Suitability analysis for greenway planning in China: an example of Chongming Island.

Suitability analysis for greenway planning was developed in the Western culture. When applying a suitability analysis to a very different sociocultural context such as China, it is necessary to identify what hinders or promotes it. Through an example of Chongming Island, this article demonstrates how to apply a suitability analysis for greenway planning in China. Furthermore, it argues that obstacles including a lack of data, peculiarity of capability scores within land use and a neglect of scientific group involvement are encountered in the process of applying suitability methods in Chongming or China. Early and sustained attention to such impediments could improve the success of suitability assessment in China. These research results are helpful for the planning and implementation of Chongming greenways.