Yangzhou serves as a lighthouse city within the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC) network, recognized for its achievements in ecological restoration, water management, and cultural heritage preservation. The city’s approach combines traditional landscape conservation with modern sustainability practices, including wetland protection, green corridors, and smart biodiversity monitoring. Through participation in GPSC knowledge exchanges and the Urban Nature Network, Yangzhou shares lessons on integrating nature into city planning and using heritage assets to foster inclusive, low-carbon development.