Constructing China's Roads as Works of Art: A Case Study of “Esthetic Greenway” Construction in the Shennongjia Region of China

Aesthetic greenway construction in China's Shennongjia region demonstrates that integrating artistic principles into road design can achieve ecological, socioeconomic, and aesthetic benefits. Over six years of monitoring revealed that this approach not only enhances traffic safety and promotes local tourism but also preserves natural habitats by prioritizing local species for revegetation while addressing visual landscape harmony. The strategy effectively balances environmental conservation with economic growth, setting a precedent for future landscape design and management in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Cheng, B., Lv, Y., Zhan, Y., Su, D., & Cao, S. (2013). Constructing China’s Roads as Works of Art: A Case Study of “Esthetic Greenway” Construction in the Shennongjia Region of China. Land Degradation & Development, 26(4), 324–330. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2210