China is building 30 ‘sponge cities’ that aim to soak up floodwater and prevent disaster

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November 10, 2017 12:47 PM

As flooding in Chinese cities like Shanghai and Xiamen grows worse, the country plans to have 80% of areas that absorb and re-use at least 70% of rainwater.

The Chinese government is building water-absorbent projects in 30 cities as part of its "sponge city initiative."
To date, the cities have received more than $12 billion for sponge projects.
The effort faces several challenges, including China's burgeoning municipal debt crisis and its current urban planning system.

Like many places around the world, Chinese cities are considering ways to combat flooding in the face of climate change. Increased urban development has made flooding worse, and has turned some neighborhoods into vulnerable waterfront locations.

In 2010, landslides from flooding killed approximately 700 people and left over 300 missing in three-quarters of China's provinces. heavy rains pummeled southern China

The Chinese government is now pursuing an idea that could alleviate the problem: sponge cities.

Launched in 2015, the Sponge City Initiative invests in projects that aim to soak up floodwater. The projects are being built in 30 cities, including

To date, the cities have received more than $12 billion for sponge projects, according to China Daily. The central government funds around 15% to 20% of costs, with the remainder funded by local governments and private developers.

In early 2016,

Many of the projects incorporate green space, like wetlands and bioswales, which naturally help absorb water. The efforts seek to reduce the amount of rainwater runoff.

Though the Yanweizhou Park in Jinhua, eastern China, opened in 2014 (before the initiative began), it serves as a model for the type of flood-resilient, green infrastructure the country wants to continue building.

Featuring a series of winding pedestrian paths, it's designed to exist with floodwater during heavy rainfall. The images below show what the park looks like before and after monsoons, respectively:

The initiative is facing some challenges, according to a 2017 report from the

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