Chengdu Jiaozi Pedestrian Bridge / China Southwest Architectural Design And Research Institute

Architects: China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute
Area: 12,000 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Holi Landscape Photography
Lead Architects: Liu Yi
Lead Landscape Architect: Chen Hongyu
Design Team: Yan Bin、Huang Hao、Li Gang、Wang Zhihao、Li Ke、Wang Guanqi
Bridge Structural Design: Sichuan Southwest JIAODA Civil Engineering Design Co.Ltd. （Meng Xiangyong, Zhang Huzhi, Li Chunyan）
Landscape Schematic Development And Construction Drawing Design: Chengdu Yudao Landscape Design Co. Ltd.（Long Yushan, Zhao Xinyuan, Yang Yan）
Water Feature Consultant: SuShui Design
Floodlighting Design: Beijing Weiwei Lighting Design and Research Institute Co.Ltd. （Zou Rong, Wang Rui）
Construction Contractor: China MCC5 Group Co. Ltd.
Clients: Chengdu Jiaozi Park Financial Business District Investment and Development Co., Ltd
City: Cheng Du
Country: China

Chengdu Jiaozi Pedestrian Bridge by China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute reconnects two halves of an east–west green belt divided by the Jinjiang River in Chengdu’s financial district. The 498‑meter bridge uses nine lotus leaf‑inspired platforms with trees and gaps that allow sunlight and air to reach the water. Multi‑level circulation links riverbanks and city streets, while amenities such as a library, water bar, and theater transform the bridge into a public park. A mist feature producing a 30‑meter rainbow adds symbolic character to the city’s park‑city plan.

Chengdu jiaozi pedestrian bridge / china southwest architectural design and research institute

The Chengdu Jiaozi Pedestrian Bridge spans the Jinjiang River in the Jiaozi Financial Headquarters Business District of Chengdu, forming part of the city’s plan to create a park‑city business model. The river runs north to south, dividing the district’s 2.5‑kilometer green belt into two disconnected parks. The bridge was conceived to reconnect these areas and continue the linear public landscape while preserving the natural qualities of the river setting.

The design approach combined practical circulation needs with the goal of extending the park environment onto the structure itself. The green belt is about 150 meters wide, making scale a key factor. A narrow crossing would interrupt the continuity of the park, while a deck that was too wide risked casting shade over the river. The solution introduced multiple openings in the deck, allowing light and air to pass through and maintaining a relationship between the structure and the water.

The completed form consists of nine overlapping discs shaped by the image of lotus leaves, each ranging from 300 to 1,600 square meters. These cantilevered elements create broad platforms connected by gaps that frame views of the river. Trees planted on the discs extend greenery from the banks, turning the bridge into a floating park. Walking across it evokes stepping from one lotus leaf to the next, with curved edges mirrored in the river and balconies projecting as viewing terraces.

The bridge measures 498 meters in total length and integrates approach spans over municipal roads, a 120‑meter river crossing, and a north–south greenway intersecting at its midpoint. Pedestrian routes are distributed across three layers: the upper level crossing river and road, the middle aligned with city streets, and the lower linked to riverside paths. Stairs and ramps connect these levels, creating a three‑dimensional circulation system that maintains uninterrupted pedestrian flow across the site.

Public programs enrich the bridge and support daily activities. Spaces include a water bar overlooking the river, a 24‑hour unmanned library, an outdoor circular theater formed by the terrain of the riverbanks, and play areas with water features for children. The central deck opening forms a viewing ring, surrounded by a water curtain used for nighttime light shows that attract residents and visitors.

Structural design draws inspiration from the form of lotus stems. The bridge employs an irregular two‑way rigid frame system that balances the weight of the cantilevered discs and introduces stability while reducing overall mass through varied openings. The deck surface is paved with ER colorful expanded clay aggregate to control thermal expansion and contraction of the steel structure, minimizing the risk of cracking and improving durability.

Planting across the deck reinforces the bridge’s park‑like quality and connects visually to the surrounding green belt. Forty‑six arbors, including Texas live oak, Japanese maple, Liquidambar formosana, Chinese tallow, and Chinese pistache, are arranged according to structural load requirements of the cantilevers. Their foliage provides shade and seasonal color, remaining lush in spring and summer and turning warm in autumn.

A mist‑spray installation creates an artificial rainbow by refracting sunlight at specific angles. This 30‑meter feature, known as “Meeting the Rainbow,” adds an optical and emotional dimension to the crossing and serves as a public attraction along the river. By combining engineering, landscape, and sensory experience, the rainbow installation underscores the bridge’s role as both infrastructure and civic landmark.

The Chengdu Jiaozi Pedestrian Bridge demonstrates how pedestrian crossings can extend beyond basic functionality to create layered public environments. Through its lotus leaf‑inspired form, integrated planting, programmed spaces, and environmental strategies, the bridge strengthens connections within the financial district and reflects Chengdu’s broader vision for urban spaces that merge ecological and social value.