ABSTRACT
A modern city is a large artificial ecosystem with complicated relationships between various components. The continual increase in population is the principal characteristic of an urban ecosystem. During the process of urbanisation, the settlement of human beings has undergone a process of ecological succession from natural environment to village town, industrial city and modem city. This process has changed and destroyed not only the natural environment, but also the productive condition and living environment of human beings. The results of this succession has brought about a serious challenge to the urban living environment. The historical experiences and lessons have gradually made people aware of the importance of a better urban living environment for public health, urban production as well as the daily lives of inhabitants (Wang, 1992). From the various urban development stages of Western countries in past centuries, we can understand that the development objectives of most Western cities are to strive for a better urban environment. To improve the environment and build a pleasant city have become a theme of planning thought for many years (Wu, 1992). Therefore, it is necessary to approach the ecological planning methods in order to create a better urban living environment and to construct a highly efficient, highly civilised, clean and harmonious eco-city.
