"Urban color" has gradually become one of the hot topics in the field of urban planning in China, and many cities have done research and developed planning practices. On the basis of the comparisons of those cities, numbers and figures show that most of them locate in the eastern part of China. Through the introduction of the Chinese urban planning system and implementation procedure, the authors indicate the status of the urban color plan and analyze the maneuverability of items on color in related laws and regulations. Next, we discuss the reasons of the distribution character with the examples of urban color plan of Yiyuan and architectural facade rebuilt of Guidu Holiday Inn in Suzhou. Finally, the authors point out that under the present Chinese system, urban color planning is the result of the game between urban planners and architects who come out from the rapid boom of urban construction and economy development. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.