WITH full respect for nature and prioritizing ecological conservation, Shenzhen has unveiled a special nighttime lighting plan for Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base, a world-leading project for shaping the future of urban landscapes.

    The nighttime lighting plan envisions a lighting environment that is friendly to migratory birds, and aims to strike a balance between ecological protection and urban landscape lighting, according to Shenzhen Special Zone Daily yesterday.

    The super headquarters base is located near a national wetland park in the city’s core area, which serves as a stopover for migratory birds traveling along the East Asian-Australian Flyway with around 100,000 migratory birds nesting each year.

    The plan intends to reduce overall lighting brightness, avoid the design and use of lighting methods that may adversely impact migratory bird migration, and ensure that lighting is turned off before 10 p.m. during bird migration season.

    A recent study released by the International Dark-Sky Association found that, in addition to upsetting circadian rhythms, excessive artificial light at night can also disorient birds during migration. Bright night lights on large buildings attract birds the same way bright porch lights attract moths, which can result in fatal collisions.

    Hundreds of millions of migratory birds migrate south from October to May in search of food and warmer weather. Countless migratory birds would winter in Shenzhen Bay in January and February, a period when the number of migratory birds reaches its highest.

    In addition to the nighttime lighting plan, Shenzhen has also announced plans for city image-shaping and barrier-free access systems layout of Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base.

    The base’s location in the heart of Shenzhen Bay area is envisaged to become a new calling card highlighting Shenzhen’s city status and global image, as well as the first stop for visitors to Shenzhen Bay.

    According to the plans, the super headquarters base is aiming to represent Shenzhen Bay by incorporating its mangroves’ ecological value, Shekou’s vitality, the Hi-Tech Park’s scientific and innovative strength, OCT’s culture and Houhai’s talent environment.

    The base will emphasize cultural prosperity, intelligent development, human-nature coexistence, and the provision of refined public supporting services and places tailored to the needs of various groups of people.

    It also aims to create a barrier-free model urban area for the pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics, as well as a barrier-free, caring, safe, inclusive and livable environment for everyone.

    The headquarters base’s barrier-free access systems’ design will focus on the seamless connection and switching in various life and social scenarios, as per the plans.

    (Zhang Yu)