In the context of China's changing ecology, this course explores whether and how sustainable development has been, is being, and might be pursued by its vast population and political leadership. Without neglecting culture--e.g., Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist and Altaic (steppe) views of ideal human/environment interaction--we trace historical demographic patterns and their effects on China's fauna and flora, and investigate past government efforts at water control, migration, new crop introduction, natural disasters, etc. Over half of the course concerns the People's Republic (1949-), paying special attention to birth control policies, the steppe reclamation, the Three Gorges dam, industrial growth, pollution scandals, tourism and environmental policy. We work mostly by discussion, centering on materials read in advance by class members. Mid-term and final exams, and two five-page papers on set topics.