The "Shanghai Landscape Lighting Master Plan" was recently announced and officially implemented. This marks the first time that Shanghai has developed a comprehensive, city-wide plan specifically for landscape lighting. The plan outlines key areas such as core zones, important districts, development zones, general areas, and prohibited zones for landscape lighting, and establishes strict guidelines on what is allowed, restricted, or completely banned.
The goal of the plan is to create a balanced and coordinated night-time environment across different parts of the city. It addresses not only brightness and color temperature but also dynamic lighting, color application, and light pollution control. The aim is to ensure that lighting enhances the urban experience without causing harm to the natural environment or disrupting residents' daily lives.
According to Ding Qinhua, Director of the Landscape Department at the Shanghai Municipal Greening and City Management Bureau, the plan aims to prevent light pollution that could negatively impact the environment, nighttime aesthetics, and civic life. "We don’t want to see bright lights where they shouldn’t be," he said. The plan includes prohibitions on using lighting that harms plant growth, interferes with cultural heritage sites, or disrupts sensitive ecological areas like nature reserves and observatories.
One of the main objectives of the plan is to control the total amount of landscape lighting in the city. The layout is structured as “one city with multiple stars and three belts with multiple points.†The central city within the outer ring road serves as the main area for landscape lighting, while new towns and districts outside the outer ring are considered “multiple stars.â€
Within the central city, the layout is defined as “three belts and multiple points,†including the Huangpu River banks, the Yan’an Elevated Road along Century Avenue, and the Suzhou River banks. These areas will be illuminated in a way that enhances their visual appeal while maintaining harmony with surrounding environments.
Color temperature control is also a key focus. For example, areas like the Bund, Suzhou Creek, Yuyuan, Xintiandi, and South Bund should use medium to low color temperatures (1900K–3300K), while places like People’s Square, the Expo area, and international tourist resorts will use intermediate temperatures (3300K–5300K). High-tech areas such as Xiaolujiazui and Pudong Airport will have higher color temperatures (above 5300K).
The plan also sets strict rules for color and dynamic lighting. Residential, school, and hospital areas are designated as no-light zones to avoid glare and minimize disruption. Additionally, it prohibits the use of floodlights or lasers that directly shine into these sensitive areas, except during major festivals.
Looking ahead, the plan envisions a future where Shanghai's night scene is both innovative and environmentally responsible. Through technological advancements, creative design, and intelligent control systems, the city aims to achieve zero growth in landscape lighting energy consumption in the central city. Energy-efficient lighting and smart controls will help reduce light pollution and preserve the natural night environment.
By 2020, Shanghai plans to complete the renovation of key areas such as the Huangpu and Suzhou Riverbanks, the former World Expo site, People’s Square, the Yan’an Elevated Road-Century Avenue corridor, and the Shanghai International Tourism Resort. By 2030, the overall framework of the plan will be in place, and by 2040, all goals will be fully realized.
Optimizing existing landscape lighting is one of the biggest challenges. Many lights were installed without a unified vision, leading to inconsistencies in style and quality. To address this, the plan emphasizes upgrading existing installations through thoughtful design, ensuring that lighting aligns with local characteristics, time of day, and pedestrian flow.
For instance, some blue-violet lights along the Bund may clash with the warm tones of the surrounding architecture. Adjustments to the lighting sources can help create a more harmonious and visually appealing environment.
Since the late 1980s, Shanghai has developed one of the most iconic nightscapes in the world. According to Fudan University’s evaluation, the city’s landscape lighting has significantly enhanced its image, economic competitiveness, and cultural life, while also driving national progress in the field.
However, the assessment also highlighted issues such as uneven development, lack of coordination, and light pollution in certain areas. To address these challenges, the Shanghai Greening and City Management Bureau commissioned the Fudan Planning Architectural Design and Research Institute to develop the master plan. This initiative fills a long-standing gap and sets a new standard for sustainable and aesthetically pleasing urban lighting.
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