Heart of Minghu Project
Ningbo, China

A Next-Generation TOD for Eastern New Town

Service

Architecture, Masterplanning, Urban Design

Sector

Mixed-use, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

Client

Ningbo Urban Construction Investment Group Co,Ltd and Ningbo Jiangshan Wanli Real Estate Co., Ltd

Size

432,600sqm

Challenge

The Heart of Minghu Project, Ningbo, sits at the centre of Ningbo Eastern New Town, a district undergoing rapid expansion. The brief called for a high-density TOD capable of supporting major daily commuter flows, activating a valuable lakefront, and integrating commercial, residential, office, and hospitality functions into one cohesive, ecologically grounded urban destination. The scheme also needed to serve as a benchmark for future regeneration across the Yangtze River Delta.

Solution

Benoy’s masterplan anchors the district around a multi-line transport interchange, transforming it into a mobility-led urban core with strong connectivity to surrounding business zones. A vertical, multi-level commercial strategy — defined by a ​“mall + elevated street market” hybrid — creates a layered retail experience with extended active frontage and improved pedestrian flow.

Five key programme clusters — supertall headquarters offices, TOD commercial district, lakeside resort retail, luxury hotels, and premium residential communities — are arranged along the Minghu lakefront to optimise view corridors, microclimate, and accessibility. Signature elements, including a sky canopy, elevated observation decks, an underground water street market, and a pedestrian – cycling bridge, reinforce the relationship between built form and the district’s ecological edge.

Materiality and façade expression draw from regional cultural motifs and local natural textures, while the waterfront landscape strategy delivers continuous public access, biodiversity support, and long-term environmental resilience.

Result

The Heart of Minghu Project establishes a high-performance TOD that unites transit, landscape, and mixed-use density within a coherent urban framework. The scheme elevates connectivity, enhances the commercial and residential value of the lakefront, and offers a scalable, future-ready model for urban regeneration across Ningbo and the broader Yangtze River Delta.