Abstract: In the early and mid Qing Dynasty, ecological environment still provided a certain space for economic development in central developing zones. The predominant ecological thoughts of intellectuals in this period centred on issues of utilization, such as building water conservancy project, wetland protection, forest cultivation and growing various crops. These thoughts show the purposes of both pursuing the output maximization and avoiding risks. However, ecological crisis had appeared in the border areas, which led to the emergence of ecological thoughts, and forest protection was listed as an important agenda by some local governments. Although some intellectuals attempted to solve the ecological problems through a scientific way, there was still not enough motivation for sustainable development. The knowledge on the whole ecological system and the value of forest were not complete. The awareness and knowledge for ecological protection remained at a primitive and spontaneous phase in this period.