Marine culture is deeply embedded in Zhoushan, known globally as a free trade port and sea garden city. Today, the Luhua River faces concerns of industrial pollution, ecological degradation, and waterlogging – all of which combine to create a fragmented waterfront experience for people and the environment alike. Responding to further conflicts of development pressure and public demand for open space, McGregor Coxall proposed a seaside transformation that restores vibrance to once-thriving bays, public estuaries and ecological wetlands in an integrated blue-green networked solution from the mountain to the river. Influenced by rich ecological communities located at the intersection of fresh and sea water, the strategy articulates Traditional wisdom through a dynamic leisure experience that captures mobility, open space, and urban water management requirements. The ‘Water Gate’, a nexus for the ‘Water Harbour’ and ‘Eco Reserve’ zones, is a platform for public life – connected by a series of restaurants, parks, and platforms that extend across the river