Open Call | Cloudpath: Multi-level Promenade Design Competition for China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City

Cloudpath: Multi-level Promenade Design Competition for China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City is now officially launched. Design teams all around the world are welcome to participate.

This competition seeks to establish a seamlessly connected multi‑level promenade loop within the core area of CSGKC, integrating the natural landscape with urban functions, and creating a distinctive identity for the CSGKC that embodies the integration of production, living, and ecology. The loop's design shall elevate the connectivity, coherence, and people‑oriented quality of the city’s pedestrian network, while creating landmark nodes that enhance the urban space's legibility and appeal.

The official registration (email registration) for this competition will be closed at 17:00 (UTC+8) on July 16, 2026. The submission of application document is due at 17:00 (UTC+8) on July 18, 2026.

To help the design teams gain a deeper understanding of the competition process, background of each project, site conditions, and design requirements, an online briefing session will be held from 16:00 (UTC+8) to 17:00 (UTC+8) on July 2, 2026. If you are interested, please visit the Project Homepage below for details on how to participate and other information about the competition:

http://csgkc.archiposition.com...

Competition Background

China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (hereinafter referred to as "CSGKC") is located at the geometric center of Guangzhou and the northern part of Huangpu District. It is a "3+1" flagship project of China-Singapore cooperation, a coordinated development zone of the Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone, a key innovation engine of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. CSGKC is the northern pole of Guangzhou's Vitality Innovation Axis.

CSGKC is accelerating the development of an international new knowledge city that is both livable and business-friendly. In this context, urban space is evolving beyond itstraditional functional role toward quality-led development and place-making. In line with this vision, the "Cloudpath: Multi-level Promenade Design Competition for China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City" is officially launched.

This international competition is organized by China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Development and Construction Office, and co-organized by Shenzhen Position Architecture Co., Ltd.

Working Contents

The design study area is located in the CSGKC core area, bounded by Fengji Road to the north, Bohua 7th Road (the road on the south side of Longxiang Lake) to the south, Yongjiu Expressway to the west, and Xinjiu Expressway and the Jingxia Area to the east, covering a total area of approximately 28 square kilometers.

Applicants are required to conduct research on the overall mountain-and-water topography and urban spatial framework of CSGKC, combined with in-depth analysis of existing site conditions and planning requirements, to propose a comprehensive plan and conceptual design for a multi-level trail loop. The plan shall effectively connect key spatial nodes, including Jiulong Lake, Fenghuang Shan Park, Folang River, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (CSGKC Campus), Jingxia Area, Pinggang River, Fenghuang Lake, Longxiang Lake, and cloud trail Phase I.

The scheme shall be firmly grounded in the objective of achieving an integration of production, living, and ecology, while addressing urban functional integration, seamlesss low-traffic connections, leisure and recreation needs, as well as iconic node design. It shall integrate diverse slow-traffic resources and modes, including elevated walkways (cloud trails), riverside and lakeside blueways, streetside greenways, municipal slow-traffic paths, and rural cycling trails. The scheme shall clearly define the overall route organization and spatial structure of the loop, specify the design strategies for each segment-including construction typologies, functional programming, key nodes and connection methods, typical cross-section designs, and place-making for key nodes, and shall include detailed design for no fewer than two important connection sections or key spatial nodes.

Design Principles

Guiding Design Principles: Deep Integration of Production, Living, and Ecology

With the deep integration of production, living, and ecology as the core design framework, the multi‑level promenade loop is not merely a slow‑traffic corridor, but a composite public space that accommodates commercial vitality, connects industrial clusters, enhances the living environment, and blends with the natural landscape fabric. The three functions—production, living, and ecology—are mutually reinforcing and organically interwoven, collectively defining the essential character of the multi‑level promenade system.

1. Production Function: Commercial service facilities shall be arranged along the loop, radiating to surrounding areas, connecting urban functions and industrial clusters, achieving operational balance, and realizing the loop's value for  as a development catalyst.

2. Living Function: The living environment shall be optimized to enhance residents' sense of fulfillment and well‑being.

3. Ecological Function: Strategies of following nature' s course, adapting to local conditions, and working with the natural topography shall be adopted to achieve low‑maintenance operation and sustainable development.

Honorarium

The total honorarium is RMB 2.1 million (tax inclusive). 

1 First Prize: Prize Money of RMB 1,100,000 (Tax Inclusive).

1 Second Prize: Prize Money of RMB 600,000 (Tax Inclusive).

1 Three Prize: Prize Money of RMB 400,000 (Tax Inclusive).

Schedule

The schedule is based on Beijing time (UTC+8); changes (if any) will be announced.

Phase I: Pre-qualification, runs from early July to late July 2026 (Tentative).

Phase II: Design Competition, runs from late July to late August 2026 (Tentative).

Phase III: Design Integration, runs from late August to late September 2026 (Tentative).

Please visit the Project Homepage for details on Schedule.

Material Download and Application Procedures

The applicant must submit the material download application before the deadline. Once the application is approved, the co-organizer will send the download link of the competition materials by email. The materials include the Pre-qualification Document and the Design Brief, etc. 

Deadline for Material Download Application: 17:00, July 15, 2026 (UTC+8)

For design teams that intend to participate, please visit the link below to fill in the table for material download application. Please fill in the correct information so that the updates on the competition could be informed by the co-organizer in time.

https://6bn3jb3i.jsjform.com/f...

For detailed information on material download, application procedures, and application documents, please refer to the Project Homepage.

Organizations and Contact Information

Organizer

China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Development and Construction Office

Co-organizer

Shenzhen Position Architecture Co., Ltd.

Project Homepage

csgkc.archiposition.com

Inquiry Email

[email protected]

Inquiry Phone

Ms. Liu, +86-18038132407

Ms. Chen, +86-19129915597

* Inquiry Hours: 9:00-12:00, 13:30-18:30 on Workdays (UTC+8)