Abstract: From the point of ecological view, the theory of sustainable development (SD) has been discussed. The developing course, the connotation and the perspectives of SD have been analyzed.It has been concluded that:(1)it is the ecological crisis coming from the over stressed economic development, the over using of natural resources, and the uncontrolled destroying of natural environment by human beings that promoted the emerging of SD; (2) the ecological principles such as holism, harmony, ecosystem, suitability, stability, ordering, circulation and regulation are the theoretical bases of SD;(3) ecological engineering which includes eco planning, eco technology and eco management in a broad sense is an effective approach for realizing sustainable development.

Key words: ecological crisis, sustainable development, social-economic-natural complex ecosystem (SENCE), ecological engineering