Description of environmental benefits
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems: The project sets up a restoration sub-project in its Wetland Exploration zone, including water quality improvement, ecosystem restoration for rivers and wetlands that connect with Baisha Lake(Ref 3).
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development: The project promoted naturalistic styles of urban development design for Baisha Lake area and Kunming, becoming the ‘second eye’ of Kunming (Ref 2, 10).
- Increased green space area: The Eastside Baisha Lake Park increased 6.5 ha of urban green spaces by the end of 2023 and will increase in total of 55 ha after completion (Ref 3, 6).
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems: The project sets up a restoration sub-project in its Wetland Exploration zone, including water quality improvement, ecosystem restoration for rivers and wetlands that connect with Baisha Lake (Ref 3).
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales: The restoration project in Wetland Exploration focuses on the rivers connected to Baisha Lake, including the Baisha River and Fenghuang River, which flow into the lake from the north, as well as the surrounding wetlands. It also includes the Donggan River, which enters from the lake's west bank, and the Hai River, which channels water out of Baisha Lake (Ref 3).
Description of economic benefits
- More sustainable tourism: The project facilitates a more sustainable lifestyle for local communities of getting recreation, physical exercises in natural environments and for tourists to visit (Ref 11, 12).
- Stimulate development in deprived areas: “Promote regional development: With the construction and opening of Eastside Baisha Lake Park, the surrounding areas have also ushered in new development opportunities, attracted more investment and people flow, and promoted the prosperity of the regional economy” (Ref 11).
- Attraction of business and investment: A significant amount of business opportunities are and will be created in the park, with facilities that require business and investment being built such as theatre, museums, open-air markets and swimming pool (Ref 3).
Description of social and cultural benefits
- Improved liveability: “Here, four major mountain and sea parks, including Huma Mountain, World Expo Park, Golden Temple and Baisha Lake , surround the area, forming an ecological and livable living foundation. This kind of ecological resource is difficult to replicate in any city“ (Ref 10).
- Improved access to urban green space: “Enrich the lives of citizens: The park provides a good place for citizens to relax and entertain, enriches the cultural life of citizens, and improves the quality of life of citizens” (Ref 10).
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples: “Taking into account that there are a large number of parent-child families nearby Baisha Lake Park, Dahua planned activity parks, study bases, etc. at the beginning of the park's design, focusing on entertainment, science and other characteristics. In terms of entertainment, the park has an activity park area for all ages and a variety of amusement facilities for children of different ages. In terms of popular science, the park has wetland exploration areas, biological science popularisation and other research and study bases with scientific and educational implications, allowing small owners to live a more leisurely and relaxed life surrounded by books” (Ref 10).
- Increased opportunities for social interaction: see justification for ‘Improved access to urban green space’.
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: “In June last year, the first phase of Baisha Lake South Bank Park was opened to the public and quickly became a new internet celebrity check-in spot in Kunming” (Ref 10); “Just happened to see the beautiful photos of my neighbour sisters, which were taken surprisingly just in this park at the doorstep! So beautiful~” (Ref 13); “Didn’t expect we could camp here. …Find a good spot for yourself and it’s a perfect place to drink tea, chat, eat snacks and fruits very comfortably” (Ref 14).
- Enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief: “No matter how busy I am, I always go out to see the autumn, the blue sky and white clouds to restore energy and heal your body and mind” (Ref 15).
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature: “There are plenty of negative oxygen ions in the park. Here you can feel the fresh air and wash away your day's fatigue. …Here, after dinner, you can walk around the park with your family. You can feel this relaxing and leisure lifestyle every day at your doorstep” (Ref 11).
- Increased support for education and scientific research: “In terms of popular science, the park has wetland exploration areas, biological science popularisation and other research and study bases with scientific and educational implications, allowing small owners to live a more leisurely and relaxed life surrounded by books” (Ref 10).
