Location: Hong Kong
Client: Civil Engineering and Development Department of the HKSAR Government
Project overview
Hong Kong’s coastline stretches more than 130 kilometers, much of it protected by artificial seawalls that safeguard the city from erosion, flooding and storm surges. While they serve a vital purpose, these structures lack the complexity of natural shorelines, leading to reduced ecological value and biodiversity. The Tung Chung East Eco-shoreline was developed to change that — reimagining coastal defenses to work even better with nature.
As part of the Tung Chung New Town Extension, the project rethinks traditional seawall design by integrating ecological features that support climate resilience and marine biodiversity. Spanning 3.8 kilometers, it is Hong Kong’s first public works project to incorporate nature-based solutions into coastal infrastructure.
AECOM’s multidisciplinary team across landscape architecture, ecology and coastal engineering delivered an integrated solution that balances protection, biodiversity and community experience. The project represents the first iteration of our Nature-based Solutions for eco-shorelines — an approach that continues to evolve and adapt to diverse environmental conditions.
The eco-shoreline enhances eco-tourism initiatives and improves user experience through integrated pedestrian walkways, cycling routes and public amenities. It also provides public access and educational opportunities — representing a new approach to creating urban coastlines that are resilient, climate-adaptive and ecologically vibrant — integrating coastal protection, ecology, recreation and community needs with sustainability, connectivity and design excellence.
#Nature+inAction
Over 100 marine species recorded within the first year — double the species’ richness compared to traditional shorelines*
7 bird species of conservation concern observed*
Eco-shoreline rapidly colonized by diverse marine life including algae, coralline algae, polychaetes, crabs, gastropods, bivalves, crustaceans and fishes
Enhanced habitat complexity along 3.8 km of eco-shoreline, including rocky, mangrove and vertical typologies
*Based on first-year monitoring from November 2023 to October 2024
What makes this project nature-positive?
- Regulatory approval for Hong Kong’s first eco-shoreline in a public works project
- Recognition as winner of the ICE Edmund Hambly Medal and the HKILA Award for Excellence in Public Projects
- Nature-based design on reclaimed land, integrating engineering and ecology to balance coastal protection, wave energy dissipation, and biodiversity
- Scalable model for climate-resilient urban coastlines worldwide
Our Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Design Principles in action
Foundation 1: Maximizing Structural Diversity (Physical Complexity) of an Ecosystem
Located between The Brothers and North Lantau Marine Parks, the Eco‑shoreline balances development with conservation. It comprises 1.2 km of mangrove, 0.8 km of rocky and 1.8 km of vertical shoreline, each tailored to specific wave and sediment conditions.
Rocky eco‑shorelines use bio‑blocks to form tidal pools that retain seawater and support intertidal species. Mangrove shorelines anchor in calmer zones to shelter wetland birds. Vertical eco‑shorelines feature eco‑tiles and cavities that encourage marine colonisation. Together, these typologies mimic natural coastal mosaics and provide diverse microhabitats.
Foundation 2: Delivering Symbiotic Built and Natural Environments
The eco‑shoreline is more than infrastructure — it’s a multifunctional, people‑centered space with outdoor classrooms, exhibition zones and promenades that bring recreation, learning and culture closer to nature.
It also strengthens local fisheries by boosting ichthyoplankton and juvenile fish populations, showing its potential as a nursery for key species and adding both environmental and economic value.
Community connection grows through student mangrove planting and interpretive signage that deepens understanding of marine ecosystems.
Carefully designed transitions blur the line between the built and natural — walkways and promenades flow into coastal habitats, creating inviting spaces that connect urban life with the ecology around it.
Foundation 3: Embedding Resilience Functions
To strengthen nature resilience, the design introduces habitats that promote biodiversity and ecological stability. Bio‑blocks with built‑in microhabitats hold seawater at low tide, providing refuge for marine life. Monitoring shows consistently higher species richness along the eco‑shoreline compared with reference sites.
In exposed areas, vertical structures with pots, cavities and eco‑tiles add complexity and support healthy marine communities. Intertidal habitats absorb tidal surges and buffer wave energy, while mangroves stabilize sediments and reduce flood risks. Rocky modules mimic subtidal reefs — their pools and cavities retain water, moderate surface temperatures and reduce erosion, helping adapt to a changing climate.
The shoreline also builds socio-economic resilience through fisheries support, recreational access, and school-based educational initiatives.
Discover more about the engineering innovation behind this landmark development here.
Photo credit: Civil Engineering and Development Department
Learn more from our nature-positive experts
Design Principles for High-performance Ecosystems
This document discusses how to plan and design high-performance ecosystems. By enabling high-performance, we can enhance the environmental benefits of all projects, whether they involve infrastructure systems in urban centers or natural habitats in the hinterlands.
The Natural Capital Manifesto
The Natural Capital Manifesto, inspired by AECOM’s recent project in Bintan, highlights the need for ‘nature-positive’ corporate goals and stresses the importance of data monitoring and natural capital quantification for sustainable opportunities.
Press release
AECOM supports CEDD and AFCD of HKSAR Government in launching Hong Kong’s first comprehensive nature-based solutions guidelines.