China’s Ingenious Project: Sponge City

Severe floods in China threaten the sustainable development of cities. In order to find a solution to this problem, the Chinese government “Sponge City” implemented the concept.

Well, this What exactly are sponge cities? and how does it work?

First, it is useful to consider the country’s urban population history.

Since 1990, the urban population in China has more than doubled. In cities where 896 million people live; Natural absorption of rainwater has become increasingly difficult due to structures such as roads, subways and railways. In addition, its vulnerability to floods has increased significantly.

Severe floods in 24 states starting from 2021 and Floods occurred in more than 443 rivers, The Chinese government pushed to develop the sponge city concept.

Sponge cities are designed to absorb as much excess water as possible.

It is aimed to make cities more “spongy” with combinations such as storage tunnels, rain gardens, wetlands and plant rain ditches. In addition, the roads were renewed and concrete pavements were installed, with bricks that absorb water is being changed.

In addition to helping prevent floods, these structures reuse in dry times It will also serve as a water source.

Among the projects, Lin-gang, planned in Shanghai’s Pudong district, is the country’s largest Sponge City project.

Chinese; 80% of the country’s urban areas should be able to absorb and reuse at least 70% of rainwater by 2030. Build 30 sponge cities is planning.

Sponge cities can be part of a sustainable and systematic approach to urban design, but The latest flood disaster in Changzhou Extreme situations such as these test the limits of these structures.

Although sponge infrastructure is not a miraculous solution in future city planning can play an important role.

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