Urban greening, urban forestry and urban green structure planning all look at a city as a unit andintend to improve the status of green space in the city. Even though they are new terms, their concepts haveevolved over a rather long period. This paper presents a historical review of western concepts for urbangreening since the 1850s. The first aim is to establish an overview of how the urban greening concept hasdeveloped and what the relationships are between the historical concepts and urban greening, urban forestryand urban green structure planning today. The secondary purpose is to understand some key issues for urbangreening through the examination of historical precedents. Based on a literature review, the paper presentsseveral historical concepts for urban greening rampart area planning, park system, green belts, greenwedges and greenways. The new concept of urban green structure is also introduced. Each concept is defined.The social background and the influence on city development are described. The review shows that theconcept of urban greening has a long history, parallel with the development of the city planning concepts.The scope of urban greening has become larger over the past years. The functions of urban green space havechanged from single-purpose to multi-purpose. The study indicates that historical concepts may still giveinspiration in todays urban greening process. Urban greening, urban forestry and urban green structure planning all look at a city as a unit andintend to improve the status of green space in the city. Even though are new terms, their concepts have been rendered a rather long period. This paper presents a historical review of western concepts for urbangreening since the 1850s. The first aim is to establish an overview of how the urban greening concept hasdeveloped and what the relationships are between the historical concepts and urban greening, urban forestry and urban green structure planning today. The secondary purpose based on a literature review, the paper presents historical veteran of urban greening rampart area planning, park system, green belts, greenwedges and greenways. The new concept of urban green structure is also introduced. Each concept is defined. The social background and the influence on city develop The review shows that theconcept of urban greening has a long history, parallel with the development of the city planning concepts.The scope of urban greening has become larger than the past years. The functions of urban green space havechanged from single- purpose to multi-purpose. The study suggests that historical concepts may still give inpiration in todays urban greening process.