China City Planning Review (No.1, 2016)

♦China National Scenic Area and Its Planning Characteristics

Author: Jia Jianzhong, Deng Wugong

Abstract: Thirty years since the foundation of China’s scenic area system, a comparatively comprehensive structural system, legal system, and management system have been established in this field, which has protected precious landscape resources and made remarkable achievements. The planning of scenic areas has its own attributes and technical characteristics, which attaches great importance to establishing a functional structure that combines the three systems of sightseeing, tourism services, and social management of local residents. Moreover, with the development of scenic areas, the planning will lay more emphasis on the connection between different levels, give full play to the comprehensive function of scenic areas, pay attention to the research on village and town planning within the area, and learn from the experience of national parks in foreign countries.

Keywords: scenic area; planning; protection; development

♦Targets and Ways for Humanizing Urban Transportation: The North American Experience Enlightenment for Beijing

Author: Li Chi, Wang Zhuo, Wu Peiyang

Abstract: The disadvantages of automobile-oriented urban transportation continue to appear in today’s world and the concept of humanizing urban transportation is getting more and more attention. This paper firstly argues that unitary transportation mode and low traffic operation efficiency are two main urban traffic problems in Beijing and emphasizes that the target for humanizing its urban transportation is to ensure its high efficiency, safety, comfort, and ecology. The paper then summarizes the successful experiences of many cities in North America, such as a reasonable transportation network planning, multi-side participation in travel demand management (TDM), and humanizing the transportation environment. Finally, the paper proposes some development strategies for humanizing the urban transportation of Beijing from the perspectives of development mode and layout, public transportation, and non-motorized traffic, at both planning and practice levels.

Keywords: humanizing urban transportation; network planning; demand management; implementation strategy

♦Influence of Rural Land Institutional Reform on Urbanization During the 13th Five-Year Plan Period: A Case Study of Jiangsu Province

Author: Chen Xiaohui

Abstract: The rural land institutions have confined the process of China’s urbanization for a long time. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the Chinese government will push forward a new round of rural land institutional reform, so as to promote the restructuring of current rural land use pattern, change related elements concerning urbanization, and realize the transformation of the urbanization mode. Taking Jiangsu Province, a comprehensive pilot site of new urbanization at the provincial level in China, as an example, the paper summarizes the practical experience of rural land institutional reform in Jiangsu during recent years. Further, through analyzing the influence of rural land institutional reform on the urbanization process of Jiangsu Province during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the paper puts forward some policy measures, with the hope of providing a lasting impetus for the new urbanization in Jiangsu Province as well as a reference for other provinces in China.

Keywords: rural land institutional reform; new urbanization; integration of urban and rural development; urbanization mode

♦Rural Transformation and Planning Tactics in the 13th Five-Year Plan Period

Author: Luo Xiaolong, Xu Xiao

Abstract: Rural development has long been the focus of China’s central and local governments. Since the late 2000s, rural areas have presented new transformation features and development trends. To stimulate rural transformation and development in the 13th Five-Year Plan period, this paper reviews major ideas on rural development in related disciplines. This study also summarizes main rural transformation features, including the aging population, hollow villages, changes in the allocation of land resource, semi-urbanization, and regional differences in rural development. Finally, it also provides suggestions for planning tactics in the 13th Five-Year Plan period, such as making differentiated rural development strategies, exploring new methods to stimulate rural stock land planning and use, and enforcing relevant policy and management reforms.

Keywords: rural areas; transformation; planning tactics; the 13th Five-Year Plan period

♦Comparison of Elementary Educational Facility Allocation Patterns and Planning Strategies in Rural Areas: Case Studies of Central and Eastern China

Author: Zhao Min, Shao Lin, Li Wei

Abstract: Elementary educational facilities are one of the essential public service facilities in rural China. Based on case studies of two county-level cities in central and eastern China, this paper explores issues regarding a rational allocation of elementary educational facilities in rural areas, including different allocation patterns and effects, and rural residents’ views on elementary educational facilities, as well as their preference when choosing schools. This paper, on the basis of empirical studies, concludes that relevant policies and planning strategies should be adjusted in accordance with the general trends of rural population being decreasing continuously and the student pool concentrating toward towns, so as to achieve an efficient and fair allocation of elementary educational facilities.

Keywords: rural development; elementary educational facilities; allocation pattern; planning strategy

♦From Prosperity to Disappearance: Social and Spatial Transformation of Shuangqiao Village in the City of Ningbo, China

Author: Lin Xiongbin

Abstract: In the process of gradual transitioning from a planned economy to a market economy, villages in China have experienced dramatic social and spatial transformation. However, among the abundant literature of the formation and regeneration strategies of urban villages, few of them are on the complete life cycle of an urban village. In order to provide a case for better understanding the social and spatial transformation in China’s urban villages, with the help of fieldwork and government statistics, this paper examines the social and spatial dynamics of the Shuangqiao Village in China’s Ningbo City. The study includes its prosperity, resulting from studentification, and its disappearance, stemming from urban regeneration, both from a perspective of a complete life cycle analysis. In light of this case study, the paper in the end proposes possible planning measures for urban regeneration.

Keywords: social-spatial dynamics; urban regeneration; urban village; Ningbo City

♦Spatio-Temporal Changes of Urban Population and Urban Construction Land in China

Autho: Qie Ruiqing

Abstract: This paper first analyzes the general development trend and regional patterns of urban population and urban construction land in China from 1981 to 2009. Then it conducts a quantitative analysis on the coupling state between the growth rate of urban construction land and the urban population growth rate. Considering the status quo of urban development, it proposes that China should maximally optimize the allocation of land resources during the process of urban construction, so as to lessen the conflicts between the supply and demand of construction land.

Keywords: urban construction land; urban population; land use; China

♦Urban Development of Macao: Challenges and Opportunities

Author: Roger C. K. Chan

Abstract: This paper reviews the socio-economic development and the spatial evolution patterns of Macao. It argues that urbanization and intense land development have posed three challenges to Macao’s future development pathway, namely, limited provision of resource, lack of diversification of industries, and incomplete planning legislation. The General Agreement on the Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao signed in 2003 represents a strong policy incentive that offered a comprehensive institutional framework to promote economic integration. The Agreement is conducive to achieving economic development through proposing dynamic and diversified economic activities, which will also benefit tourism. The development of Hengqin will serve as a test bed for furthering the implementation of “one country, two systems” constitutional principle, which will also improve the existing regional cooperation mechanisms. A comprehensive urban planning system should be established to avoid marginalization in regional development. Better reallocation of resources and prevention of over-competition in the market are two critical components in achieving sustainable development of Macao.

Keywords: planning; regional integration; Macao