Abstract: Beginning with the study of the development and evolution of cities, the paper analyzes the gradual evolvement of the urban ecological thinking. It also discusses the relationship between urban ecological thinking and eco-city construction. The profound meaning of eco-city and its characteristic are elucidated based on the ecological principles. As an example, the paper introduces the experiences and achievements of the eco-city construction in Tianjin and analyzes the existing problems as well. Based on these analyses, the paper argued that eco-city construction should draw experience from the urban ecological thinking and grasp the essential features of the eco-city so as to transform Tianjin into a eco-city with the potential for sustainable development.

Keywords: ecological thinking, eco-city.