In the middle of the Yangtze river, close to Shanghai, is a 1200 square kilometer island. An island created by the natural flow of the river, home to different rare species of birds. And also home to China's new eco-city, Dongtan. The city of Dongtan will at first house 10,000 citizens, but is expected to be capable of housing no less than 500,000 citizens as it evolves!
The city will be fed with wind and solar power, and partially also from burning of rice-shells. The buildings within the city, will be built so the energy consumption will be aboslutely minimal, thus saving the precious sustainable energy. The city aims to be rather dense is well, thus minimalizing the need for personal transportation (anywhere in the city, it is expected that citizens will have to walk a maximum of seven minutes before reaching the nearest public transportation).
Despite the easy access to public transportation, there will be a park from a maximum time range of three minutes for all of the city's citizens. But because of soft soil in the island area, the buildings won't be able to excede a height of 4-8 floors, which will put limits to the city's density. Residential and commercial areas will be kept close to each other, so workers can walk to their jobs instead of having to use mechanized and polluting transportation.
One issue is left uncovered. What about feeding the citizens? Well, that part has been thought through as well. Under the city, underground farms will be built, growing plants thanks to UV-lamps, allowing agricultural production 24 hours a day, all year round! Such underground farms are nothing new - they are common in Tokyo, where as we know, the population also is extremely huge. The first fase of this wonderful eco-city is expected to stand ready by the year 2010.
Andy
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