China City Planning Review (No.3, 2012)

♦Current Situation, Problems and Countermeasures of World Heritage Protection in China 

Author: LI Rusheng 

Abstract: The development of World Heritage protection in China can be characterized by four facts, which are the increasing number, the domination of cultural heritages, the uneven spatial distribution, and the abundant candidate reserve for nomination. Currently, the problems of the dislocation of understanding, the absence of planning, the disorder of management, the lack of relevant institutions still exist in the field of World Heritage protection, aiming at which, the author puts forward some countermeasures, such as completing legislation system, carrying out scientific planning, implementing hierarchical and assorted administration, strengthening supervision, increasing investments, and enhancing propaganda and education. 

Keywords: World Heritage; problem; countermeasure

♦Transition of Development Modes of Residential Areas in Shanghai 

Author: YU Qi 

Abstract: This paper studies the transition of development modes of residential areas in Shanghai in the last 30 years. It focuses on four major development modes, which are government-controlled development, government-guided development, enterprise-oriented development, and foreign investment-oriented development, as well as their impacts on Shanghai’s urban morphology. 

Keywords: transitional period; Shanghai; residential area; development mode

♦Study Review on Urban Village and Related Planning Policy Suggestion 

Author: PAN Conglin,WEI Yaping

Abstract: The paper summarizes the studies on urban village (chengzhongcun) in domestic and abroad from four perspectives including the concepts and definitions, the formation mechanism, the value orientations, and the renovation and reform strategies. Based on the summary, the paper states that a neutralized value orientation should be the logical starting point of analysis on urban village; the formation of urban village should be interpreted within the framework of “institution-action;” and the strategy of community management of urban village should be made from the angle of constructing city low-grade community and the restrictions of current institutions and various practical conditions. 

Keywords: urban village (chengzhongcun); review; low-grade community; public policy

♦Urban Village Renovation Planning from the Perspective of Human Settlements Theory: A Case Study on Wuhan 

Author: CHEN Shuang, ZHAO Wanmin, HU Sirun

Abstract: Based on the analysis on the characteristics of human settlement of urban villages in Wuhan, the paper examines the special urban social functions of urban villages during their self-evolution process. The totally market-led mode of urban village renovation has neglected existing positive social effects and failed to provide fair development opportunities for disadvantaged groups, and it will hinder the construction of a diversified and vigorous urban socio-ecological environment. In view of the situation, the paper suggests that in order to meet the urban sociospatial demands during the specific period of social transition, measures should be adopted to re-examine and adjust the strategies and planning techniques concerning market-led urban village renovation with the improvement of sustainable human settlement as the goal. 

Keywords: urban village; human settlement; complex system; social function; Wuhan

♦Characteristics and Causes of the Spatial Evolution of Urban Villages: A Case Study of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone 

Author: TONG De, FENG Changchun, DENG Jinjie

Abstract: Studies on the renovation and governance of urban villages have become the interest of human geography since the 1990s. However up to now, there is little literature focusing on the development patterns and dynamic mechanism of the spatial evolution of urban villages based on the theoretical system of urban spatial structure, and there are few scholars doing analyses on the relationship between urban villages and general urban areas in terms of spatial development. In this paper, Shenzhen, the most representative city of China in terms of urban village development, is taken as a case for exploring the characteristics and modes of the spatial evolution of urban villages. With census data of urban village construction in 1999 and 2004 in terms of built-up area, floor area, and construction intensity, the spatial and temporal evolution of the 91 administrative urban villages in the original Shenzhen Special Economic Zone have been analyzed in comparison with that of Shenzhen’s general urban areas. It is indicated that the spatial evolution of urban villages matches with the general rules of the spatial development of general urban areas in three aspects. First, land expansion is the most remarkable mode of spatial evolution in the early stage of development; second, in the period of rapid development, there is the obvious tendency of “distance-decay” in terms of construction intensity accompanied by some anomalous fluctuations at certain points; third, renewal and redevelopment are carried out gradually in the mature stage of development. However, because of historical and institutional restrictions, the spatial evolution of urban villages shows its unique characteristics in the aspects of original spatial distribution and spatial expansion mode in the period of rapid development, etc. The outcomes of this study would help not only enrich the theoretical study on the evolution mode of urban spatial structure, but also strengthen the administration over urban villages, in particular with the suggestions that the spatial evolution of urban villages as a type of urban space should not be the same as that of general urban areas and its unique characteristics should not be ignored; specific rules should be set up to guide the rational spatial evolution of urban villages according to the economic development of the city, as well as the housing demands of various kinds of residents. Keywords: urban village; spatial form; evolution characteristics; Shenzhen Special Economic Zone

♦Theory and Countermeasures on Stakeholder Governance in Redevelopment of Urban Villages 

Author: ZHENG Wenjuan, JIA Shenghua, TIAN Chuanhao

Abstract: While urban villages are combinations of interests of different stakeholders, the redevelopment of urban villages is the benefit rearrangement among these stakeholders, whose target is to create values for all stakeholders and the society effectively. The principle of urban village redevelopment is to meet the multiple requirements of all stakeholders and balance the benefits of the dynamic environment. This paper discusses the utilization of theory of stakeholder governance amid urban village redevelopment. It proposes a “four in one” benefit coordination mechanism from the view of city planning. Some valuable policy suggestions on that are also put forward at last. 

Keywords: urban villages; urban village redevelopment; stakeholder; conflict of interests; principle of balance

♦Old-age Care Modes and Facility Planning Based on the Concept of “Continuum of Care” 

Author: LYANG Jianjun, TANG Jingjie, TANG Yan

Abstract: Through the comparative analysis on the theories and practical experience of the development of old-age care (OAC) in both China and other countries, and based on the interview and questionnaire survey in Zhejiang Province and Hangzhou City, this paper proposes the research and analysis framework for the old-age service system, i.e., “OAC mode – OAC service system – OAC facility system.” The paper argues that, oriented by OAC mode of “taking community- and home-based care as the main body and institution-based care as supplement,” China should build an OAC facility system and planning thoughts that take “continuum of care” as concept and long-term care system as core. Taking Zhejiang Province and Hangzhou City as examples, the paper conducts the optimization research on current OAC facilities planning in terms of hierarchical system, scale, and differentiation, so as to formulate more systematic and operable planning standards for OAC facilities. 

Keywords: Old-age care mode; a continuum of care; old-age care facilities; planning standard

♦A New Interpretation in Urban Form of the Wards of Tang Chang’an 

Author: LIANG Jiang, SUN Hui Abstract By comparing the gridiron plans of ancient western cities with that of Tang Chang’an in the same scale, the authors find that a residential ward of Tang Chang’an was about the same size as an ancient western city. Thus the paper puts forward a hypothesis that Tang Chang’an was not a single city, but a cluster of hundreds of small towns with rigid layout. This theory is then proved by comparing a ward of Tang Chang’an with a typical small town in China from the perspectives of town scale, spatial layout, residential density, and land-use. The authors further explain the main cause for this unique urban form of Tang Chang’an, which was the compulsory migration policy. Keywords: Tang Chang’an; ward; scale; urban form