Two Shenzhen parks win 2026 World Urban Parks Awards

Two Shenzhen parks have been named winners in the 2026 World Urban Parks Awards, with Shenzhen Bay Park recognized in the Large Urban Parks category and Bijiashan Sports Park in the New Park Project category.

The two were among nine winners from the Asia-Pacific region announced by World Urban Parks, an international organization representing the parks, open-space and recreation sector. The 2026 awards recognized 28 winners across six categories and five regions.

Shenzhen park authorities said it was the first time two parks from the city had won awards in the program in the same year.

The 2026 World Urban Parks Awards winners list shows Shenzhen Bay Park and Bijiashan Sports Park among nine Asia-Pacific winners. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Park

Shenzhen Bay Park

Covering about 128 hectares, Shenzhen Bay Park stretches for 13 kilometers along the city's coastline and includes 14 themed areas. It borders the Futian Mangrove National Nature Reserve and faces Hong Kong's Mai Po wetlands across Shenzhen Bay.

The waterfront has undergone more than two decades of ecological restoration, turning what was once restricted shoreline into a public coastal park that also serves as habitat and a feeding stop for migratory birds.

Shenzhen Bay Park combines coastal wetlands, urban skyline views and popular waterfront public space along Shenzhen Bay. The park won a 2026 World Urban Parks award in the Large Urban Parks category.

More than 100,000 migratory birds use the area each year, including black-faced spoonbills, according to park authorities. The park is free to enter and records more than 20 million visits annually.

Its management measures include restrictions on nighttime lighting to reduce disturbance to birds, as well as a range of smart public and recreational services.

Bijiashan Sports Park

Bijiashan Sports Park, in central Shenzhen, was recognized in the New Park Project category.

One of the park's defining features is its use of space above metro infrastructure. Under a "metro plus park" model, the site combines football and basketball courts, badminton and table tennis facilities, a running track, fitness areas and children's activity spaces.

Scenes from Bijiashan Sports Park, where landscaped public space, major events and recreational facilities are integrated into Shenzhen’s central urban area. The park won a 2026 World Urban Parks award in the New Park Project category.

Since opening, the park has received more than 15 million visits, averaging about 6 million a year, according to park authorities.

The park is free to enter and is designed to serve nearby communities within roughly a 20-minute walk. Authorities estimate that more than 500,000 residents live within its service area.

It also incorporates smart sports facilities and energy infrastructure, while elevated walkways connect the park with surrounding commercial areas.

Both parks have previously received international landscape architecture awards.