian. (2018). Design of the Land: The Science and Art of Landscape. In 40 Years of Chinese Design: “Experience and Models” Selected Documentary Collection (pp. 296–304). Hebei Fine Arts Publishing House.
Yu, K. (2018). Give Me Back a Beautiful Hometown. In The Charm of the Spirit (pp. 555–562). Peking University Press.
Yu, K. (2017). Yiwu and Wuyi River & Yongning River. In M. Prominski (Ed.), River. Space. Design (pp. 252–257). Birkh?user.
Yu, K. (2017). A green sponge for a water-resilient city: Qunli stormwater park. In S. McDowell (Ed.), Water Index: Design Strategies for Drought, Flooding and Contamination (pp. 158–165). Actar.
Yu, K. (2017). Shanghai houtan park: Landscape as a living system. In S. McDowell (Ed.), Water Index: Design Strategies for Drought, Flooding and Contamination (pp. 166–171). Actar.
Yu, K. (2015). Rice campus & Red ribbon. In The Inspired Landscape-- Twenty-One Leading Landscape Architects Explore the Creative Process (pp. 238–253). Portland, Oregon.
Shannon, K., Meulder, B. D., & Yu, K. (2014). Reconsidering Village in the Expanding City - Taihu. In Village in The City (pp. 120–161). Switzerland.
Yu, K. (2014). Complete Water. In A. Mathur & D. Da Cunha (Eds.), Design in The Terrain of Water (pp. 57–65). Applied Research + Design Publishing with the University of Pennsylvania, School of Design.
Turenscape/Yu, K. (2014). Qinhuangdao Forest Park. In Eco-Landscape Design (pp. 28–33). Springer.
Turenscape/Yu, K. (2014). Kunming Ecological Infrastructure. In J. A. Flannery & K. Smith (Eds.), Eco-Landscape Design (pp. 122–141). Springer.
Yu, K. (2014). Designed Ecologies for an Urban River System across scales in Kunming and Liupanshui. In S. Nan, J. Reilly, & F. Klass (Eds.), ISOCARP Review 10: Water and Cities: managing the Vital Relationship (pp. 12–30). International Society of City and Regional Planners.
Yu, K. (2013). Integration across Scales: Landscape as Infrastructure for the Protection of Biodiversity. In J. Beardsley (Ed.), Designing Wildlife Habitats (pp. 241–271).
Yu, K. (2011). Landscape as a living system: Shanghai 2010 Expo Houtan Park. In Applied Urban Ecology: A Global Framework (pp. 186–192).
Yu, K. (2011). Ecological infrastructure leads the way: the negative approach and landscape urbanism for smart preservation and smart growth. In Applied Urban Ecology: A Global Framework (pp. 152–166).
Yu, K; & Li, D. (2004). Building urban–rural ecological infrastructure. In Outline of Technical Policies for the Construction Sector (pp. 115–124). Ministry of Construction of the People’s Republic of China.
Yu, K; & Li, D. (2003). Landscape Architecture: Profession, Discipline, and Education. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press.
Yu, K. (1997). Security patterns: A defensive approach toward landscape and environmental planning. In Athens International Conference on Urban Regional Environmental Planning and Informatics to Planning in An Era Transition (pp. 453-463). National Technical University of Athens.
Yu, K. (1997). Ecologists, farmers, tourists - GIS support planning of Red Stone Park. In Geographic Information Research: Bridging the Atlantic (pp. 480-494).
Yu, K. (1994). Landscape into places: Feng-shui model of place making and some cross-cultural comparison. In J. D. Clark (Ed.), History and Culture (pp.320-340). Mississipi State University, USA.
