Located in Duyun City, Guizhou Province, the Green Expo Park stands as a tangible example of China’s ecological modernization strategies. Launched in 2020 as part of the 4th China Green Development Forum, this project spans 396 hectares and represents a successful public-private partnership. Designed with sustainable development goals in mind, the park serves as both an ecological and cultural hub.
During its construction, the Guizhou provincial government collaborated closely with the China National Forestry and Grassland Administration and private investors. Official data indicates a total investment of 2.8 billion RMB (approximately 400 million USD), with funding distributed as follows: 45% from the provincial budget, 30% from central government grants, and the remaining 25% from private capital. This balanced financing model has ensured the project’s long-term sustainability.
A multidisciplinary team of landscape architects, urban planners, and ethnography experts worked together to design thematic gardens representing all 34 of China’s provincial-level regions. Ranging from 800 to 1,200 square meters each, these gardens blend regional architecture, flora, and cultural elements to offer visitors a holistic experience.
The park’s land-use statistics reflect its ecological focus: 58% is dedicated to green spaces, 22% to water features, 12% to walking paths and recreational areas, and 8% to administrative and commercial facilities. This balanced layout preserves the natural environment while maintaining functionality.
One of the park’s most notable features is its integrated environmental management system. Innovative solutions include an annual rainwater harvesting capacity of 18,000 cubic meters, 5,200 solar panels generating 1.2 million kWh of electricity per year, and a waste recycling rate of 92%. These measures minimize the park’s ecological footprint.
The project has significantly boosted the local economy. In its first year, the park welcomed 1.2 million visitors, created 560 new jobs, and increased regional tourism revenue by 34%, contributing to Duyun’s economic revitalization.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the park supports clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), climate action (SDG 13), and life on land (SDG 15). Key initiatives include water conservation, waste management, and renewable energy use, with plans to expand these efforts.
Project Timeline
On May 16, 2017, the Qiannan Prefectural People’s Government submitted a formal application to the Guizhou Provincial Greening Committee to host the 4th China Greening Expo. The request was approved on October 12, 2017, by the National Greening Committee and the State Forestry Administration, officially designating Qiannan as the host. In response, the Qiannan Executive Committee for the 4th China Greening Expo was established on December 29, 2017, to oversee and coordinate all preparatory efforts. At its initial meetings in December, the committee proposed that Duyun City—where the majority of the planned Expo Park would be located—serve as the primary project owner, in accordance with the principle of territorial management. A joint investment platform was created through a consortium of prefectural-level and city-level platform companies, including those based in Duyun City and the Duyun Economic Development Zone, to implement the project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Following these initial steps, the Duyun Municipal Government established a Project Headquarters on January 23, 2018, to coordinate construction activities. This body was later incorporated into the Prefectural Executive Committee on August 15, 2018, with a prefectural leader appointed to command the effort. On June 8, 2018, the Greening Expo Park was officially designated a prefecture-level project, with responsibility for implementation entrusted to the Duyun Municipal Government. Initially, the Municipal Tourism Development Commission was assigned as the project owner and began preparing feasibility studies and planning documents. However, due to its lack of legal entity status, the Commission was replaced by the Duyun Forestry Bureau on June 11, 2018. The final implementation plan was approved on August 8, 2018. A public bidding process was held on January 30, 2019, resulting in the selection of a consortium led by the Second Highway Engineering Bureau of China Communications Construction Company Ltd. (CCCC), along with China Urban and Rural Holding Group and Daqian Ecological Environment Group, as the social capital partner. The PPP contract was officially signed on March 7, 2019, marking the formal launch of the project’s construction phase.
The Guizhou Green Expo Park exemplifies China’s ecological civilization goals, successfully integrating sustainable development with cultural preservation. Monitoring its long-term economic and environmental performance will provide valuable insights for similar initiatives worldwide, positioning the park as a model for global sustainability efforts.
