Sponge City Program Turns Fengxi New City of Xixian New Area into an Ecological Oasis

When the United Nations launched the International Decade for Action: Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028 on March 22, 2018, China's "Sponge City" program became one of its top priorities. In April 2015, China's central authorities announced the first batch of pilot sponge cities, among which was the Xixian New Area of Shaanxi Province - the only such pilot city in northwest China. The bulk of the project was slated to take place in Fengxi New City.

The newly-developed Sponge City Rainwater Circulation System, now up and running in Fengxi New City of Xixian New Area, has put the vision of comprehensive and low-impact utilization of rainwater in keeping with local conditions into action. From the very beginning, the project has been constructed in strict compliance with the concept of “regional rainwater management” and the strategy of “low-impact development”. A multi-layered open space comprising river networks, green belts, community parks and green spaces has been developed in harmony with the natural geography of the region. In addition, the scope of protection for such natural sponges as rivers and lakes has been clearly delineated, providing an ecological foundation for the multi-standard integration of sponge city development.

Initial progress has been made in the effort to transform Fengxi New City of Xixian New Area into a sponge city. As scheduled, more than 20% of the urban built-up area should meet the target requirements by 2020, and that number is slated to reach 80% by 2030.

The Construction of Sponge City in the Communities of Fengxi New City of Xixian New Area (Photo by Liu Qiang)

Green Roof atop the Business Park of the HQ of Fengxi New City of Xixian New Area (Photo by Liu Qiang)

Sponge City Construction of Municipal Roads of Fengxi New City of Xixian New Area (Photo by Liu Qiang)

The Central Green Corridor of Fengxi New City of Xixian New Area (Photo by the Administrative Committee of Fengxi New City of Xixian New Area)

Structural Function Analysis of Constructed Wetlands (Photo by the Administrative Committee of Fengxi New City of Xixian New Area)