Song of the Valley: Zijin Mountain Ecological Slice

Located in Nanjing’s Xuanwu Garden City, Song of the Valley: Zijin Mountain Ecological Slice is a sunken plaza renovation that integrates ecological regeneration with urban experience. It serves as one of the core scenes of the overall “Vertical Ecological Upgrade of Xuanwu Garden City Mall” initiative. The design features seven thematic ecological spaces—ranging from birds and climate to minerals—forming an immersive, vertically connected urban ecological education system.

Drawing inspiration from Zijin Mountain, Nanjing’s most significant ecological and historical landmark, the project embraces the concept of “tangible ecology” to create a naturally sustainable commercial public space. Centered on three dimensions—resource circulation, energy efficiency, and ecological friendliness—it establishes an ESG practice framework with measurable indicators. Native plants from local nurseries are used to reduce transportation-related carbon emissions, while a simulated Zijin Mountain valley system recreates small-scale hydrological and soil cycles. Ecological section boxes vividly demonstrate the efficient nutrient loop of “leaf litter – humus – root absorption,” achieving self-sufficiency rates of over 90% for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

The design incorporates fallen logs and rock ecologies to showcase forest material cycles and geological evolution, and introduces ecological water tanks that combine rainwater harvesting with micro-ecosystem regulation—revealing the self-sustaining capacity of natural systems. During the operational phase, interactive installations and educational activities will foster public ecological awareness and strengthen the emotional connection between the city and its native environment.

Through design as a medium, the design aims to make sustainability more than a technical pursuit—transforming it into a lifestyle that is tangible, experiential, and participatory in everyday life.