The world’s first ’forest city’, Liuzhou Forest City, is under construction in China and expected to be completed in 2020.

The master plan for the new green city is made by the Italian firm Stefano Boeri Architetti, who also made the ’Vertical Forest’ in Milan among other green architectural projects. The main goal of the ‘forest city’ is to combat air pollution, a big problem in many of the large cities in China and other places around the world. Power plants, industrial processes, vehicle exhaust, burning of wood and many household items/inventory release small particles and fumes dangerous to human health. Relative new research shows that more than 5.5 million people die prematurely every year (link), due to both indoor and outdoor air pollution - more than half of those in China and India.

Once completed, Liuzhou Forest City will cover an area of 175 hectares along the Liujiang River, host 30,000 people, 40,000 trees and around 1 million plants of over 100 different species. In the city you’ll find normal building like offices, hotels, hospitals, schools and of course houses, but they will be entirely covered by plants and trees, not only to improve air quality, but also creating habitat for wildlife like birds, insects and small animals. As the city (trees and plants) mature, they will be more effective.

Key points in the plan for Liuzhou Forest City:

30,000 people
40,000 trees
1,000,000 plants (more than 100 species)
10,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 57 tons of air pollutants absorbed per year
900 tons oxygen produced per year

I sure hope to see more cities like this in the future.

More pictures of what the city is supposed to look like when complete:

Resources: Stefano Boeri Architetti