Eco-City Notes

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MeiXi Lake is an eco-development located in the southwestern part of Changsha in Hunan province. Alison Lu travels to MeiXi Lake and observes firsthand the patterns of land-use change being used to form the foundation of the eco-city. Are these transformations of the land sustainable?

The qilou is a unique characteristic of Taiwan's urban landscape. This building type creates a vibrant, multi-functional space for pedestrians. Tiffany Wey dissects the form of the qilou and shows the ways in which it creates public space. A healthy urban social life is necessary for a city's sustainability, and the preservation and use of qilou in Taiwan is an example of the power of urban design in creating a vibrant streetscape.

China's eco-cities are evaluated through indicator systems that quantify the cities' adherence to green standards. This article provides an overview of the different national eco-city policies and their indicator systems. Based on an analysis of energy consumption, certain indicators are more effective than others at making eco-cities challenge themselves to be green.

Both China and Japan began developing the eco-city concept in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But unlike China, Japan has a clear focus on citizen involvement and initiatives, as well as strong awareness of recycling and other environmental practices. This feature introduces Japanese eco-city construction, regulation, and environmental consciousness, and uses the case of miraculous environmental revival in the infamous Minamata area to illustrate the process of eco-city development in Japan.