China is at the key node for urban ecological transformation for its rapid urbanization. However, technology, management and ensuring mechanisms have lagged behind urban development. Here, the origins, development history and latest ideas of eco-cities have been summarized, including the International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial planning and Assessment Standard for Green Eco-district. Nine cases (including two eco-communities) with similar size at home and abroad were selected to analyze their planning and construction characteristics, compare their strategic planning, transportation, technology and industry, public participation and safeguard measures. Finally, four suggestions were made as follows: 1) Developing long-term strategies to address potential risks such as climate change at the city level and short-term goals should be appropriate for assessment; 2) enhancing people-oriented and inclusive public services; 3) promoting systematically thinking, local technical innovation and industry transformation; 4) providing opportunities for public participation and strengthening supporting measures.