Design Principles of Forest Landscape in China

Forest park and recreation forestry can meet the living demand of residents. The construction of forest park and recreation forest is being on a transition from “discovering” scenic to “creating” scenic, which theoretical guidance is urgently needed. First, this paper analyzes design theories of classical gardening, composition principles of landscape painting, and classical aesthetic standards in China. Integrating the Proactive Design Approach in UK and Chinese afforestation principles, design principles of forest landscape is established in China, which include forcing shape according to position, skillfully using special substances of gardens, proper sizes coordinated with surrounding environment, proper trees suitable for right place, diversity and unity, and creating a landscape looked like natural one. These principles provide the basis of mature design theory in China.