Director Johnny Jiang hosts Overseas Planning and Design Institutions Working Committee Spring Course in Shanghai

On April 18, Chapman Taylor Director Johnny Jiang successfully hosted the first 2025 spring course of the Overseas Planning and Design Institutions Working Committee (OPDI), part of the China Association of City Planning. Held in Shanghai, the event brought together leading international experts and domestic industry figures to examine best practices in urban renewal and development.

The course focused on drawing lessons from overseas urban planning experience—particularly from Germany—and comparing these with Chinese urban development practices. The objective was to explore actionable strategies for urban design during China’s current shift from rapid urban expansion to a phase focused on quality, sustainability, and human-centred design.

This first session centred on German spatial governance and Shanghai’s ongoing urban renewal initiatives, offering in-depth analysis of Germany’s successful masterplanning models and how they can inspire future planning approaches in China.

Johnny, who also serves as Deputy Director of OPDI, played a key role in shaping and delivering the programme. A graduate with top honours from the University of Stuttgart and an architect with over 20 years of professional experience, Johnny is known for his ability to merge advanced international design thinking with a deep understanding of China’s local context and cultural heritage.

His leadership at the event highlighted Chapman Taylor’s ongoing commitment to contributing to the future of urban planning in China through knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovative design thinking.