Since forty years, environment degradation caused by intensive urbanization is an important issue to be solved in China. Yet the city of Xiamen in the Fujian province was chosen by the Chinese government to be a special economic zone and an environmental pilot city, and became an example of successful urban renewal in the context of high economic growth. The article aims to introduce the process of Xiamen’s urban transition and the making of its planning strategy which has gradually integrated environmental goals and sustainable solutions. Xiamen’s innovations in terms of conceptualization and urban practice are based on flexibility, collaboration, innovation of techniques and enhancement of planning documents. This strategy could become a realistic and relevant urban planning model in China, in order to support urbanization while limiting the impact on the environment.