Warmly Welcoming the 20th National Congress: Huangchuan Urban Lighting Project

# Celebrating the 20th National Congress: Huangchuan Urban Lighting Project

As the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China draws near, Huangchuan County has used its urban lighting project as a brush to paint a modern urban panorama that seamlessly blends ecological beauty with human warmth. From the dazzling lights adorning the Jingjiu Bridge to the seasonal flower boxes on the Rainbow Bridge, from the smart lighting in Liuguang Park to the solar-powered streetlights in the old town, Huangchuan has harnessed “light” as a medium to transform urban spaces into a three-dimensional stage for conveying the spirit of our times and showcasing the achievements of development.

## I. Bridge Lighting: Illuminating Urban Landmarks and Fostering Shared Values

As the north–south transportation hub of Huangchuan, the Jingjiu Bridge underwent a lighting upgrade in 2020 that leveraged dynamic light-and-shadow technology to seamlessly integrate the bridge’s structure with the ecological landscape of the Huang River. LED light strips installed along both sides of the bridge are controlled by an intelligent system that enables a dynamic transition between “quiet weekdays and dazzling festivals”: on ordinary days, warm white lights outline the bridge’s silhouette, creating a visual effect of a “jade belt encircling the city” as it reflects on the river’s surface; during major holidays, the lighting shifts to a red-and-gold color scheme that harmonizes with the “Zhenhuang Has Me” thematic sculpture at the bridgehead, transforming the bridge into a popular “red landmark” for residents to visit and photograph.

This design concept of “one bridge, one scenic highlight” has been carried forward in the reconstruction project of Zhenhuang Bridge. The newly built Zhenhuang Bridge incorporates a fiber-optic light-guiding system within its arches, creating a dazzling, ever-shifting interplay of light and color at night. Meanwhile, the bridge deck guardrails are constructed from translucent concrete, ensuring driving safety while simultaneously forming a “corridor of light and shadow.” The lighting enhancements on both bridges not only address nighttime traffic safety but also use the language of light and shadow to narrate Huangchuan’s transformation—from a mere transportation hub to a regional center.

## II. Park Lighting: Building an Ecological Network and Promoting Green Development

In the lighting renovation projects for seven parks, including Liuguang Garden, Huangchuan County has innovatively adopted a “tiered lighting” model: main thoroughfares are equipped with 3,000K warm-white LED streetlights to ensure basic illumination, while leisure promenades feature in-ground sensor-activated lights that automatically turn on when pedestrians pass by and remain on for a delayed period after they leave, achieving a 60% energy savings compared with conventional lighting. At Huaguang Garden, the landscape lighting design incorporates elements of Chu culture, with lampposts adorned with relief carvings depicting the “Eight Scenic Spots of Guangzhou.” The light beams, filtered through intricately perforated patterns, project onto the ground, creating a cultural corridor where the scenery seems to shift with every step.

## III. Neighborhood Lighting: Revitalizing the Night-Time Economy and Highlighting Humanistic Warmth

In response to the narrow streets and dense building fabric of the old urban district, Huangchuan County has adopted the design principle of “light visible, lamps invisible”: smart flower boxes equipped with low-power LED light strips are strategically placed at key nodes such as the Tongma Roundabout and the Cultural and Convention Center, creating a seamless “flower-and-light” landscape in tandem with the petunias and colorful foliage planted inside; meanwhile, storefronts along the streets are uniformly fitted with adjustable-color-temperature display-case lighting, which not only meets commercial presentation needs but also minimizes light pollution.

In the night-market economic cluster, lighting upgrades are being implemented in tandem with functional enhancements. Five newly built centralized convenience service stations in the night markets feature a modular lighting system: foldable solar-powered light brackets are installed above each stall, and the market management office can adjust overall brightness via a mobile app. In addition, wayfinding light boxes have been added along surrounding roads, displaying information on geographically indicated products such as “Huangchuan Tribute Noodles” and “Guangzhou Tea,” thereby transforming lighting infrastructure into a platform for cultural dissemination. According to statistics, following the implementation of the lighting project, nighttime foot traffic in the old urban area has increased by 40%, creating more than 1,200 new jobs.

## IV. Intelligent Governance: Innovating Governance Models to Enhance Service Efficiency

Huangchuan County has established a “Smart Urban Lighting Management and Control Platform,” integrating 12,000 streetlights across the county into an IoT system. By installing multi-parameter sensors on lampposts, the platform collects real-time data on light intensity, pedestrian flow, air quality, and other parameters, providing a scientific basis for lighting dispatch: road segments around schools automatically increase brightness by 30% during school commute hours; anti-slip warning lights are activated on park walkways during rainy or snowy weather; and during holidays, the on/off schedules of landscape lighting are dynamically adjusted based on pedestrian density.

This refined management model was validated during the 2025 emergency response drill for low-temperature rain, snow, and freezing weather. When the temperature on the surface of the Jingjiu Bridge dropped below 0°C, the system automatically activated the snow-melting lighting mode, adjusting the brightness and flicker of the lights to generate heat. Combined with the operation of a de-icing spreader, this approach ensures that the bridge deck remains free of ice. This “light–heat synergy” technology offers a new approach to ice-resistant bridge design in northern regions.

From “lighting the way home” to “illuminating the city’s dreams,” Huangchuan’s urban lighting project has transcended the realm of mere infrastructure development to become a vivid embodiment of the new development philosophy. As night falls, the lights of the Jingjiu Bridge dance in harmony with the shimmering ripples of the Huang River, while the smart lighting in Liuguang Park complements the smiling faces of local residents. These vibrant beams of light not only brighten Huangchuan’s nights but also reflect the aspirations of the people in this old revolutionary base area for a better life—and their unwavering commitment to “embarking on a new journey and making contributions in the new era.”