Shenzhen Bay Park in Nanshan District has been recognized in the Large Urban Parks category of the 2026 World Urban Parks Awards.

Covering about 128 hectares, the park stretches for 13 kilometers along the city's coastline and includes 14 themed areas. It borders the Futian Mangrove National Nature Reserve and faces Hong Kong's Mai Po wetlands across Shenzhen Bay.

Shenzhen Bay Park combines coastal wetlands, urban skyline views and popular waterfront public space along Shenzhen Bay. File photos

The waterfront has undergone more than two decades of ecological restoration, turning what was once restricted shoreline into a public coastal park that also serves as habitat and a feeding stop for migratory birds.

More than 100,000 migratory birds use the area each year, including black-faced spoonbills, according to park authorities. The park is free to enter and records more than 20 million visits annually.

The park has been praised for measures such as restrictions on nighttime lighting to reduce disturbance to birds, as well as a range of smart public services and recreational experiences.

Bijiashan Sports Park in Futian also won an award in the New Park Project category.

The 2026 World Urban Parks Awards winners list shows Shenzhen Bay Park and Bijiashan Sports Park among nine Asia-Pacific winners.

Shenzhen park authorities said it was the first time two parks from the city had won awards in the programme in the same year.

This year, nine out of the 28 winners come from the Asia-Pacific region, according to World Urban Parks, an international organization representing the parks, open-space and recreation sector. The 2026 awards recognized individuals, organizations, and parks across six categories globally.