Green Wedges - Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China

GREEN WEDGES - JIAXING, ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA
Area characterisation: 

Biogeographic region: Continental

Surface area: 4275 km² (city area), the urban green coverage ratio is 40.11%, the tree coverage ratio of the whole city is 25.17%, 2019

Country: China

Region/Province: Zhejiang

The Urban Green Space System Planning of Jiaxing (2006-2020) planned three green wedges around the City based on existing ecological resources. These are South Green Wedge, East Green Wedge and Northwest Green Wedge. They are important components of Jiaxing’s urban green space system and aimed at regulating urban climate and providing more recreation space. These three green wedges are mainly constituted of wetland and forests and have a tight connection with the inner city through rivers. The South Green Wedge has an area of 4.72 square kilometres and is composed by three parks. These include a sports park, a children’s park and a botanical garden. The Northwest Green Wedge is 3.54 square kilometres big and functions as a wetland park. The East Green Wedge has an area of 6.92 square kilometres and has been gradually changed into city parks.

Objective: 

The three green wedges around the City of Jiaxing aim to regulate urban climate and to provide space for recreation by enhancing the structure and socioecological multi-functionality of the green infrastructure in the city. 

Trees as nature-based solutions are promoted for co-development and co-design to alleviate problems of heat, air pollution and noise in the city in a participatory way.

Actions: 

PRINCIPLE UF-NbS (Urban Forests as Nature-Based Solutions) ACTION(S)

  • Wetland restoration
  • Annual implementation of new plants/trees
  • Urban park construction
  • Reduce the intensity of urban heat island effect

OTHER PRINCIPLE NbS ACTION(S) – non-UF

  • Encourage engagement of citizens in different ways of voluntary tree planting
NbS benefits 
  • Reducing temperature at meso or micro scale
  • Increase accessibility to green open spaces
  • Increase amount of green open spaces for residents
  • Increase communities’ sense of ownership
  • Increase well-being
Transferability of the result: 

The green wedges strategies in Jiaxing City are a good example for conserving and expanding the existing urban forest and trees in a highly urbanised area.

Lessons learned: 

Trees as nature-based solutions are this way promoted for co-development and co-design to alleviate problems of heat, air pollution and noise in the city in a participatory way. In the future, more ways should be explored to encourage citizens to join the planting, protecting and using of trees.

NbS classification 
  • Tree rows
  • Single trees
  • Tree and forest plantations
  • Public park
Contacts: 

Kaoquan Ao

Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau

Jiaxing, China

Tel: + 86 0573-8287-2088

Further information

The compilation of this case study description has been funded by the Horizon 2020 CLEARING HOUSE project. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 821242.

Sustainable Development Goals 
  • 3. Good Health and Well-being
  • 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
Key Performance Indicators: