In the 15-day-excursion in Germany, what impressed me most is the delicate relationship between the government and citizens.

When we came out from the metro station of Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, a 60-year-old man stopped us and began to introduce the previous reconstruction and the expansion construction under way of the Hauptbahnhof with his not so good English. He mentioned that he has witnessed the whole process of the rebuilding after the Second World War. What worries him is that the original townscape of this region has been changed, let along the pumping out of lake to build underground platform for ICE, TGV and Eurostar.

The warm-hearted man guided us to a kiosk for protest the expansion construction of Hauptbahnhof. Two 60-year-old women are giving out leaflets and brochures, telling others the construction is totally harmful to ecological environment. I have watched the news about the protest of citizens in Stuttgart in July this year. I have never expected that I could have the chance to get the direct perception of public participation in Germany.

What surprised me is that the persistent citizens are still sticking to their opinions though the lake has already been pumped out and the digging of basement is under way. I am very impressed by their courage and belief.     They know they are the master of their own city. They know their responsibility and role in the development of the city.

Public participation is neither a slogan nor a “distant dream” in Germany. It has been deeply rooted among every citizen. They are not only eager to use their rights but also proud to get involved in public affairs, such as urban planning.

Urban planning is not the privilege of elites. Just as the saying goes “Roma was not built in one day”。 I am still optimistic about that China is going to develop its own public participation mode, although it is determined to be a long way.