AECOM touts waterfront renewal projects at China service trade fair

An executive from infrastructure firm AECOM China outlined the company's approach to waterfront redevelopment and its broader urban vision in an interview with China.org.cn at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing on Sept. 13.

Li Yanjun, landscape director at AECOM China, speaks at the China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing, Sept. 11. 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

AECOM China used CIFTIS to promote its waterfront projects, spotlighting the Liangma River Waterfront Landscape Corridor as an example of how urban renewal and cultural tourism can draw business to city riversides.

Li Yanjun, AECOM China's landscape director, said, "We bring a global approach and practical experience in waterfront planning and design, including well-known projects like Beijing's Liangma River. We hope to raise public awareness about the importance of urban waterfronts and their impact on city life."

He elaborated on AECOM's philosophy: "We believe the value of waterfront public spaces lies not only in attractive landscapes but also in long-term operational models and commercial needs to ensure sustainable development. Our service goes beyond shaping physical spaces to ensure they deliver lasting value to urban operations."

AECOM, a Fortune 500 firm with $16.1 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024, traces its China operations back to the 1980s, before its formal creation through a merger of five Ashland units in 1990. The company has since applied its global expertise to China's urbanization and infrastructure growth and has delivered major projects nationwide through its international network and local teams.

For nearly 50 years, AECOM's team of designers, planners, engineers, strategists and economists has introduced innovative concepts, reimagining cities and contributing to the development of a "Beautiful China."

AECOM China's booth at the China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing, Sept. 13, 2025. [Photo courtesy of AECOM China]

The company has also advanced green infrastructure with projects including the Beijing Liangma River Waterfront Landscape Corridor, Shenzhen's Dasha River Ecological Corridor, Guangzhou's Nangang River project and the Tianjin Haihe River Corridor.

Li cited Beijing's Liangma River project, saying the company won its redesign contract in an international competition. The goal, he told China.org.cn, was to reshape the river corridor to spur area development, expand public space, stimulate riverside commerce and restore the urban ecology. "By returning the river to the people, we aimed to create a distinctive blue economic belt for the city," he said.

He said the location of the Liangma River in a dense part of Beijing was its toughest design challenge. AECOM China coordinated the project, blending planning, engineering and landscaping, and consulted widely with local communities and businesses. The result was a design that linked buildings, parks and water while winning public backing.

Beijing's Liangma River waterfront. [Photo courtesy of AECOM China]

"We are a global leader in infrastructure, committed to building a better world," he said. "As a comprehensive professional services firm, we use deep technical expertise to help clients tackle complex challenges across buildings, transportation, environment, water and energy. We work closely with public and private clients to deliver innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions. AECOM remains dedicated to its ESG commitments, enhancing urban resilience for sustainable development through ecological conservation, economic empowerment and social value creation."