2.4 Notable Honors and Awards
2025: International Design Education Achievement Award
2025: Forbes 2025 Global Sustainability Leaders
2025: Recipient of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) International Prize
2025: Named “Global Leader in NbS (Nature-based Solutions)” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
2023: Oberlander Prize (often regarded as the “Pritzker Prize of landscape architecture”; awarded biennially; to date, only two recipients worldwide)
2023: U.S. National Design Award (national-level Gold Award; the only awardee from Asia)
2021: Cobb Common Good Award (the highest global honor in the field of ecological civilization)
2020: IFLA Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award (IFLA Lifetime Achievement Award in landscape architecture)
2019: Honorary Doctorate, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
2017: Doctor Honoris Causa, Sapienza University of Rome
2016: Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
2013: Chang Jiang Scholar (Distinguished Professor), Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China
2012: Fellow, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
2012: “Thousand Talents Program” Expert, Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee
2005: First Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award for Overseas Chinese Professionals, Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council
2003: Achievement Award for Returned Overseas Students, jointly awarded by the Organization Department, Publicity Department, and United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee
Notable Awards List
2025: Award of Excellence, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Nanchang Yanweizhou Park)
2025: Urban Design Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Haikou Meishe River Fengxiang Park)
2025: The International Architecture Award (Project: Huaiyang Fuxi Cultural Park)
2025: The International Architecture Award (Project: Sanya Dong’an Wetland Park)
2025: Best Landscape Architecture, AZ Awards (Project: Zhoukou Huaiyang Fuxi Cultural Park)
2024: General Design Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Benjakitti Forest Park, Bangkok, Thailand)
2024: Urban Design Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Xi’an Yannan Park)
2024: Best Landscape Architecture, AZ Awards (Project: Benjakitti Forest Park, Bangkok, Thailand)
2024: IFLA AAPME Award, International Federation of Landscape Architects – Asia Pacific, Middle East (IFLA AAPME) (Project: Benjakitti Forest Park, Bangkok, Thailand)
2024: UIA 2030 Award, International Union of Architects (UIA) (Project: Benjakitti Forest Park, Bangkok, Thailand)
2024: GROHE Water Prize, World Architecture Festival (WAF) (Project: Moutai Eco Metaverse)
2023: World Landscape of the Year, World Architecture Festival (WAF) (Project: Benjakitti Forest Park, Bangkok, Thailand)
2023: Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Award, International Union of Architects (UIA) (Project: Benjakitti Forest Park, Bangkok, Thailand)
2022: Design of the Year, Architecture MasterPrize (AMP) (Project: Nanchang Yanweizhou Park)
2022: Best Landscape Architecture, AZ Awards (Project: Nanchang Yanweizhou Park)
2021: Best Urban Landscape, World Architecture Festival (WAF) (Project: Kazan Kaban Lake Embankment / Waterfront Design)
2021: Best Natural Landscape, World Architecture Festival (WAF) (Project: Sanya Mangrove Ecological Park)
2021: Best Landscape Architecture, AZ Awards (Project: Tongnan Dazufo Temple Wetland Park)
2020: Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Sanya Mangrove Park)
2019: Ian L. McHarg Award, American Planning Association (APA) (Project: Puyang River Ecological Corridor)
2019: Kevin Lynch Award, American Planning Association (APA) (Project: Landscape Revitalization of the Kaban Lakes Waterfront District)
2017: Landscape of the Year, World Architecture Festival (WAF) (Project: Chengtoushan Archaeological Site Park)
2017: Qian Xuesen Urban Studies Gold Award (Award-winning research: Building an Urban Green Sponge—Planning Research on Ecological Stormwater Regulation and Storage Systems)
2016: Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Quzhou Luming Park)
2015: World Landscape of the Year, World Architecture Festival (WAF) (Project: Jinhua Yanweizhou Park)
2015: Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Edited journal: Landscape Architecture Frontiers)
2015: The Humanitarian Water and Food Award, Copenhagen, Denmark
2014: Top Ten Brand Figures in China, Brand China Industry Alliance
2014: Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Liupanshui Minghu Wetland Park)
2014: Highly Commended, World Architecture Festival (WAF) (Project: Liupanshui Minghu Wetland Park)
2013: Specially Appointed Expert of Beijing, Beijing Municipal People’s Government
2013: Top Ten Figures of Zhongguancun, Brand China Industry Alliance & Zhongguancun Science Park Administrative Committee
2013: Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Liupanshui Minghu Wetland Park)
