A benign urban eco-environment is an indicator of developed economy and civilization of a society. It has, therefore, become a primary task of the contemporary society to strengthen construction of the eco-environment of cities and attach great importance to sustainable development of cities. Based on elaboration of the status of urban development and protection of eco-environment, corresponding strategies and countermeasures were brought forth. With the environment pollution in the economic zones in the southeast coastal region and Nanjing as examples for case study, approaches to protection of urban eco-environment and realization of sustainable development of urban economy were explored.