<p>China’s urbanization has transitioned from spatial expansion to stock regeneration, demanding a shift from one-off landscape projects to long-term socio-ecological stewardship. This study analyzes an iterative micro-regeneration in Guangzhou’s historic Old Nanhai County Community, deconstructing it into design and assessment phases. During the design phase, an urban biocultural diversity approach was employed, translating the Materialized-Lived-Stewardship framework into strategies for transferring local ecological knowledge (LEK) via cultural keystone species in micro spaces. Post-implementation, assessment via 25 semi-structured interviews used LEK transfer as a key indicator to calculate the Vitality Index of Traditional Environmental Knowledge (VITEK). While the interventions enhanced neighborly interaction and stewardship willingness, notable intergenerational disparities in ecological knowledge persisted. Cumulative Rate of Retention (RC) for environmental memory, traditional plant knowledge, and gardening skills was substantially lower among youth, whereas scientific habitat knowledge was slightly higher. These findings underscore that bridging knowledge gaps requires iterative cycles of design, implementation, assessment, and optimization. Key barriers identified include limited time, space, and direct nature reliance. Consequently, next-phase optimization will target middle-aged residents through accessible cultural keystone places and weekend environmental education. This study concludes that landscape architecture must embed relational values in regeneration practices and demonstrates how iterative, reflective action generates practical knowledge for socio-ecological challenges.</p>