2025 Highlight: Guangzhou Shows a Potential Future of Clean City Living - CleanTechnica

The article reflects on a 2025 visit to Guangzhou, China, highlighting the city as a compelling example of a clean, sustainable, and livable urban future. The author contrasts Guangzhou’s advanced integration of technology and urban planning with outdated Western perceptions of Chinese cities. Guangzhou’s design emphasizes vertical living with abundant greenery incorporated into balconies, medians, walkways, and rooftops, creating a visually appealing and environmentally friendly urban environment. Parks are strategically placed throughout the city, often atop shopping malls, with transportation infrastructure like roads and subways running beneath, enhancing both accessibility and green space. The piece also discusses the broader benefits of dense urban living, noting that higher population density can lead to environmental advantages such as preserved natural areas, reduced energy loss in buildings, and more efficient mass transit systems. The author contrasts this with the sprawling, car-dependent suburbs common in parts of the U.S., which often lack efficient transit and green space. Guangzhou exemplifies how cities can evolve beyond traditional models to become more efficient