In urban planning and design, better development and utilization of historical and cultural heritage (especially intangible cultural heritage) can add new vitality to urban development. York by Britain, Japan's Kyoto, our country of Dali in yunnan province and hainan province haikou and other four cases at home and abroad comparative analysis shows that the conservation and utilization of historical and cultural heritage is one of the core issues in the process of urban Renaissance, the material culture heritage is a "form", non-material cultural heritage is a "god", need to integrate the traditional "form" to the innovation of "god". In the process of urban renewal, only by properly protecting and utilizing historical and cultural heritages and giving new impetus to historical and cultural heritages, can the development of cities be "long standing" and the healthy growth of cities along the road of sustainable development.