Redefining Cities in View of Climatic Changes “Sponge City” – Examples of Solutions in Chinese Cities at Risk of Flooding – Wuhan, Changde and Jinhua

The article is focused on the problem of green infrastructure, which effectively helps to reduce the effects of floods and water deficit in cities. It presents examples of good practices implemented in China. In the end of 2014, China’s national government initiated the “sponge city” project. A “sponge city” is a city built around the concept of managing water in an ecologically sustainable way by imitating natural hydrological cycles in the city, which translates into the restoration of the ability to absorb, infiltrate, store and purify rainwater in urbanized, highly sealed spaces. In “sponge cities”, flood risk management is included in the mainstream of urban planning and has the appropriate legal framework. The intention is to improve urban resilience through rainwater capture, storage and use by means of green roofs, pavements made of permeable materials, tumbles, rigoles, retention ponds, water squares, rain gardens and creating wetlands parks.