ABSTRACT
The UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape defines a historic urban area as the result of historic layering of cultural and natural values and attributes, extending beyond the notion of historic centre to include the broader urban context and its geographical setting (UNESCO 2011). The natural landscape in and around a historic urban area is an integral part of this larger context. The natural landscape includes both the remaining parts of the original landscape that existed before it was affected by human activities and the natural parts of the cultural or human-made landscape. While the role of natural landscape in urban heritage has received recognition, methods of study of its role have not been adequately developed. This chapter examines the role and value of natural landscapes in the historic Chinese cities. It explores the ecological, aesthetic, economic, and scientific values of nature in the historical urban context and introduces a method for natural landscape protection. It analyses the natural landscape in terms of its ecological, spatial and symbolic landscapes. For the future of conserving historic cities, it proposes an approach for identifying, protecting and managing natural heritage in historical urban areas.
