Combining literature data with planning practices in some cities, this paper preliminarily compared the differences and relation between water-ecological civilization city(WECC)and sponge city(SC). Study results indicate that although there are some overlapping natures between them, their technology origins, basic connotation, construction content and methodology are apparently different. WECC Lays emphasis on the overall harmony and coordination between the urban human and water, its diverse service objectives and comprehensiveness of construction content are obviously beyond the scope of SC, which concentrates on urban rainstorm integrated management, the core of which carries out rainsrom mangement and low impact throughout urban planning and development, constructs a comprehensive urban rainwater wastewater system. SC can be viewed as an important part of WECC. However, SC refines and deepens urban rainstorm management. To effectively promote systematically solving urban water problems in China, WECC should adequately absorb experiences and achievements of SC.