To follow through Xi Jinping’s ecological civilization concept and enhance the city’s development, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Planning and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Landscape Architecture and Greening, drafted the “Beijing Garden City Plan (2023-2035)” (the “Plan” hereinafter), which was officially issued by the Beijing Municipal Government on April 25th.
Advancing modernization through man-nature symbiosis
Beijing considers the building of a garden city as integral to its identity as the capital. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the city has completed two rounds of extensive afforestation and greening projects, resulting in a forest coverage rate of 44.9% and earning the distinction of being the country’s first provincial-level forest city. With a per capita green space area of 16.9 square meters in urban parks and a network of 1,065 parks, accessible greenery for residents continues to expand. Embracing the concepts of forest city and park city, Beijing is committed to high-quality development through a superior ecological environment. Building a garden city represents a tangible step towards achieving the modernization that features man-nature symbiosis, and it also exemplifies Beijing’s dedication to ecological civilization construction. The city aims to make the garden city initiative a shared experience for residents, enhancing their appreciation of nature, urban beauty, and quality of life.
Adopting targeted measures for orderly development
The Plan emphasizes holistic management of natural elements across the entire area, integrating protection and restoration efforts for mountains, water bodies, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and sands. It aims for “multi-planning” and integrated implementation of green spaces to advance the capital’s ecological civilization. Key goals include increasing the forest coverage rate of the urban area to over 45% by 2035, safeguarding 1.66 million mu of arable land, establishing a 500-kilometer-long water-and-green belt, and enhancing recreational green areas. By 2035, the per capita green space area of parks in built-up areas will surpass 17 square meters, with park green space coverage reaching over 95% within a 500-meter access radius. Additionally, ecological protection redlines will be rigorously managed, with ecological control zones covering more than 75% of the municipal area by 2035.
The Garden City will establish a spatial framework characterized by “one screen, five belts, two axes, three rings, nine wedges, and fifteen slots.” Tailored measures will be implemented based on local conditions, leveraging the capital’s landscape and cultural heritage while adhering to natural laws. Resources will be allocated scientifically, with distinct construction standards and evaluation criteria formulated for various districts, including the core area, central urban area, and eco-containment area. The core area will prioritize creating an exemplary governmental environment, preserving the capital’s traditional charm, and showcasing Chinese cultural heritage. The central urban area will focus on enhancing ecological spaces, fostering open and accessible green areas shared by all. The sub-center will integrate large-scale green substrates with new area construction, exploring innovative scenarios, technologies, and models. Multi-point areas will promote regional synergy, optimizing population, industrial, residential, and green space distribution. Ecological conservation areas will strengthen cross-regional coordination and governance, enhancing ecological service functions.
Fifteen Garden City Demonstration Zones will be designated in areas rich in natural landscapes and cultural heritage, leveraging functional areas like nature reserves, scenic spots, historical and classical gardens, and cultural landmarks. These zones span across the old town area, Olympic Center, Nanyuan Garden, City Subcenter, New Shougang, Xiaoxishan Mountain, Badaling Great Wall, Ming Mausoleums, Zhoukoudian Ruins, Yanqi Lake International Convention Center, Yanqing Leisure and Resort area, Capital International Airport, Daxing International Airport, Future Science City, and Huairou Science City. These zones showcase either the distinctive garden culture of North China, the grandeur of the capital, or the allure of its ancient heritage.
Embracing high-quality development for a garden-style city
A distinctive landscape will be created characterized by the fusion of natural and cultural elements, blending ancient and modern aesthetics, and the juxtaposition of forests and gardens. This endeavor aims to create a landscape structure comprising “two mountains and one bay, two axes, five rings, and multiple corridors.” By delving into the rich historical and cultural heritage of the capital, enhancing landscape management, and emphasizing key features, Beijing will construct a mountainous city landscape with three tiers: “distant mountains, mountains nearby, and city skyline.” Enhancing the overall color palette, the focus will be on seasonal variations, with themes of “new spring colors, lush greens in summer, vibrant autumn hues, and subdued winter tones.” Plant selection and color coordination will be reinforced to enhance depth and dimensionality. Furthermore, the city will establish a comprehensive four-season viewing corridor system, encompassing landscapes, historical sites, and scenic spots, with 25 key observation points and 49 view corridors.
Beijing will enhance delicate urban governance that integrates various elements to foster the harmonious integration of work, living, and ecological spaces. This includes advancing the transformation of 265 key roads into tree-lined boulevards, preserving the scenic beauty of the old town area adorned with trees, fostering a leisurely atmosphere for residents to enjoy a serene environment. Urban design plays a pivotal role, with a focus on seamless integration and coordination to blur neighborhood boundaries and enhance greenery, aesthetics, and functionality. Through the development of diverse functional spaces and meticulous landscaping efforts, the foundation of the forest city will be fortified, resulting in an overall enhancement of urban space quality and contributing to the creation of a modern and aesthetically pleasing capital city.
Setting the highest standard with scalable practices
Efforts will be coordinated across departments to integrate the garden city initiative into Beijing’s urban renewal, alley management, as well as the “resilient city” program. Through structured list management and proactive project promotion, Beijing aims to concretely realize the advanced concept of the garden city. Priority will be given to establishing high-quality urban greenways, facilitating the creation of a network spanning over 500 kilometers at all levels. This initiative will enhance connectivity among urban green spaces, enriching accessibility and facilitating a wide range of functions and services. Efforts will focus on cultivating garden landscapes that resonate with people’s lives at various levels, including residences, neighborhoods, communities, and urban areas. Special emphasis will be placed on neighborhood coordination, network construction, and the development of distinctive nodes. Key demonstration projects will be prioritized to set the example of high-quality development.
Benefiting the public and building a nature-caring atmosphere
Highlighting an inclusive governance platform accessible to all, Beijing will actively work together with various organizations, associations, among other stakeholders for their active involvement in the entire lifecycle of planning, construction, operation, and governance of the Garden City. Through enhanced publicity and guidance, Beijing will enhance the exposure of its Garden City image, ensuring that its benefits are for the people. The goal of Beijing is to cultivate a social culture where “everyone is a gardener.”
