Distributed Green Space System: An Implementable Green Infrastructure for the City

Historical cities, including those in ancient Greece and China, often neglected green spaces in central areas, focusing instead on urban development without systematic planning for vegetation. However, Beijing during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) stands out as an exception, incorporating significant green infrastructure such as Jingshan Hill and the Temple of Heaven—spanning 272 hectares with ten thousand trees—to align with Fengshui principles. While water bodies like the Three Front Seas and Three Rear Seas dominated these spaces for practical purposes (e.g., flood control), they also served as early forms of public green areas. The study highlights that green space systems, from isolated parks to interconnected networks like greenways, have evolved in response to urbanization and environmental challenges. Modern research emphasizes their role in addressing climate change, ecological crises, and urban sprawl through integrated planning. This paper introduces the 'distributed green land system' as a scalable solution for contemporary urban green infrastructure.

Fu, F., & Zhao, C. (2010). Distributed Green Space System: An Implementable Green Infrastructure for the City. Fábos Conference on Landscape and Greenway Planning Volume 3 Issue 1 2010. https://doi.org/10.7275/FABOS.873