Ecological　Footprint　(EF)　is　a　new　indicator　to　quantify　the　sustainability.　EF　is　defined　as　an　ecologically　productive　land　area　which　could　sustain　and　support　a　certain　population　under　an　acceptable　lifestyle.　Application　of　this　concept　to　urban　ecosystem　can　quantitatively　assess　the　stress　and　impact　on　natural　ecosystem　from　urban　economic　activities,　and　thus　health　condition　of　urban　ecosystem　can　be　examined.　This　paper　presents　a　comprehensive　framework　on　urban　EF　calculation　and　its　application　to　the　City　of　Guangzhou,　Guangdong　province　of　China.　The　variation　of　EF　in　the　past　5　years　was　analyzed.　The　results　show　that　the　City　of　Guangzhou　had　an　EF　of　2.5　ha/cap　and　a　carrying　capacity　of　0.2　ha/cap　in　the　year　of　2000,　respectively.　During　the　period　of　1995　to　2000　the　EF　per　GDP　tends　to　decrease　while　the　EF　per　cap　tends　to　increase.　The　results　indicate　that　the　economic　development　in　Guangzhou　is　facing　increased　stress　and　challenge,　and　the　municipal　authorities　should　focus　on　improving　efficiencies　of　resources　development　and　utilization,　promoting　resources-saving　initiatives,　and　lessening　ecological　footprints　in　the　future　ecological　construction.　These　measures　will　help　the　City　of　Guangzhou　move　toward　an　ecologically　sound　city.　©　2005　ISEIS　-　International　Society　for　Environmental　Information　Sciences.