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China's Planning to Combat Air Pollution With Giant Vertical Forests

Feb. 10, 2017
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2 min read
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China's Planning to Combat Air Pollution With Giant Vertical Forests
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China is notorious for extremely high levels of pollution in most of its major cities — but it has a plan to begin tackling the issue. One component involves the construction of the recently unveiled Nanjing Green Towers, two ‘vertical forests’ that will work to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions in the Pukou District of Nanjing. China has been dealing with a dangerous smog problem stemming from its coal plants, factories and traffic that have left many cities under a blanket of dirty air.

These verdant towers, cloaked in lush greenery, will soak up to 25 tons of CO2 annually while also producing nearly 60 kilograms of oxygen daily. Designed by Italian architect Stefano Boeri, one of the towers will house a Hyatt hotel that'll feature a rooftop swimming pool, while the other will be home to offices, a museum, a 'green' architecture school and a private rooftop club.

Illustration of planned Nanjing Towers. Image courtesy of Stefano Boeri.

Together, the two towers will feature more than 1,000 trees and 2,500 plants which will work to filter smog-ridden air by soaking up urban air pollution. The buildings are expected to be completed in 2018 but Boeri’s team is already looking towards the future with planned projects in Shijiazhuang, Liuzhou, Guizhou, Shanghai and Chongqing.

Vertical gardens are not unique to China — they've been popping up in many cities around the world including Milan, Italy; Lausanne, Switzerland; as well as one spotted by our Editorial Director in Madrid, Spain (below).

Patrick Blanc's Lush Vertical Garden features over 15,000 plants and is located in the middle of Madrid.

As a reminder, if you’re planning to visit China (or any other country that requires a visa), TPG recommends using a third-party service like Allied Passport & Visa to simplify what can be a complex process. Mention The Points Guy on your order form to get a $5 discount just for TPG readers.

H/T: The Telegraph

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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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