2013: Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Qian’an Sanlihe Ecological Corridor)
2012: Green China Annual Focus Figure — Special Contribution Award, National Greening Committee, State Forestry Administration, and China Green Foundation
2012: China Urban Redesign Thinker Award, Xinhua News Agency & Xinhuanet
2012: Award of Excellence, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Harbin Qunli Wetland Park)
2012: International Architecture Award, The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design (Project: Harbin Qunli Wetland Park)
2012: International Architecture Award, The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design (Project: Shanghai Expo Houtan Park)
2011: Chang Jiang Scholar (Distinguished Professor), Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China
2011: Design Education Award, Beijing Design Week
2011: Landscape Star Award, Beijing Municipal Park Management Center & Beijing Park Green Space Association
2011: World Landscape of the Year, World Architecture Festival (WAF) (Project: Qian’an Sanlihe Ecological Corridor)
2011: American Architecture Award, The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design (Project: Shanghai Expo Houtan Park)
2010: Award of Excellence, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Shanghai Expo Houtan Park)
2010: World Landscape of the Year, World Architecture Festival (WAF) (Project: Shanghai Expo Houtan Park)
2010: Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Tianjin Qiaoyuan Park)
2010: Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Qinhuangdao Coastal Landscape Belt)
2010: Excellence on the Waterfront Honor Award, The Waterfront Center (Project: Qinhuangdao Tanghe Park)
2009: World Landscape of the Year, World Architecture Festival (WAF) (Project: Tianjin Qiaoyuan Park)
2009: Global Award for Excellence, Urban Land Institute (ULI) (Project: Zhongshan Qijiang Park)
2009: Excellence on the Waterfront Award, The Waterfront Center
2008: Excellence on the Waterfront Top Honor Award, The Waterfront Center
2007: Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Qinhuangdao Tanghe Park)
2007: Excellence on the Waterfront Top Honor Award, The Waterfront Center
2007: AR Award Commended, The Architectural Review
2006: Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Huangyan Yongning Park)
2005: First Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award for Overseas Chinese Professionals, Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council
2005: Second Beijing Returned Overseas Students Entrepreneurship Award, Beijing Municipal Personnel Bureau
2005: Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Rice Paddies Campus, Shenyang Jianzhu University)
2005: Honor Award in Planning and Analysis, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Taizhou “Negative Planning”)
2005: China Habitat Environment Example Award, Ministry of Construction of the People’s Republic of China (Project: Huangyan Yongning Park)
2004: Gold Award, 10th National Exhibition of Fine Arts (Ministry of Culture & China Artists Association) (Project: Zhongshan Qijiang Park)
2004: AR+D Recommended (International Young Architects Award Recommendation), The Architectural Review (Project: Dujiangyan Water Culture Plaza, Sichuan)
2004: Comprehensive Gold Award for Modern Outstanding Chinese National Architecture (Project: Zhongshan Qijiang Park)
2004: Outstanding Urban Environment Design Proposal Award, 10th Capital Planning, Architecture & Design Report Exhibition (Project: Zhongguancun Life Science Park)
2003: Achievement Award for Returned Overseas Students, jointly awarded by the Organization Department, Publicity Department, and United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee
2003: Outstanding Award for Urban Environmental Art, China Architecture Art Award (Project: Zhongshan Qijiang Park)
2003: First Prize of Beijing Outstanding Engineering Design Award (Project: Zhongguancun Life Science Park)
2002: Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Project: Zhongshan Qijiang Park; the first Chinese project to receive this award)
2001: China Habitat Environment Example Award, Ministry of Construction of the People’s Republic of China (Project: Middle Road Pedestrian Street, Qamdo, Tibet)
2.5 Notable Keynotes and Invited Speeches
2025: Sponge Cities and Sponge Planet, 61st IFLA World Congress
2025: Sponge Planet, CAU2025 International Conference (Brazil)
2025: Climate Adaptation and Resilience—Exploring Nature-based Solutions and the Role of Water in Public Design, CIC Climate Adaptation Conference (UK)
2025: Addressing Climate Change through Landscape Architecture, The Cultural Landscape Foundation
2025: A Nature-based Approach under the Chinese Model, “Urban Biodiversity and Sustainable Development” Asia Regional Workshop
2024: Sponge Planet—Design for Survival Challenges, World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2024
2024: A New Peach Blossom Spring: Aspirations and Practices under the Concept of Ecological Civilization—Also on Two Fundamental Questions of Beautiful China, Annual National Planning Conference of China (China Urban Planning Annual Conference)
