Salinity, sparse vegetation, a fragile ecology and water shortages usually indicate environmental degradation. However, these conditions are crucial to the eco city project being jointly developed by China and Singapore.

The eco city is located in Tianjin's Binhai New Area. It will cover a total of 30 sq km - 20 sq km in Hangu district and 10 sq km in Tanggu district. It is 15 km from the central part of the Binhai New Area, 45 km from downtown Tianjin, and 150 km from Beijing.

Premier Wen Jiabao and Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong proposed the eco city be built in north China in April 2007, in an area that is short of water and does not occupy arable land. In November 2007, the two countries signed a cooperation framework agreement on the eco city.