Path to integrated development of water economy in high-density cities in southern China

YANG Fang; DONG Yanjun; HOU Peng; LIN Lixia; LI Li

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-1123.2026.05.009

Abstract：This paper takes Shenzhen City,Guangdong Province as a typical case study to explore the strategic significance and implementation pathways for the integrated development of the water economy in high-density cities in southern China against the backdrop of the economic model shifting toward domestic demand-driven growth.Meanwhile,it is pointed out that Shenzhen faces the core challenge of extreme scarcity of land resources and constraining effects imposed on urban space by the layouts of traditional water conservancy infrastructure.A"dual water source"guarantee pattern constructed by the Pearl River Delta Water Resources Allocation Project presents a historic opportunity to resolve the water-city spatial conflict,facilitating the functional transformation of local water sources and the release of waterfront spaces.Regarding implementation pathways,this paper proposes four mutually reinforcing core dimensions.The first dimension is strengthening urban ecological foundations by carrying out systematic management and establishing a value accounting system for water ecological products.The second is promoting the diversification and integration of water conservancy infrastructure and space functions by spatial convergence.The third is driving value transformation by innovating market mechanisms and guiding multi-stakeholder participation.The fourth is clarifying government roles and responsibilities to ensure the sound and orderly development of the water economy.It is emphasized that by following the"context-challenge-opportunity-pathway"framework,Shenzhen is expected to provide a"Shenzhen solution"for other high-density cities to achieve sustainable development featuring water-city symbiosis and human-water harmony.