1. Central government planners have reiterated the need to protect farmland, but to little effect as urban sprawl takes over China's fertile flat lands.
2. Because we have limited land resources, we have what could be called " vertical urban sprawl ".
3. Thus managing Beijing's sprawl will necessitate active urban planning to ensure a closer match between where people live and work.
4. However, the urban sprawl has also damaged the environment and traditional culture.
5. urban sprawl
5. In Hong Kong, the urban sprawl has displaced what used to be paddy fields and fish farms.
6. " But it's difficult as local governments are still in a spree of urban sprawl, " says Lu.