2024: Sponge Planet—Water-based Solutions to the Climate Crisis, Global Summit Forum “From Climate Crisis to Climate Resilience” (Vatican)
2024: Sponge Cities and Sponge Planet, U.S. National Academies—Water Science and Technology Forum (USA)
2024: China’s Model of Urban Forests and Ecological Restoration, Beijing Forestry University
2024: Traditional Wisdom and Urban–Rural Ecological Reconstruction—A China Model Based on Nature-based Solutions, 14th Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture (Theme: “People’s Landscape, Shared Scenery”)
2023: Where are Turenscape and Beijing University going in terms of promoting landscape culture? (在推进景观文化方面，土人景观和北京大学将何去何从?), IFLA 75th Anniversary Theme Forum: Landscape Culture (IFLA 75 - Webinar: The Landscape Culture Today and Tomorrow)
2023: Sponge City, United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28
2023: Profound Forms: Theory and Practice of Design Ecology, Special Lecture at Zhejiang University
2023: Healing the Built Environment—Sponge Cities and Nature-Based Solutions, Australian Landscape Conference 2023 (15th Australian Landscape Biennale)
2022: Healing the world’s cities and planet, Lecture at PKU Institute for Global South Studies
2022: “Thought Leadership Dialogue” with Singapore’s Minister for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee, Topic: Healing the world's cities: sponge city and sponge planet
2022: Sponge Cities— Addressing urban flooding through Nature-based solutions, UNEP Nature-based Solutions for Resilient Infrastructure – a webinar series on the path to CoP 27: IMPLEMENTING NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE AND DISASTER RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE
2022: Live with Water：Sponge City and Sponge planet, Tailand National Conference: Learning Innovation for Well-Being
2022: Heritage Urbanism for Beautiful Towns, “Beautiful Lecture Hall” of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development
2022: Low-Carbon Integrated Water–Soil Governance, and the Symbiotic Path of the “Stupid City”, 2022 Urban Water Affairs Development Conference & Urban Planning Conference
2021: SFI Science Summit 2021--Creating our Future, Topic: Healing the world's cities: Nature-based solutions
2021: 2021 AIIB Annual Meeting--Biological Diversity in Green Financing, Topic: Healing the world's cities: sponge city and sponge planet
2021: Keynote speech for IFLA Africa, ILASA & USIDA：Health & Vitality Conference, Topic: Healing the World’s Cities: Keynote with global implications.
2021: Reuters Impact—Mobilizing Global Business to Deliver on Climate Action, Topic: Healing the World’s Cities-- Nature Based Solutions
2021: Keynote speech for The 57th IFLA World Congress: World Landscape Architects Summit 2020, Topic: Healing the Community by Healing the Planet Through Nature Based Solutions
2021: VIVA TECH：Ancestral Knowledge for Climate-Resilient Cities, Topic: Climate-Resiliency Inspired by Ancient Wisdom
2021: Lecture at Frontiers Forum 2021--Accelerating scienceled solutions for healthy lives on a healthy planet, Topic: Healing the World’s Cities
2021: Lecture at Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Infrastructure Investment organized by UNEP&AIIB, Topic: Sponge City: Nature Based Solutions Inspired by Ancient Wisdom.
2021: RIBA presentation, Topic: Sponge City: Leveraging Nature as Ecological Infrastructure
2021: SUSTAINABLE WATER POLICY SUMMIT IN CITIES organized by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Topic: Sponge City
2021: Lecture at NUS MSC Integated Sustainable Design, Topic: Sponge City and Nature Based Solutions
2020: TV seminar for Parallel Forum on Climate: The Green World and The Future of Humanity, Beijing
2020: Key-Note Speech at Virtual Seminar on Climate Resilience and Disaster Risk Mainstreaming for Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction, Topic: Ecological Urban Planning
2020: Lecture at GPSC Global Online Series invited by World Bank, Topic: Bringing Nature to Cities
2020: Lecture at AIIB, Topic: Bringing Nature to Cities, Beijing
2020: Guest online lecture at NC State University, Topic: Sponge City and Nature Based Solutions
2020: IFLA Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe AWARDS 2020 Ceremony, Topic: The Land of Peach Blossoms and the Art of Survival--My Journey to Heal the Planet
2020:Carbon Positive RESET! 1.5?C Global Teach-In, Panelist for PLANNING AND DESIGNING FOR CLIMATE: A Paradigm Shift
2020: Beautiful China – Big Feet Revolution and the New Back to the Countryside Movement, Nanchang Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, Nanchang
2020: Harmonious Coexistence between Human and Nature – Beautiful Urban-Rural Design and Green Lifestyle Practice, The 11th Collective Study Session of the Theoretical Study Group of the Hohhot Municipal Party Committee 2020, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
2020: Key-Note Speech at Center for Liveable Cities Singapore: Sponge Cities: Leveraging Nature as Ecological Infrastructure, Singapore.
