Launched as a national pilot programme in 2014-2015, the "sponge city" concept calls for cities to absorb, store, infiltrate and reuse rainwater through permeable pavements, wetlands, bioswales, green roofs and restored watercourses rather than channelling it straight to drains. It responds to severe urban flooding caused by rapid impervious sprawl. Dozens of pilot cities, from Wuhan to Shenzhen, were funded to retrofit and design districts on these principles. Results have been mixed against extreme rainfall, prompting debate over scale and standards.
It is China's flagship landscape-led, water-sensitive response to urban flooding and a leading instance of resilience planning at national scale.
See it on the timeline →