New urban and economic development are transforming the fundamental nature and structure of China's cities. The distinctive patterns wrought by overlaying socialist ideals on the pre-1949 city are giving way to new forms reflecting the country's dynamic economic, social and political conditions. This article provides an analysis of the patterns and processes of change in urban form in contemporary Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Analysis of these rapidly changing cities highlights both the regional variation in urban development in China and the emergence of common trends in development and form. The article focuses on patterns of land-use specialisation, circulation and building height, and processes of planning, urban renewal and privatisation of the real estate market.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Andrusz, G., Harloe, M. and Szelenyi, I. (Eds) (1996) Cities After Socialism: Urban and Regional Change and Conflict in Post-Socialist Societies. Oxford: Blackwell.
2.
Atash, F. and Wang, X. (1990) Satellite town development in Shanghai, China: an overview, The Journal of Architectural and Planning Research , 7, pp. 245-257.
3.
Bater, J. (1980) The Soviet City: Ideal and Reality. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
(BSJTN) Beijing Shi Shehui Jingji Tongji Nianjian [Beijing City Social, Economic and Statistical Yearbook] (1986) Beijing: Zhongguo Tongji Chubanshe.
6.
(BSJTN) Beijing Shi Shehui Jingji Tongji Nianjian [Beijing City Social, Economic and Statistical Yearbook] (1990) Beijing: Zhongguo Tongji Chubanshe.
7.
Chen, D.Q. (1994) Yangcheng meihua gongzuo [work on the beautification of Yangcheng], Yangcheng Wanbao, 27 August.
8.
Dai, F. (Ed.) (1993) Guangzhou Shizhi: Chengshi Guihuazhi [Annals of Guangzhou: Records of Urban Planning] . Guangzhou: Guangzhou Chengshi Guihuaju.
9.
Duan, B. R. (Ed.) (1989) Beijingshi Gaige Shinian 1979-1989 [Ten Years of Beijing's Transformation 1979-1989] . Beijing: Beijing Chubanshe .
10.
En, Q. ( 1990) Acting in a way that defeats one's own purpose: bicycles act city transportation's leading role, Changjiang Kaifa Bao, 16 November. Reprinted in Zhongguo Renmin Daxue Fuyin Baokan Ciliao [ Reproductions of Journal Articles, People's University of China], December 1990, pp. 61-62.
11.
Ensminger, M.E. and Ensminger, A. (1973) China-the Impossible Dream. Clovis, CA: Agriservices Foundation.
12.
Fan, R.L. (1994) The planning and construction of the new CBD, Guangzhou Urban Planning Review, 1, pp. 9-12.
13.
French, R. A. and Hamilton, F. E. I. (Eds) (1979) The Socialist City: Spatial Structure and Urban Policy. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
14.
Gang, Z. (1994) Get motor running, heading for traffic jam, Business Weekly, 19-24 June, p. 9.
15.
Gaubatz, P. (1995a) Changing Beijing, TheGeographical Review, 85, pp. 79-96.
16.
Gaubatz, P. (1995b) Urban transformation in post-Mao China: impacts of the reform era on China's urban form, in: D. Davis, ET AL. (Eds) Urban Spaces in Contemporary China , pp. 28-60. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
17.
Guangzhou Jiaotong Youdian Zhi [Records of Transport and Postal Communications in Guangzhou] (1993) Guangzhou: Guangzhou Renmin Chubanshe.
18.
(GZRB) Guangzhou Ribao [The Guangzhou Daily News] (1994a) Chengshi zongti guihua diaocha [An investigation of the Comprehensive Urban Plan], Part 2, 12 August.
19.
(GZRB) Guangzhou Ribao [The Guangzhou Daily News] (1994b) Chengshi zongti guihua diaocha [An investigation of the Comprehensive Urban Plan], Part 13, 29 September.
20.
Hodder, R. (1996) Industrial location, in: Y. M.Yeung and Y. W. Sung (Eds) Shanghai, Transformation and Modernization under China's Open Policy , pp. 225-248. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press .
21.
Hsu, M.L. (1996) China's urban development: a case study of Luoyang and Guiyang, UrbanStudies, 33, pp. 895-910.
22.
Hu, H.Y. (1993) Chengshi— Kongjian—Fazhan: Guangzhou Chengshi Neibu Kongjian Fenxi [City—Space—Development: An Analysis of Guangzhou's Urban Space]Guangzhou: Zhongshan Daxue Chubanshe.
23.
HuA, J. M. (Ed.) (1993) Jiushiniandai Shanghai Sheci Huanjing [Shanghai's Investment Environment in the 90s]Shanghai: Shanghai Tongjiju.
24.
Huang, J., Guang, C.C. and Shi, J. (1989) Yitiao gaijian jiucheng de xinluzi [A new path for transforming the old city], Beijing Guihua Jianshe, 2, pp. 21-23.
25.
Leaf, M. (Ed.) (1993) Inner City Neighborhood Development: Proceedings of an International Workshop . Vancouver: Center for Human Settlements, School of Community and Regional Planning, the University of British Columbia .
26.
