Four Perspectives on the 'New Phase of Urbanization and Transformation' in China: Challenges and Successes

Seminiar by UKNA Scholars from the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design in Beijing.

Organiser: Urban Knowledge Network Asia - International Institute for Asian Studies,Leiden.

Registration

Everybody is welcome but please register for this seminar using the form below. Feel free to forward this information to anyone who might be interested to join. Entrance free

Programme

15.30 - Introduction to the Urban Knowledge Network Asia (UKNA) by Paul Rabé

15.45 - Planning practice of scenic-tourist town transformation development and nature heritage protection in transition period of China by Gao Fei

16.00 - Urbanisation strategy of China’s western region by LI Hao

16.15 - City Planning Thoughts on the Transformation and Development of the Old Industrial base Cities by WANG Lei

16.30 - The new driving force comes from the transformation of develop mode and resources integration by XU Hui

16.45 - Questions & Answers

17.45 – Drinks at the Brasserie of the Faculty Club

Abstracts

Introduction to the Urban Knowledge Network Asia (UKNA) by Paul Rabé

The Urban Knowledge Network Asia (UKNA) is a European Union funded research project. Part of Marie Curie Actions, this International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) was awarded in 2011 and began in April 2012. It consists of 17 institutes (from the original 13) and more than 100 researchers travelling between Europe, the United States, India and China, all researching the Asian urban environment at doctoral and post-doctoral level.

Planning practice of scenic-tourist town transformation development and nature heritage protection in transition period of China by Gao Fei

After a stage of accelerated industrialization and urbanization, China turns into a new transition and ecological civilization period. The city now focuses more on quality instead of quantity in development, and the industry gradually converts to a higher-value and eco-friendly sector. In this context, scenic-tourist towns are facing opportunities and challenges. In our planning practice of scenic-tourist town, we propose the following perspectives. Firstly, we should properly handle the relationship between conservation and development in tourist town and put emphasis on the value of nature heritage in scenic tourist town. Therefore, scenic-tourist town construction should protect both the natural and cultural attractions, especially the world natural heritages, which are core resources of the town. Secondly, the tourism should be more diverse to form a dynamic tourism system. In this way, the towns can speed up the transformation from the ordinary sightseeing tourism to more advanced leisure and business travel services. At last, the urban form and architectural features of the scenic-tourist town should be characteristic and attractive. Zhangjiajie (in Hunan Province) would be used as a case study.

Urbanisation strategy of China’s western region by LI Hao

China is a mountainous country, and most of mountainous areas lie in its western region. In view of the unique and complex situation of human settlements in the mountainous areas in the west, promoting their healthy development amid China’s rapid urbanization becomes an important factor of the strategy for developing the west. Based on a deep understanding of the significant strategic role of urbanization during the development of China’s western region, this presentation will set out to investigate the characteristics of urbanization in the west from the perspectives of population and demographic growth, the level of urbanization, migration, and so forth, and then moves on to examine the major constraints to urbanization and suggest priorities for coordinated development in terms of protection of the ecological environment, poverty elimination, ethnic prosperity, and border security.

City Planning Thoughts on the Transformation and Development of the Old Industrial base Cities by Wang Lei

Since late 20th century, "Urban Transformation" has gained more attention. China has urbanized rapidly in recent years; meanwhile, the world is facing huge challenges from the changing global climate and the environmental resources pressure. The current urban development pattern is no longer suitable for the new circumstance; And for cities in the Old Industrial Bases, after many years of heavy/mining industry driven development, the "Urban Transformation" problem is practically typical and outstanding. In one word, the cities in the Old Industrial Bases area are generally facing the historical problem of "Urban Transformation". On the basis of sorting out the problems of the cities in the Old Industrial Bases, this study is to explore the development path for the Old Industrial Bases regarding industry, ecological environment, social structure, and urban public service.

The new driving force comes from the transformation of develop mode and resources integration by Xu Hui

Chinese government put forward a new stage of development to achieve modernization of national governance systems and governance capacity, so that more and more equitable development results benefit all the people. Meanwhile, the national socio-economic step into improving quality, efficiency, stable period of development. Urban and rural development has enter a consolidation, promotion stage. To build a livable city as the goal, Datong city government accelerate construction of public facilities and urban space, to optimize the urban structure, and improve the city center functions, living conditions, environmental quality and urban landscape. In the rapid construction process in recent years, a lot of controversy arose.

Biographies

Paul Rabé
Paul is a political scientist by training, specialized in urban policy and governance. He received his doctorate in policy, planning and development from the University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy in 2009. He has an MA in urban management from Erasmus University Rotterdam (Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies, 1996) and an MA in international relations from Columbia University’s School for International and Public Affairs (1992). Paul’s doctoral work was on land sharing in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he worked from 2003 to 2007 as an advisor on land, housing and poverty reduction issues at the Municipality of Phnom Penh and the Ministry of Land Management, with various donor programs. Paul presently works as the Coordinator of the Urban Knowledge Network Asia, based at IIAS.  He is also a consultant in urban development, focused on cities in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.  He is based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Gao Fei
Graduated from the Chongqing University of China and received a bachelor’s degree of urban planning and design in 2002. Gao Fei has worked at the China Academy of Urban Planning & Design (CAUPD) for more than 12 years. He has participated in about 30 projects of urban planning in China. Concentrating on urban planning for many years, he pays close attention to many aspects of urban planning and tourism development, not only the planning strategies of scenic-tourist towns and the world heritage site located cities, but also urban design of scenic-tourist towns and scenic areas.

LI Hao
Graduated from the Chongqing University and received a doctor's degree of Urban Planning and design in 2008, engaged in postdoctoral research in Tsinghua University in 2010-2012, and has worked at the China Academy of Urban Planning & Design(CAUPD) from 2009 till now. Major in urban  and regional planning, and research directions including urbanization and planning history of China. He has published more than 60 papers and 5 first-author books in recent years, and involved in a large number of major research projects, including hosting two National Natural Science Foundation of China(51108427;51478439).

Wang Lei
Wang Lei graduated from the Southwest Jiaotong University and received a master’s degree of Urban Planning and design in 2005.He have been working for China Academy of Urban Planning and Design from 2005 till now. He have been engaged in various urban planning projects such as strategic planning, overall urban planning, urban regulatory detailed planning, and urban design. Projects He worked on include "Overall planning of Guangzhou City", "Overall planning of Anshan City", "Overall planning of Beidaihe New Town" and "Concept planning for the east new district and urban design for the commercial cultural center of Wuhu City”,

XU Hui
Graduated from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology and received a master's degree of Tsinghua University. He has worked at CAUPD from 1999 till now, been involved in various (finished over forty) projects. Four times earned MOHURD Award for Urban Planning Projects. In recent years, as a senior urban planner and consultant, he participated in Lao Development Plan Consultation Report and Venezuela Housing Planning Advice of Chinese government’s projects. His current work is mainly in the field of “The optimal allocation of public facilities and urban spaces, especially in the process of urban renewal and urban combination”.