China City Planning Review (No.2, 2012)

♦Study on Implementation of Urban-Rural Land Linking Policy from Perspective of Urbanization 

Author: CHEN Ke 

Abstract: China launched the policy of linking the increase in urban development land with the decrease in rural development land① in 2003. The paper focuses on two typical paths for implementation of the policy, i.e., exchanging homestead for urban housing, and “double exchanges.” Based on a study on urbanization development, the paper analyzes the institutional innovation in the case of exchanging homestead for house in Huaming Town, as well as the jeopardization of “double exchanges,” before summarizing the applicability of the “urban-rural land linking” policy. At the end, the paper emphasizes that in order to address the problems emerging during various kinds of urbanization, the linking policy should be carried out in accordance with local conditions and circumstances. 

Keywords: linking the increase in urban development land with the decrease in rural development land; policy implementation; urbanization; exchanging homestead for urban housing; “double exchanges”

♦Accommodation of China’s Industrial Heritage in Urban Conservation Practices (II) 

Author: Peter G. Rowe, Har Ye Kan

Abstract: In recent years, the conservation of industrial heritage in China has gained increasing attention within the broader context of urban conservation practices. For both policy-makers and scholars, accommodating this industrial heritage will emerge as a pertinent issue for consideration as a growing number of industrial architectural legacies dating from the Republican and Maoist eras come under (re)development pressures. This paper thus traces the development of industrial heritage conservation practices in China and discusses several dilemmas intrinsic to this type of conservation, including issues of authenticity, representativeness, and distinction. Based on comparative case studies from China and other international precedents, this paper also seeks to illustrate the different approaches that could be pursued while still attaining a balance between competing interests and claims. Keywords: industrial heritage; urban conservation; adaptive reuse; comparative international conservation practices

♦A Sustainable Funding and Financing Strategy for Urban Infrastructure Renewal in China 

Author: Richard G. Little

Abstract: In a relatively short time, many of China’s cities have become major industrial, shipping, and financial hubs. To support this unprecedented growth and economic development, China has invested enormous sums to provide transportation, power, communications, sanitation, and other basic infrastructures. Although much of this investment has been in newer urban districts, old districts within existing cities still add value to the economy and are often repositories of China’s considerable cultural heritage. Maintaining compatibility between the old and the new is always challenging but the renewal of older infrastructure systems often lags behind due to a shortage of capital and difficulties in raising sufficient revenue to support replacement and upgrading of basic systems. This paper will examine the range of funding and financing options that are in use throughout the world to see what mix of public and private approaches might be most suitable for Chinese cities to adopt as part of a funding and financing strategy that will support enduring and sustainable renewal and redevelopment of older urban districts. 

Keywords: urbanization; infrastructure; financing tools

♦Planning, Investment, Construction and Operation of Rail Transit in Beijing 

Author: LIU Jian, ZUO Xiaoxuan

Abstract: In Beijing, the rail transit firstly came into existence in the mid 1960s and was officially put into operation for civil use in the early 1980s. It has entered a period of rapid development since 2001, with thanks to the coming of the Olympic Games in 2008, and has been playing a more and more important role in the passenger transport of Beijing since then on, as a key part of the public transportation. Based on a resume on the evolution of rail transit development in Beijing, this paper analyzes the mechanism of policy-making, the mode of investment and financing, the procedure of construction, and the management of operation of rail transit, all of which ensure its rapid development and effective performance. Keywords: Beijing; rail transit development; decision-making

♦Financing Rail Rapid Transit System: A Comparison Between Chicago and Shanghai 

Author: ZHOU Jiangping

Abstract: Detailed financial information of a rail rapid line project is often unavailable to the general public until a project has been completed for a couple of years and even for decades. This is especially true in the Chinese context. Based on available information, this paper compares four aspects of the financing of two rail rapid lines that were built almost simultaneously in Shanghai of China and Chicago of the US. The author finds: first, the central governments had the greatest impact on the capital investment in both lines; second, the formation of transit and financial plans in two cities both involved complicated political processes which were shaped by certain political figures and unforeseeable events; third, in the longer term, it was more expensive to maintain a rail rapid line than to build a new line in both countries; and finally, mainly depending on foreign loans and bonds, Shanghai faced greater challenge in offsetting the financial deficit. But this situation was improved as the Shanghai rail rapid system expanded and matured. Keywords: Shanghai; Chicago; Rail Rapid Transit; Financing

♦Study on Spatial Spillover Effects of Infrastructures Investment: A Case Study on Cities along ShanghaiKunming Railway Line 

Author: YIN Yinpin, WANG Haibin

Abstract: Using the economic development of regions and cities along the Shanghai-Kunming railway line as an example, the paper carries out an empirical study on the spatial spillover effects of infrastructure investment in China. It has been found that the infrastructure investment along Shang-Kunming line not only produces positive spatial spillover effects, such as promoting the region’s transportation capacity, expanding trading volume, adjusting industrial structure, and facilitating economic development, but also leads to certain negative spatial spillover effects like unbalanced flow of production elements among the region, and unbalanced economic growth. 

Keywords: infrastructure investment; Shanghai-Kunming railway line; regional economy; spatial spillover effect

♦Comparative Study on Urban Planning Inspection System in the UK and China 

Author: TANG Hongyuan

Abstract: The urban-rural planning inspector system of China is hierarchical supervision over local governments from the Central Government in respect of town and country development. The comparative analysis on planning inspection system of the UK may provide experience in seeking solutions to the problems occurring in the system of China. The planning inspector system of China can be improved in six aspects such as establishing the legal status, setting up the planning inspection agency, completing the personnel management system, enhancing the legal binding force, building the internal and external supervision channel, supplementing the relieve function, and establishing the coordination mechanism of various internal supervisions. 

Keywords: planning inspection; hierarchical supervision; town and country planning

♦Evolution of Macao’s Urban Spatial Morphology and Its Influencing Factors 

Author: YUAN Zhuangbing

Abstract: After more than 450 years’ development, Macao has evolved into a world heritage city and world tourism and leisure city from a traditional Chinese fishing village. Its urban spatial morphology has gone through six stages. Based on the analysis of the historic events in Macao at different stages, this paper elaborates the process, characteristics, and influencing factors of the urban spatial morphology evolution. 

Keywords: urban spatial morphology; evolution; great events; Macao