Xi'an Meipo Lake Water System Ecological Landscape

Project Profile

1. Project Statement

Meipo Lake is located 90 li southwest of the ancient capital of Chang'an, on the west side of Huxian County. It is nestled against the Qinling Mountains to the south and bordered by the Lao River to the east. Known for its picturesque scenery, it has long been celebrated as the "most beautiful spot in Guanzhong." The lake has attracted numerous scholars and poets, leaving behind beautiful verses such as "waves piled with glass."

However, with the passage of time, Meipo Lake has lost its former glory. Farmland and villages have replaced the once vast expanse of water, and the ecological splendor of "playing flutes startling white egrets and fish leaping from the rod" can no longer be found.

The first phase of the Meipo Lake landscape project aims to recreate the most beautiful lake scenery. The project stretches from Gucheng West Road in the north to East-West Fifth Road in the south, covering an area of about 3 square kilometers. It will adhere to the overall positioning of a "5A scenic spot and the most original cultural and ecological tourism area," integrating existing plans with landscape design methods to recreate the peak period of Meipi Lake’s forests and water islands, establishing a unique tourist attraction in Xi'an!

2. Objecitve and Challenge

The design plan revolves around the three core themes of culture, ecology, and tourism, setting the project goals as follows:

• Culture: Fully explore the cultural heritage of Meipi Lake, using modern design language to interpret traditional culture, forming an important cultural activity stage in the area.
• Ecology: Create diverse habitats to attract a variety of species, restoring the ecological splendor of Meipi Lake as described in "playing flutes startling white egrets and fish leaping from the rod."
• Tourism: Develop in harmony with Xi'an’s numerous high-quality cultural and tourist attractions to create a unique tourism appeal.

3. Design Strategy

To inherit the thousand-year historical context and create a landscape with unique Meipo Lake cultural characteristics, we draw inspiration from poetry and songs about Meipi to outline four major landscape elements: "Layers of Peaks, Misty Trees, Calm Waters, and Islets."

• Layers of Peaks: Use micro-topography to enrich spatial variation, balance soil excavation for the lake, and create layered terrains echoing the Zhongnan Mountain. The main peak, Jing Mountain, continues the planning axis, featuring a towering, robust mountain shape that highlights the characteristics of northern mountains. The strategic arrangement forms a layered landscape, with micro-topographies interspersing to create diverse spatial changes, optimizing the scenic area’s terrain. From a distance, it appears rolling and ecologically natural; up close, it is distinctive and spatially rich, recreating the "Southern mountains contend for spiritual elegance, purple clouds reflect brilliance" scenic view.
• Misty Trees: Utilize native tree species of Guanzhong and the mist characteristics of Meipi Lake to construct a forest landscape enveloped in mist. Dense forests shield the city’s noise; orderly windbreaks convey historical solemnity and ceremonial feelings. Trees that flower before leafing form colorful valleys in the mountains. Open woodlands by the water and the misty rain of Meipi create charming waterfront experiences. Graceful tree forms blend into the foggy landscape, recreating the "misty green trees, thousands of verdant hills emerging" scenic view.
• Calm Waters: Optimize the current water shape to form a lake surface with spatial variation and dynamic changes. The shoreline features a series of human-scale inlets, accentuating the core water surface’s openness and tranquility. Waterfront buildings blend into the landscape water body, providing excellent views and orientations. Through on-site soil excavation and fill, a series of small islands are created within the wetlands, forming a lush plant landscape. Meandering Meipi, with its twists and turns, recreates the "dense reeds retreating, sky and water eternally joined" scenic view.
• Islets: Enrich the island forms to create a water town in Guanzhong with intersecting rivers and bridges over flowing water. Adjust island scales and water shapes to form a network of water bodies and human-scale islands. Tall trees in the island's center and densely planted flowering trees along the water create a characteristic water town of apricot blossoms and lush greenery. The picturesque water network, dense vegetation, and rustic architecture recreate the "boats drift into the trees, wide shores and floating villages" scenic view.

4. Conclusion

The four major landscape elements—Layers of Peaks, Misty Trees, Calm Waters, and Islets—combine to outline the overall landscape structure of the Meipo Lake scenic area. The continuous landscape, forest-like touring environment, and naturally wild spatial atmosphere will provide visitors with unique spatial sensations and enjoyable experiences.