Xiamen Mountains-to-Sea Trail rises in South China

“If the plan holds – and things usually go very quickly in China – Mountains-to-Sea Trail (former Xiamen Footpaths, ed.) will be opening in February,” said Steen Savery Trojaborg, CEO, partner and architect at Dissing+Weitling.

Xiamen Mountains-to-Sea Trail connects the southern Chinese city of Xiamen with the green surroundings close to the metropolis.

“We’ve focused on improving options for pedestrians to move in the recreational areas near Xiamen. Our design has been adapted and made flexible, so that it works in the changing terrain in the city and the landscape.”

Solutions serving multiple purposes

The footpaths make use of the mountainous and fertile landscape as potentials and restrictions, and seven very different bridges undulate and elevate the paths in line with the contours of the city. The bridge types have been carefully adapted to the different conditions. There is a log bridge, arched bridge, suspension bridge, stay-cable bridge and an underslung bridge, where the bridge deck is carried by an arch beneath the bridge. One bridge will span a valley contour and another stretches over a major street.

The bridges and recreational trails are intended for local residents and tourists alike. They promote mobility in the city and in the nearby countryside – some paths are school paths, while others are recreational.

The Xiamen Mountains-to-Sea Trail project comes in the wake of the Xiamen Bicycle Skyway, which is the world's highest cycle bridge and China's first elevated cycle path, also designed by Dissing+Weitling. The project has received great international interest and it won the Danish Design Award in the Liveable Cities category in 2019. It was the launch pad for Dissing+Weitling’s green mobility projects in China.