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
In a rapidly urbanized area near The Brothers and North Lantau Marine Parks, the eco-shoreline offers a sustainable solution that balances development with conservation. It consists of 1,200 meters of mangrove, 800 meters of rocky, and 1,800 meters of vertical shoreline, with each type tailored to specific wave energy and sediment conditions.
Rocky shorelines constructed of bio-blocks are deployed in areas subject to stronger current and wave action. These blocks form pools that retain water during low tide, creating essential refuges and microhabitats for intertidal organisms. Mangrove shorelines are in calmer intertidal zones, where fine sediments support mangrove growth, attract wetland birds and other mangrove-associated species. Vertical eco-shorelines incorporate innovative elements such as eco-tiles, refuges and tidal pools that support diverse marine communities. This site-specific deployment reflects a modular, multifunctional approach that mimics natural coastal mosaics.
By replicating natural coastal gradients, this spatial variety supports a broader range of species and ecological processes. Integrated landscape elements further enhance habitat richness, creating favourable environments where wetland avifauna, fish and invertebrates can thrive alongside the development.
Foundation 2: Delivering Symbiotic Built and Natural Environments
The eco-shoreline is more than infrastructure. It is a multifunctional, people-centered space that integrates outdoor classrooms, exhibition areas and promenades. These features enhance recreation, education and cultural experiences while connecting the community to nature and fostering environmental awareness.
The shoreline also supports local fisheries by increasing densities of ichthyoplankton and juvenile fish, suggesting its potential as a spawning and/or nursery ground for commercially important species. These ecological functions provide both environmental and economic value.
Community engagement is supported through mangrove planting schemes for students and interpretive signage that deepens understanding of marine ecosystems.
Transitions between built and natural environments are carefully designed. Walkways and promenades gradually blend into the coastal habitats, forming ecotones that create functional and visually appealing interfaces. These transitions promote interaction with nature and help bridge the gap between urban development and ecological systems.
Foundation 3: Embedding Resilience Functions
To strengthen nature resilience, the design incorporates habitat features that promote biodiversity and ecological stability. Bio-blocks with built-in microhabitats retain seawater during low tide, offering refuge for marine organisms. Monitoring results show consistently higher species richness along the eco-shoreline compared to reference sites. In areas with stronger wave action or reduced sunlight, vertical structures include pots, cavities, and eco-tiles that further increase ecological complexity and support healthy marine communities.
Climate resilience is enhanced through the strategic placement of intertidal habitats that help absorb tidal surges and buffer wave energy. Mangrove shorelines stabilize sediments and reduce flood risks. Rocky shoreline modules mimic subtidal reefs. Their rock pools and drilled cavities hold seawater at low tide, creating long-lasting microhabitats and reducing erosion. These retained water features also moderate surface temperatures, supporting climate adaptation.
The shoreline also builds socio-economic resilience through fisheries support, recreational access, and school-based educational initiatives.
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.