Project Details
Site name: | Guangzhou Conghua Eco-design Camp |
Built year: | 2021 |
Built duration: | 1 month |
Sector & Tent size: | 4*64㎡ Double Peaks Luxury Lodge Tent |
Use: | Accommodation |
Location: | No.1 Gongqing Road, Conghua District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China |
Case Background
As people gain a deeper understanding of their relationship with nature, more and more are drawn to the idea of living in harmony with the environment. In the travel industry, eco-friendly development has become a key focus for many businesses, eco camping and eco campgrounds are the growing trends.
The Guangzhou Conghua Ecological Design Camp, inspired by the spirit of Silicon Valley, will be developed into a “Green Valley,” exploring a new global model for sustainable regional development. This article will use the Guangzhou Conghua Ecological Design Camp as an example to explore the principles and key elements of building eco friendly campgrounds, offering valuable insights and inspiration for your camp planning.
The Unique and Beautiful Natural Setting
The Guangzhou Conghua Ecological Design Camp is located in Conghua District, Guangzhou, China. Conghua is rich in forest resources, with a forest coverage rate of 68.7%. The area is also home to ten stunning peaks over 1,000 meters high. The winding Liuxi River runs through Conghua, creating many lakes and hot springs along the way. The air quality and surface water here are the best in the city, making it a true “ecological highland” and “natural oxygen bar” in Guangzhou.
With such a great natural environment, the Ecological Design Camp aims to become the “global center for ecological design” and the “ecological design capital of China.” The goal is to create a unique, eco camp that combines innovation with sustainable living.
Path to the Perfect Eco Campground
The eco campground covers an area of 494.21 acres and construction started on September 14, 2018. Ecological development is being carried out from several directions:
Water Environment Improvement
Water is the source of all life—without it, nothing can survive. That’s why the planning of this eco camping site starts with protecting and improving the water environment. First, they focus on human water needs. By carefully choosing the site, they plan for wastewater treatment systems, and the treated water is reused for landscaping and irrigation.
Next, they focus on protecting and improving the local water system. This includes managing the water resources and environment of the Liuxi River, carrying out projects like dredging the river, strengthening the riverbanks, and building new drop weirs.
Finally, they plan for greenway development and reduce the intensity of development around the river. The height of buildings along the river is limited to 20 meters.
These steps will not only improve the water environment and support natural water ecosystem recovery, but also help maintain the biodiversity and stability of the river system, laying a strong foundation for the eco camp’s overall ecological development.
Upgrading and Renovation of Old Facilities
After ensuring the water system is in good condition, the eco campground upgraded and repurposed its existing buildings to breathe new life into underused properties. For example, an old shopping mall has been transformed into a multi-purpose activity center. Through innovative, high-end designs, natural elements like water, bamboo, stone, and plants have been creatively incorporated into the original concrete structures, blending modern architecture with the natural landscape.
Since 2018, the eco camp has successfully hosted over 100 cultural and art events with the activity center, including two World Ecological Design Conferences, the National Homestay Conference, the “Eco Night” countryside music festival, and art charity training programs. These events have welcomed more than 250,000 guests from various fields.
New Facility Building
In addition to converting the old shopping mall into an activity center, the eco campground’s development focuses on making the activity center and Liuxi River the heart of the planning. Between the river and the activity center, several unique accommodation facilities have been built, each designed with a different cultural style, such as Chinese, French, and Japanese architecture.
Although the styles vary, all the buildings follow eco-friendly design principles. Spacious, floor-to-ceiling windows provide plenty of natural light and ventilation. Many of the furniture pieces are made from renewable materials like bamboo and wood, giving the space a natural and sustainable feel. Green plants are used as decoration, and the surrounding landscaping improves both the aesthetic appeal and air quality.
Among these eco-friendly designs, Glitzcamp has provided four luxury tents as special accommodations for the eco campground. These tents also follow sustainable design principles, offering a unique and comfortable stay while allowing guests to experience nature in an environmentally conscious way.
The Benefits of Glitzcamp's Luxury Tents
Traditionally, people think of luxury tents as being spacious and comfortable. The luxury tents provided by Glitzcamp are just that—spacious enough to include high-end furniture and facilities. But beyond comfort, these luxury tents offer several eco-friendly design features that help the eco campground achieve its goal of sustainable, eco-friendly accommodations:
Reducing Land Use and Impact
The luxury tents built by Glitzcamp are prefabricated, meaning they can be easily assembled, disassembled, moved, and relocated. Unlike traditional buildings, they don’t require a large amount of land or complex land alterations. No matter the terrain, a modular decking system is all that’s needed to create a stable foundation for the tents. This helps minimize the impact on the land and ecosystem of the eco campground.
Recyclable and Reusable
Unlike traditional camping tents, which usually last only a few months or years, Glitzcamp’s glamping tents are made from reusable materials, giving them a much longer lifespan. The tent frames are made from Q235 metal, which is treated to resist rust. Not only is this metal recyclable, but it also lasts 10-15 years.
For the tent fabric, Glitzcamp uses high-strength PVC material, which is UV-resistant, waterproof, mold-resistant, tear-resistant, and flame-retardant. These fabrics can last 5-8 years. The extended lifespan reduces the need for maintenance and replacements, supporting sustainability.
Reducing Energy Consumption
In addition to minimizing resource use during production, Glitzcamp’s luxury tents also help reduce energy consumption while in use. The tents feature large floor-to-ceiling windows that let in plenty of natural light and allow for better airflow, which lowers the need for artificial lighting and ventilation. The extra support structure inside the tent helps prevent heat loss, keeping the temperature more stable. This design reduces energy loss, especially when temperature control is needed.
Outcome
The eco campground is still under construction and incorporates various eco-friendly technologies to save energy and reduce emissions. These include measures like differentiated water supply, solar energy use, and rainwater management. For example, the eco camp’s roads are equipped with smart lighting and distributed solar power systems, saving about 130,000 kWh of electricity annually.
The eco camp also offers several activities for guests, such as art exhibitions, outdoor movies, tree-wishing, knowledge salons, creative art workshops, etc. This gives guests the chance to enjoy a comfortable stay while experiencing local, unique activities.
From 2021 to 2023, the eco campsite attracted over 10 million visitors and generated over 1.6 billion RMB in tourism revenue. As we can see, a well-planned eco campground with the right facilities can protect the local environment while also bringing in great profits. If you’re interested in creating your own eco campground, feel free to reach out to Glitzcamp for more assistance.
