Following its Platinum Award in October 2025, the Shuiche Service Area, part of the Shantou-Meizhou Expressway expansion project, has clinched three additional gold awards at the prestigious MUSE Design Awards 2026.
The service area's interior design was named a Gold Winner in the Interior Design-Service Centers category, while two of its public art installations, "Dragon Soaring Across the Seas" and "Rotation of Heaven and Earth", each earned Gold Winner in the Architectural Design category.
Located at the cultural crossroads of Hakka and Chaoshan communities in the Hanjiang River basin, the Shuiche Service Area is themed "A Ribbon of Water, Half-Mountain Hakka and Chaoshan." Its east-west zoning integrates Hakka and Chaoshan cultural elements, transforming the space into a comprehensive transportation services and cultural exhibition hub. The two award-winning installations highlight Chaoshan's ceramic tile craftsmanship and Hakka agricultural heritage, enriching the area's cultural expression.
Since its opening on September 29, 2025, the service area has continuously improved its operations. During the 2026 Spring Festival travel season, it rolled out volunteer services and farmer assistance exhibitions to expand its functions. On average, the service area handles around 6,400 vehicles and 17,000 travelers daily. During the Spring Festival peak, two-way traffic volume exceeded 250,000 vehicles.
To address restroom congestion during holiday peaks, the service area has introduced smart-managed tidal restrooms that dynamically allocate cubicle resources, significantly enhancing service capacity during busy periods.
The Shantou-Meizhou Expressway expansion project marks Guangdong Province's first major mountainous expressway widening initiative. Spanning approximately 88 kilometers through Jiedong District (Jieyang), Fengshun County, Xingning City, and Meixian District (Meizhou), it is being upgraded to an eight-lane dual-carriageway standard.
Author | Jiang Chang
Photo | Nanfang Plus
