Background
With a budget of almost $30 billion and the motto, “New Beijing, Great Olympics”, it reflects China’s ambition of redefining its role in the world by the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Except for the large amount of construction of infrastructure and information facilities, China has a rocky road ahead to fulfill its commitments to “Green Olympics”.
Model of the Old City of Beijing
(Source: http://www.tour-beijing.com/include/shownews.php?news_id=1375)
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Topographic Map of Beijing Region
(Source: Peng, H. 2005 )
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Urban Sprawl Pattern
(Source: Peng, H. 2005 )
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This case study will include some ‘Green’ projects in Beijing, from large concept to detailed implementation, from urban planning to architecture design. Olympics as a catalyzer speed up the process of greening Beijing. The government also wants to model Beijing as a demonstration to other cities of greening implementation.
INTRODUCTION TO BEIJING
Beijing is the Capital of China, one of the largest cities of the world, originated from 3000 years ago.
Its urban form shares its heritage with the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1341), the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and has remained intact until present.
Topography and Climate:
Beijing is situated at the northwest end of the North China Plain, surrounded by Yanshan Mountain Range northeast and Xishan Mountain northwest. Two major rivers, Wenyu River and Yongding River run from the northwest to the southeast
Beijing belongs to the semiarid continental monsoon climaticzone, four distinctive seasons (hot and rainy summers, cold and dry winters, spring and autumn very short, Spring dry andwindy).
The Urban Form and Sprawl Pattern:
- a walled and centralized City
- composed of the Inner City and the Outer City
- strong central axis
The city expansion pattern is the typical concentric model, accompanying withclosed ring roads development. In recent ten years, the fast transportation routes development and extension from the inner city, clearly indicates the fast sprawl pattern.
Population and Area:
Population: 13.8 million people
average population density: 821 persons/ km²
Area: 16,800 km² (4,151,000 acres) The city core area: 62 km² (15,320 acres).
Environmental Problems:
At present, Beijing is undergoing a fast urbanization period characterized by fast transition, high density, and significant environmental and ecological impacts.
Air Pollution: automobile emissions, industrial emissions, Coal burning (Coal plants, residential heating)
Sandstorms and Desertification: rapidly increasing in intensity and scope
Water Pollution and shortage
  
Source:
http://english.people.com.cn/
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