Liao, K.Y. (1993) Huobao de Guangzhou fangdichan shichang [The boom in the Guangzhou real estate market], Pearl River Delta Economy , 4, pp. 27-29.
27.
Liu, Z.P. (1990) Zhongguo Jianzhu Jianshe [A Brief History of Chinese Residential Architecture]. Beijing: Zhongguo Jianzhu Gongye Chubanshe.
28.
Lo, C.P. (1994) Economic reforms and socialist city structure: a case study of Guangzhou, China, Urban Geography, 15, pp. 128-149.
29.
Long, X. M. (Ed.) (1992) Bejing shiyong ziliao daquan 1992 [A compendium of information on Beijing 1992]. Beijing: Beijing Renmin Guangbuo Diantai Pian.
30.
Ning, Y. and Yan, Z. (1995) The changing industrial and spatial structure in Shanghai, Urban Geography, 16, pp. 577-594.
31.
Shanghaishi Fangdichan Shichang '93 [Shanghai Real Estate Market '93]. (1993) Office of the Shanghai Municipal Committee for Land Use Reform, Municipal Statistical Bureau of Shanghai. Shanghai: China Statistical Publishing House.
32.
Sit, V. (1995) Beijing: the Nature and Planning of a Chinese Capital City. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
33.
Smith, D.M. (1996) The Socialist City, in: G. Andrusz, M. Harloe and I. Szelenyi (Eds) Cities After Socialism: Urban and Regional Change and Conflict in Post-Socialist Societies, pp. 70-99. Oxford: Blackwell.
34.
Song, P. K. (Ed.) (1994) Chengshi Jianshe Shuju Shouce [Handbook of Urban Development Data]. Tianjin: Tianjin Daxue Chubanshe.
35.
Spnaa (Shanghai Pudong New Area Administration) ( 1993) Shanghai Pudong New Area Handbook. Shanghai: Shanghai Far East Publishers.
36.
Statistical Bureau Of Shanghai (1986) Shanghai Tongji Nianjian 1986 [Shanghai Statistical Yearbook 1986] . Beijing: Zhongguo Tongji Chubanshe .
37.
Statistical Bureau Of Shanghai (1993) Shanghai Tongji Nianjian 1993 [Shanghai Statistical Yearbook 1993] . Beijing: Zhongguo Tongji Chubanshe .
38.
Tongji University Architecture Department and Shanghai Municipal Planning Bureau (1991) Shanghai Lishi Wenhua Mingcheng Baohu Guihua Yanjiu Tupian [Atlas of Planning for the Preservation of Shanghai as a Famous Historical City]. Shanghai: Shanghai Municipal Planning Bureau.
39.
Wang, Y.P. and Murie, A. (1996) The process of commercialisation of urban housing in China UrbanStudies, 33, pp. 971-989.
40.
Wei, Q.Q. and Qiu, J.H. (1993) Urban redevelopment in Jinhua St, Guangzhou, in: M. Leaf (Ed.) Inner City Neighborhood Development: Proceedings of an International Workshop , pp. 52, 65. Vancouver: Center for Human Settlements, School of Community and Regional Planning, the University of British Columbia.
41.
Wu, J. (1992) Beijing gongye buzhu fazhan gaikuang ji cun zai wenti [A survey and problems in the development of Beijing's industrial layout], Beijing City Planning and Construction Review, February, pp. 44-47.
42.
Wu, L.Y. (1990) A probe into the organic renewal of urban cells and the new type court-yard house, ChinaCity Planning Review , 6(2), pp. 3-23.
43.
Wu, W.N. (1994) Will cars push bikes off Chinese roads?, China Daily, 5 December, p. 4. (Ycwb)Yangcheng Wanbao [Ram City Evening News], (1994) Haizhu: Guangzhou mingri zhi qu (Haizhu - a Guangzhou district for tomorrow), 9 September.
44.
Yeh, A.G. and Wu, F. (1995) Internal structure of Chinese cities in the midst of economic reform, Urban Geography, 16, pp. 521-554.
45.
Yeung, Y. M. and Sung, Y. W. (Eds.) (1996) Shanghai, Transformation and Modernization under China's Open Policy. Hong Kong : The Chinese University Press.
46.
Yu, M.F. (1993) A Puzzle in the renovation of the old residential areas in Shanghai, in: M. Leaf (Ed.) Inner City Neighborhood Development: Proceedings of an International Workshop, pp. 76-84. Vancouver: Center for Human Settlements, School of Community and Regional Planning, the University of British Columbia.
47.
Yusuf, S. and Wu, W. (1997) The Dynamics of Urban Growth in Three Chinese Cities . New York: Oxford University Press .
48.
Zhao, S.Y., Rouphail, M. and Paaswell, R.E. (1987) Urban transportation in the People's Republic of China, ITE Journal, 57(3), pp. 26-27.
49.
Zhu, X.J. (1993) An opportunity for the renewal of the old city: land leases in the renewal of Shanghai's old residential districts, in: M. Leaf (Ed.) Inner City Neighborhood Development: Proceedings of an International Workshop , pp. 66-75. Vancouver: Center for Human Settlements, School of Community and Regional Planning, the University of British Columbia.
