文化多元是城市发展的内生动力。在全球竞争日益激烈的过程中，文化是唯一能够保持城市特色、促进城市可持续发展的核心元素。

　　文化保护与创新是江苏人居环境塑造的现实要求。当前，文化竞争力正与经济竞争力一道成为人居发展的根本动力。江苏应持续弘扬优秀历史文化，积极吸纳外来文化要素，加强文化保护、继承、发展、创新，构建文化多元、富有特色的人居家园。

　　文化多元化是江苏传统人居环境的重要特征。地域文化与外来文化交融、山水文化与城市文化共生、大众文化与精英文化互动、传统文化与现代文化聚汇是江苏人居发展的显著特色，也是江苏作为传统人居天堂的内在竞争力。六朝古都南京、楚汉名城徐州、人间天堂苏州、淮左名都扬州等，正是依托其多元文化内涵，才在中国城市发展史上占据重要一席。

　　Multi-culture is an inner power for the development of cities. In the society with increasing fierce competition, culture is the only core factor that can help to maintain cities’ features and promote their sustainable development.

　　Culture protection and innovation are practical needs for Jiangsu to build habitat environment. At present, cultural competitiveness is transferring into a fundamental driving force to habitat development with economic competitiveness. Jiangsu should continue to promote its excellent historical culture, actively absorb exotic cultural factors and strengthen cultural protection, inheritance, development and innovation, so as to build characteristic habitat garden with multi-culture.

　　Multi-culture is an important feature of Jiangsu’s traditional habitat environment. The blend of exotic culture and regional culture, intergrowth of natural scenic culture and urban culture, interaction of mass culture and elite culture, as well as gathering of traditional culture and modern culture are distinctive features of Jiangsu’s habitat development, and the inner competitiveness of Jiangsu as a traditional habitat heaven. It is relying on such multi-cultural connotation, such as Nanjing—ancient capital of six dynasties, Xuzhou—a famous city in the period of Chu-Han contention, Suzhou—paradise on the earth, and Yangzhou—famous capital in the south of Huaihe River, that Jiangsu holds an important position in the development history of Chinese cities.