China to Build Eco-Cities

A sign that Chinese politicians are starting to take the environment seriously is the construction of 233 "eco-cities" spread across the country. Although many of them are still in the development phase, they still show China is trying - with varying degrees of success - to generate sustainable energy and use raw materials more prudently. One of the most high-profile examples is being built on the island of Chongming, a stone's throw from the heavily polluted city of Shanghai.

At first sight, Chongming seems far removed from the vast metropolis in the Yangtze delta. Shanghai, the country's biggest port is best known for its frenetic centre, home to banks, bars and the stock exchange, its monotonous outskirts packed with heavy industry, its chronically congested roads and its polluted air.

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