2020: Key-Note Speech at Towards the Construction of a Public Policy for Green and Blue Infrastructures: Ecological Security Patterns for the Basin of Mexico, Host by Metropolitan Autonomous University-Azcapotzalco, Mexico.
2020: Nature Based Solutions for resilient Cities, Host by Thai Association of Landscape Architects & ArsomSlip Institute of the Arts, Bangkok, Thailand.
2019: Deep connections and deep forms: designed ecologies for Water remediation. Advancing Urban Sustainability in China and the United States Workshop, National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine.
2019: Strategic ecological safety and eco-city patterns: experiences of ecological urban planning in China. Keynote Speech at UAM & UNAM Faculty of Architecture, Mexico City, Mexico.
2019: Sponge City for Water Resilient-Design with Nature and Inspired by Ancient Wisdom. ASLA Close Session, San Diego, USA.
2019: The Revival of Eastern Wisdom to heal the earth fast inexpensively and massively. IFLA Congress, Session 2.12 – Eastern Perspectives, Oslo, Norway.
2018: Creating Deep Forms and Designed Ecology. Columbia GSAPP - Frampton Endowed Lecture, NYC, USA.
2018: Shaping Civic Space - Challenges of the Anthropocene. Designing WATER Symposium, Longwood Gardens, PA, USA.
2018: Cultural Piracy and Identity: Searching for Chineseness in Architecture and Landscape. HE JINGTANG ARCHITECTURE EXHIBITION & INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE FORUM, UC Berkeley, USA.
2017: Academic Leadership: The Future of Design Research. Harvard DDes 30th Anniversary, Boston, MA, USA.
2017: Reconnecting Man and Nature Through the Revival of Ancient Wisdom. Green Infrastructure Conference, Orvieto, Italy.
2016: Art of Survival and its Deep Form. Keynote, Symposium “The Changing Chinese Landscape”, University at Buffalo, USA.
2016: Theory and Key Technologies of Sponge City and Ecological Restoration. Keynote Speech, 11th China Urban Development and Planning Congress, Changsha, China.
2016: Keynote Speaker, 53rd IFLA World Landscape Architecture Congress, Turin, Italy.
2015: Creating Deep Forms in Urban Nature. Keynote Speech, 52nd IFLA World Congress, Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
2015: Sponge City: Theory, Key Technologies and Cases. Keynote Speech, National Training Course on Sponge City Construction, Nanning, China.
2014: Changing Geography By Designing Ecological Infrastructure. ASLA Annual Conference, Denver, USA.
2014: Symbiotic Solutions to Urban Water Issues. The Living Environment, The Global Café, The Brisbane G20.
2013: Think Like A King and Act Like A peasant. ASLA Annual Conference and Expo, Boston, USA.
2013: Keynote Speaker, Reform--2013 AILA National Conference, Sydney, Australia.
2012: Keynote Speaker, Sustaining Identity Symposium, The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK.
2011: Keynote Speaker, 48th IFLA World Landscape Architecture Congress, Zurich, Switzerland.
2010: Keynote Speaker, Award presentation ceremony of the 2010 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Qatar.
2010: Curator and Keynote Speaker, The 6th European Biennial Landscape Architecture, Barcelona, Spain.
2009: Keynote Speaker, 46th IFLA World Congress “Green infrastructure: High-performance Landscapes”, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2008: Keynote Speaker, ASLA Annual Meeting “Green Infrastructure: Lessons from Abroad”, Philadelphia, USA.
2007: Keynote Speaker, Australia Institute of Landscape Architecture Annual Conference, Adelaide, Australia.
2006: Keynote Speaker, ASLA Annual Meeting and 43rd IFLA World Congress, Minneapolis, USA.
2005: The Art of Survival: internationality and identity. The Dean’s Lecture, The Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, Melbourne University, Australia.
2003: China On the Edge of City Beautiful. Harvard University Graduate School of Design, USA.
2002: The Regenerative Design: The Case of Zhongshan Shipyard Park. Fifth International Eco-city Conference, Shenzhen, China.
