Ecoeconomic construction and sustainable development of natural scenery cities in China

As a country of rich natural resources, China has many beautiful natural scenery resorts. Due to rapid growth in tourism, cities of various sizes have been formed with the development of these scenery resorts. The rapid growth of these cities, while bringing benefits to local people, also produces some serious problems. In this paper, general introduction is given to the studies of natural scenery cities in China. Types and functions of scenery cities in China are discussed, and their relation to tourism and urban ecosystem is defined. Special attention is given to the local and nationality factors in the construction of these cities. The problems the people are now facing in the construction of the natural scenery cities are analyzed and solutions presented.

Greening the building envelope,facade greening and living wall systems

For greening the building envelope several concepts can be used, for example green roofs, fa?ades greened with climbing plants or living wall systems (modular pre-vegetated panels), etc. Greening the building envelope allows to obtain a relevant improvement of the its effi- ciency, ecological and environmental benefits as well as an increase of the biodiversity. Since the interest restoring the environmental integ- rity of urban areas continues to increase, new developments in construction practices with beneficial environmental characteristics take place, as vertical greening systems. Applying green fa?ades is not a new concept and can offer multiple benefits as a component of cur- rent urban design;considering the relation be- tween the environmental benefits, energy sav- ing for the building and the vertical greening systems (material used, maintenance, nutrients and water needed) the integration of vegetation could be a sustainable approach for the enve- lope of new and existing buildings.

SPECIAL ISSUE： SPACE PRODUCTION AND URBAN ORDER IN CONTEMPORARY CHINA--The Loss of Urban Order and the Ethical Construction of Urban Order in Contemporary China

Rapidly urbanizing China is at a critical period in the construction of urban meaning and order. The city as an organic compound of space represents the organic integration in space of the elements of civilization, while its meaning provides the ethical ties that link these elements to form an organic whole. A city without a locus of meaning will be buffeted by risks and confrontations. The realization of sustainable urban prosperity requires the integration of the city as an ordered community of meaning at the same time as its physical forms take shape. An important practical path to achieving this aim is restructuring city space in a rational ＂spatial-ethical ecology＂ based on integrity and interaction of physical, social and psychological urban space, by means of collective action knitted together by meaning and carried out by communities and organizations.

City and Nature In Harmony

Xi’an,the capital city of Shaanxi Province in northwest China,is now the host of the 41st International Horticultural Exposition(IHE).China was selected the third time to host the IHE,following the 1999 Expo in Kunming and the 2006 ExpoinShenyang.Launched on April 28,the 2011 Expo lasts 178 days。