An Aesthetic Approach and Scientific Guidelines for Advancing China's Rural Greening and Beautification in the New Era

WANG Ruiqi,ZHANG Yunlu,LI Xiong

In light of China's new policy on constructing the ecological civilization,advancing toward creating a beautiful Chinese countryside are evident.Developing "ecologically sound residences" is a new requirement in fostering a livable rural environment.Moreover,there are new requirements,challenges,and opportunities for country-wide rural development.Current development practices in China reflect a futureoriented conceptualization of China's rural ecological and living environment.This conceptualization signifies a key shift toward promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and nature and active practices that enhance farmers' gains and perceptions of happiness.This project will also ensure the transmission of rural regional cultures to future generations,providing an effective strategy for transforming "clear waters and lush mountains" into invaluable assets.

1 Underlying Rationale of the Rural Greening and Beautification

The rural greening and beautification project targets the "rural".Accordingly,protecting natural ecological environments,transmitting rural history,and maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the overall rural landscape are key priorities."Greening" is the base level of the project,with the natural environment providing the foundation for systematically developing natural and artificial forests.The focus should be on "beautification",entailing actions ranging from overall landscape regulation to the selection of construction paving materials."Industry" is a key aspect of this project.Green industries can improve the revitalizing capacities of village communities,thus advancing the goal of developing a prosperous society.

2 The Aesthetic Approach for Rural Greening and Beautification

Three functional zones are integrated within Chinese villages:ecological conservation,residential areas,and economic growth.The components of each functional zone are the targets of the rural greening and beautification approach,which applies traditional aesthetics.These aesthetics are an integral dimension of Chinese settlements,creating an ambience that promotes harmonious coexistence,poetic dwelling,and a pastoral way of life.

2.1 Maintaining the authenticity of the overall rural landscape while promoting harmony between humans and nature

The rural landscape represents the sum of the various meanings attached to the rural ecological environment,social life,economic production,history,and culture.Rural greening and beautification require the implementation of four action components.The first is the construction of a macro green landscape system,integrating habitation,production,and ecology.Rural greening and beautification are not simply intended to improve greening indexes by increasing vegetation within villages.An aesthetic rural living environment must reflect an organic integrity through the coordination of habitation,production,and the ecology.The second component is the fostering of a living community in which water bodies,mountains,forests,farms,and homes,which constitute a core living space within villages,coexist harmoniously and are systematically managed.All of these dimensions of the village environment should be integrated within a wider living community to create a comprehensive and diverse landscape.The third component entails creating the layout of a natural rural landscape in which measures are matched to local conditions.The unique structure of the terrain and texture of the landscape within each land type should be respected.A stable rural landscape should be developed according to the underlying geographical structures,such as water networks,forests,and hills.For example,the forms and spatial layout of traditional rural settlements in Zhejiang Province contrast sharply with the contemporary socialist countryside.The final component entails identifying local cultural characteristics and transmitting exemplary models derived from Chinese history.This activity encompasses physical sites as well as spiritual concepts that constitute the essence of any landscape.The integration of traditional rural spiritual concepts and cultural elements into new landscapes and the demonstration and publicizing of traditional Chinese culture should be emphasized within initiatives aimed at improving the landscapes of physical and cultural sites.

2.2 Increasing green spaces within ecological conservation zones while promoting the ecological concept of harmonious coexistence

The functional zone of rural ecological conservation forms the basis of the endurance and development of village communities,providing a natural foundation for rural living spaces.The following five measures are recommended for advancing rural greening and beautification.First,damaged mountains and depleted natural vegetation should be restored by reshaping the vegetative mountain landscape.For example,the planning project to improve the overall green space within Jinanentails a combined approach of restoring damaged mountains in rural areas and low elevation areas coloring connecting.Second,waterfront landscapes should be diversified and the riparian culture should be promoted and disseminated.Many villages have canalized and rigidified their river channels,thus exacerbating water pollution and constraining the development of riparian cultures.Rural greening and beautification includes the restoration of waterfront landscapes to encourage daily exchanges among villagers and the sustenance of their waterfront cultures.The third measure entails constructing farmland shelterbelt networks to form crossed protective barriers.This measure could contribute to lower wind speeds,moderate temperatures,and increased humidity,thus creating a microclimate that benefits crop growth and ensures high and stable crop yields.The fourth recommended measure is to plant trees and develop a green forest belt around villages.Apart from controlling wind,retaining sand,preventing mountain landslides,and conserving water,this measure can contribute to the development of Fengshui forests and economic forests.Idle land around villages can be used to develop different types of green forest belts according to their key functions and objectives,thus creating an ecologically secure and appealing environment for settlements.The final measure entails enriching road landscapes and constructing rural greenways,and applying distinctive themes.Rural roads constitute basic transportation infrastructure required to sustain villagers' livelihoods and production while also linking connect villages to the outside world.Landscape planning and design should be based on different functional levels,aiming at developing rural road landscapes with functions that satisfy the needs of the landscape.

