The site selection principles of ancient cities in China can be summarized as follows: choose a moderate geographical location, that is, the principle of choosing the right one; Consider the factors of sustainable development, that is, the principle of "eat in the ground and eat in the country"; Considering the natural landscape and ecological factors, the principle of "the country must depend on mountains and rivers" is put forward; Consider the need for risk prevention; Considering water resources and traffic problems, land and water transport is often chosen.

The road network of ancient cities in China was mostly square, which was convenient for traffic and building layout of blocks. There was a centralized city in Chang 'an in Han Dynasty, which was managed by officials. In Tang Dynasty, Chang 'an concentrated east-west market was large in scale, and it was set by industry. Kaifeng City in the Northern Song Dynasty combined roads with commerce, and set up shops along the street to form a bustling commercial street. In Chang 'an City of Han Dynasty, there was a village as a residential unit. Li Fang in Chang 'an in Tang Dynasty had walls and doors, which were strictly controlled. Although all the cities after the Song Dynasty were called Li Fang, there were no walls or doors.

The traditional characteristics of China's ancient urban layout are the plane layout with symmetrical central axis and the unified and diverse spatial treatment methods embodied in China's ancient planned cities. There are two sources of this layout: first, the traditional low-rise buildings with inward courtyard in China have clear priorities, and the central axis highlights the layout of the main building; Second, the concept of hierarchy reflects the intention of the feudal ruling class in China feudal society.

The ancient urban planning of China attached importance to the utilization of water resources and urban greening. Northern cities, such as Chang 'an in Tang Dynasty, Kaifeng in Song Dynasty and Dadu in Yuan Dynasty, all introduced water into cities according to local conditions, and skillfully combined urban buildings with water surface and green space in the overall layout, which not only met the needs of domestic water, but also beautified and improved the environment. Many southern cities pay more attention to the use of rivers in their planning, and some also open up a set of river networks complementary to streets for traffic and drainage, forming a unique urban layout structure. The construction and landscaping of ancient cities were often carried out at the same time. Although the royal gardens and private gardens are exclusively owned by the court and the people, they can beautify the urban landscape and improve the urban microclimate.