The document provides information about eco-cities and the Tianjin Eco-city project between China and Singapore. It describes how Tianjin Eco-city was selected as a non-arable site facing water shortage issues. The master plan for Tianjin Eco-city includes one central axis, three centers, and four districts, with the goal of eliminating carbon waste and producing renewable energy. Small neighborhood units called "Eco-cells" make up the overall city design and were implemented between 2008-2012 to build out the new sustainable city.
2. What is an ecocity ?
An eco-city is a city built off the principles of living within the means of the
environment. The ultimate goal of many eco-cities is to eliminate all carbon
waste, to produce energy entirely through renewable sources, and to
incorporate the environment into the city; however, eco-cities also have the
intentions of stimulating economic growth, reducing poverty, organizing cities
to have higher population densities, and therefore higher efficiency, and
improving health.
3. Tianjin Eco-city
1.Introduction
Project between Singapore and China after Suzhou Industrial Park.
The project was mooted by then Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong
and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in April 2007, against the backdrop of rapid
The area was 1/3 salt-pan
urbanisation and increasing global attention on the importance of
1/3 polluted water bodies
sustainable development.
On 18 November 2007, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao signed a Framework Agreement for Singapore
and China to jointly develop Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city.
Aerial view of Tianjin Eco-city site in 2007 (1)
1/3 barren land
4. 2. Site Selection
The Chinese Government set two criteria for the location of the Eco-city site.
Firstly, it should be developed on non-arable land; secondly, it should be located
in an area facing water shortage. Four possible locations for the project were
identified – in Baotou (Inner Mongolia) , Tangshan (Hebei province)
, Tianjin municipality and Urumqi (Xinjiang).
The Tianjin site was eventually selected after a thorough study by both
sides, taking into account considerations such as the state of development of the
surrounding infrastructure, ease of accessibility and commercial viability
5. 3.Location
The Eco-city site is located 40 km from Tianjin city centre and 150 km from
Beijing city centre. It is located within the Tianjin Binhai New Area – one of
the fastest growing regions in China. Tianjin Binhai New Area is in turn located
in the Bohai Bay region (which covers Beijing, Tianjin and part of Hebei
Province), which has been identified as the next growth engine in China, after
the Pearl River delta and Yangtze River delta.
6. Master Plan
The Master Plan can be summarised as "1 Axis – 3 Centres – 4 Districts“
"1 Axis" – this refers to the Eco-valley cutting across the Eco-city, which is the green
spine of the city. It links up the City Centre, the 2 sub-centres and the 4 districts in
the Eco-city, and provides a scenic trail for pedestrians and cyclists. The tram
system, which will be built to meet the Eco-city's transport needs, will run along the
Eco-valley.
"3 Centres" – this refers to the main City Centre on the promontory on the south
bank of the Old Ji Canal and the two sub-centres in the south and the north.
"4 Districts" – this refers to the residential districts in the
southern, central, northern and north-eastern parts of the Eco-city. Each district
contains several housing neighbourhoods comprising a variety of housing types, as
well as their respective commercial and amenity centres serving their communities.
7. Eco-cell
The Eco-cell is a key concept in the Master Plan. Eco cells are basic building
blocks of the Eco-city. Each cell is about 400m by 400m large, generally
accepted as a comfortable walking distance. Four Eco-cells make an Econeighbourhood. Several Eco-neighbourhoods come together to form an
Eco-district. There are 4 Eco-districts in the Eco-city