Zhenjiang SCC Stadium – stadium description

Back in 2000 this place was a deteriorated industrial quarry in suburban Zhenjiang. But the rapid growth of Chinese cities is visible also here. Zhenjiang absorbed this site, enclosed it with a grid of wide avenues which left 190,000 square meters for development.

Irregular shape left by the quarry was used to create a viewing deck, a pond and alleys for pedestrian, with accessible training facilities for tennis and basketball spread across the complex. But of course bulk of the 1.2 billion yuan ($190 million upon completion) project was spent on three major buildings.

Central, both literally and in terms of role, is the multi-use stadium able to hold 30,000 people with partial cover. The stadium has educational facilities incorporated into the east stand but has also hosted some professional football (temporary tenancy by Super League’s Jiangsu in 2013), apart from being a major leisure/training hub.

Indoor hall for up to 6,000 people was built north-west of the stadium and a major exhibition center in the north-east part. All facilities were created between 2009 and late 2012.

The outcome is visually appealing and has clear symbolism. The main stadium and indoor arena are both entangled by two ribbons, created with blue and red aluminium mesh. The blue one symbolizes Wuyue cultural heritage, more maritime and coastal. The red one represents the Chuhan influence, associated with continental culture.