The Beijing Youth Daily attracted many telephone calls from readers when on February 2 it published an article entitled "Do Artificial Flowers and Landscape Features Beautify Cities or Are They Superfluo". The article had criticized the artificial landscaping features appearing along the streets and lanes of the capital and its readers agreed. And it wasn't just the specialists and environmentalists who wished to air their displeasure at this particular cultural vacuum but also the ordinary people of Beijing who aren't often asked for their views on such matters.

That fact that ordinary urban residents are now showing their resentment to the new ambiance is an expression of a maturing public aesthetic perspective that the landscape designers would be wise not to ignore. The city dwellers of today are eager to live in more natural, environmentally friendly and artistically endowed townscapes.

After all what kind of urban landscapes do we actually need? This is a very searching question to be answered through the professional evaluation of the experts and scholars in the field. However the kind of landscapes that we don't need can be easily understood by the man in the street. And the people of Beijing can come up with examples of what they feel they do not need nor want like a supposedly refined residential area, which has its streets flanked by poor quality artificial coconut palms. Then there are the streets lined with artificial peach trees and grasses apparently to give them a festive air not to mention a poorly executed figure of a giant panda stuck right in the center of a roundabout.

Poorly designed and cheaply made, such unwelcome urban features lack historical continuity and cultural atmosphere. The do not add to the beauty of our cities. On the contrary they can upset the natural charm and harmony and become objects of ridicule.

The new trend towards artificial landscape features seems to have its roots in urban design departments that do not regard urban landscaping as an important area requiring careful cultural and technical attention.

Many developed countries have a well-established body of professional knowledge on urban landscaping backed up by a wealth of sound practical experience. They have mechanisms in place for prior consultation on such aspects of urban design as: overall layout, local cultural characteristics, architecture and gardens.

Such countries seldom see artificial flowers and trees planted. There would seem to be a need to introduce more rigorous procedures in China with experts investigating proposals and consulting the local residents. On their own, good intentions may be just not quite good enough.

Beijing with its long history is one of the world's great cities. However over the years some of its traditional charm has been eroded and important cultural relics have disappeared. A new modern capital is evolving against a background of huge economic development. Such times have a major impact on the urban landscape and even small changes to the character of the city should proceed with caution under the watchful eye of public scrutiny so that they might better stand the test of time. These are times during which the various departments involved may wish to review and reform their decision-making mechanisms.

What do you think? Should the public be consulted more? Should artificial landscaping be stopped? Perhaps you like artificial palm trees! Drop us a line at Comments on China's Environment.

(China.org.cn by Li Jingrong February 16, 2004)