2.3 Improving the quality of landscapes in residential areas and building a poetic environment

Rural residential areas are important venues for villagers' living,leisure,recreation,and social networking activities.Therefore,improving the landscape quality can directly enhance villagers' perceptions of happiness and satisfaction.Four specific measures are recommended to achieve this.First,new and old houses should be coordinated and balanced to promote a harmonious and integrated built landscape.For example,although built structures,their decorations and construction materials vary in Gengdu Village,Quzhou City in Zhejiang Province,the overall effect is visually coordinated and balanced.Second,courtyard gardening and comfortable multifunctional spaces should be developed.Survey findings indicate that most aboriginal villagers consider the yard of a house to be the most important venue for social interactions.Accordingly,establishing comfortable and beautiful courtyard spaces for daily leisure and social networking activities should be prioritized.Third,the size of public spaces should be controlled,and a comfortable landscape for leisure and recreation should be built.Only a small number of people occupy rural public spaces,so this space should remain small but should be refined in a manner that preserves its original character.In Yongxingwu Village,Quzhou,flower beds have been developed in public space to create a harmonious landscape that is of a comfortable size and features nearly natural vegetative growth.Last,a rustic look and appeal should be created by selecting the right trees for the right places.A stable and near natural plant cluster should be developed as opposed to a garden-based or urbanized landscape.

2.4 Development of green industries in economic development zones and the creation of pastoral production landscapes

The rural economic development zone encompasses green industries such as agriculture and forestry.In the context of rural greening and beautification,the pastoral production landscape should be molded to enhance villagers' affluence,considering two aspects.First,rural complexes premised on agricultural production and integrating production,the landscape,and tourism should be constructed.Excessive industrialization cannot revitalize rural areas.Therefore,it is wrong to develop industries and tourism by occupying rural farmlands.Rural tourism should be developed in a moderate manner that simultaneously promotes agricultural production and preserves natural water bodies,mountains,and local cultures.The second aspect entails developing diversified green industries with forestry characteristics.Villagers should be encouraged to plant patches of economic and timber forests using high quality tree breeds.Multiple approaches for strengthening public cooperation are required to build a brand effect and improve core competitiveness.

3 Scientific Guidelines for Rural Greening and Beautification

3.1 Organizing professional teams and establishing scientific theories

The objective of rural greening and beautification is to construct the overall ecological and human habitation environment within villages.This process entails establishing multiple village industries,requiring theoretical knowledge drawn from several disciplines to respond to engineering and construction and development requirements.Research on greening and beautification has made significant strides in China.The types of research are categorized according to the construction approaches and objectives,and four dimensions are covered within the respective core theories:(1) landscape spatial forms,(2) environmental and ecological resources,(3) perceptions relating to recreational use,and (4) green industries.During the rural greening and beautification process,relevant industrial experts should be invited to forma professional team and develop a scientific theoretical system that conforms to the construction status and development demands.

3.2 Encouraging interdisciplinary research and exploring scientific methods

Scientific methods can guide appropriate planning and construction.In light of existing theories and practical research,the scientific methods associated with rural greening and beautification planning and construction are observation and monitoring,qualitative analysis,quantitative analysis,and modeling.Rural greening and beautification requires innovating based on traditional rural landscape planning concepts.Multidisciplinary research should be encouraged,and the advantages offered by professional multidisciplinary teams and cohort studies should be exploited to guide scientific planning of rural greening and beautification projects.For example,environmental monitoring and testing technologies were incorporated in the rural landscape plan of Qiaokou,Wangcheng County in Hunan Province.

3.3 Enhancing top-level designs and promoting scientific planning

Multidisciplinary theories and methods can augment top-level rural greening and beautification designs,rationally guide the regulation of landscapes and the spatial layout of villages,protect regional characteristics,and control the expansion of built land.To promote scientifically based rural greening and beautification planning,the following actions are recommended.First,urban planning and design concepts should be foregone in favor of diverse,independent planning exercises at multiple levels.Efforts should focus on ensuring that rural greening and beautification planning is scientific,adaptive,and objective.Second,spatial and temporal dimensions should be foregrounded in development plans at the county,township,and village levels and in key multi-stage project plans to ensure that they are comprehensive and farsighted,reflecting the temporality of activities.Last,to put Chinese knowledge and wisdom center stage in the global field of rural development,the idea of global governance should be highlighted while simultaneously responding to and implementing national policies.

3.4 Intensifying technical support and understanding scientific approaches

Rational,scientific approaches are essential for implementing rural greening and beautification plans.Currently,severe environmental destruction and engineering quality problems along with limited specialized technology support are critical issues in Chinese villages.To advance rural greening and beautification,the demonstration and integration of ecological restoration,low-cost construction,environmental monitoring,green cultivation,and other key technologies is imperative.Additionally,it is essential to strengthen high-tech applications,foster a better understanding of scientific implementation approaches,and implement plans and concepts so as to ensure effective construction.

3.5 Promoting the implementation of pilot projects and compiling scientific cases

Key approaches for promoting rural greening and beautification projects through concrete guiding inputs include a demonstration pilot-driven model followed by comprehensive construction projects and the compilation of scientific cases.To advance this process,rural planning should be categorized according to the characteristics,demands,and development rules of villages so as to ensure the scientificity,feasibility,and effectiveness of pilot schemes.Specifically,pilot schemes should be deployed as a way of exploring scientific approaches and accumulating successful experiences that will eventually be replicated throughout an area.

4 Conclusions

Rural greening and beautification is a new rural development approach in China that adheres to the New Rural Construction policy.This paper has illuminated the strategic significance and theoretical rationale of rural greening and beautification while providing inputs for refining traditional aesthetic concepts applied to Chinese rural settlements.Moreover,it has proposed specific approaches and provided relevant examples of contemporary villages in which all of the components of the three functional zones are evident.Finally,it has outlined scientific guidelines for developing and constructing rural greening and beautification projects in China.Rural greening and beautification offers benefits for both current and future generations.A sustainable mode of development is critical,requiring the conversion of passive learning into active learning through the adoption of appropriate aesthetics as well as systematic and scientific guidance,thus enabling a shift in the distinct traditional aesthetics of Chinese settlements toward sustainable development and their future transmission.