Discussion of “The eight characteristics” in Huanggang City - when a Swedish green space research result meets a Chinese city

Abstract: With the development of society, a variety of psychological diseases attack human beings. Relevant research shows there is a coherent relationship between outdoor environments and human well-beings. So more and more emphasis is paid by both the government and normal people at present, on the construction of a better outdoor environment. A group of researchers from SLU, Alnarp have classified and concluded eight important characteristics of outdoor environment through investigation. Different size, form, distance and amount of these characteristics will affect environmental perception to people, thus influencing psychological health. In China, we do have norms and legislations about the green structure, involving the size, classification and framework of green areas. While the perspective of human well-beings and environmental psychology is a lack in the green structure system there. In this thesis, the main city of Huanggang is chosen as the target area to introduce The Eight Characteristics in China. Firstly, analysis about the green space in the main city of Huanggang will be given according to Standard for Classification of Urban Green Space in China, in order to give a general and preliminary impression of the area. Then the analysis will be developed through an Internet investigation, aiming at understanding the perception and expectation of normal Huanggang people to their surrounding outdoor green spaces. The last analysis is made according to The Eight Characteristics, on green spaces in the main city of Huanggang, Discussions will be conducted after, from the following perspectives: Differences between Standard for Classification of Urban Green Space in China and The Eight Characteristics in Sweden; Suggestions of The Eight Characteristics in main city of Huanggang; Improvements made on the outdoor green space in the main city of Huanggang. Key words: Green space; The Eight Characteristics; Huanggang; China