In　the　process　of　rapid　urbanisation,　maintaining　urban　water　supplies　and　reducing　flood　risks　are　increasingly　serious　global　problems.　To　address　these　issues,　in　2013,　the　Chinese　government　proposed　a　development　plan　for　＇sponge　cities＇,　which　involves　the　implementation　of　various　water　management　systems　for　natural　storage,　infiltration　and　cleaning　of　water　in　urban　areas.　In　2016,　30　pilot　cities　were　identified.　In　the　work　reported　in　this　paper,　similarities　and　differences　between　the　concept　of　sponge　cities　in　China　and　overseas　rainwater　management　systems　were　determined,　considering　that　China　could　draw　lessons　from　the　latter.　The　construction　characteristics　of　the　pilot　cities　were　analysed　with　regard　to　the　different　implementation　measures　in　semi-arid,　semi-humid　and　humid　climatic　zones　to　provide　a　reference　for　the　selection　of　construction　measures　in　different　cities.　Taking　Xiamen　as　a　case　study,　this　study　analysed　whether　the　selection　methods　of　annual　runoff　and　pollution　control　in　Xiamen　would　be　sufficient　to　meet　the　implementation　goals　of　sponge　cities.　The　results　showed　that　China＇s　sponge　city　approach　can　effectively　control　urban　rainfall-runoff　and　reduce　runoff　contaminants,　although　the　plan　should　continually　consider　and　adapt　methods　developed　elsewhere.