A new style of urbanization in China: Transformation of urban rural communities

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and urban expansion have produced a large number of urban rural communities in China, of which two typical paradigms are urban fringe villages (Chengbiancun) and urban villages (Chengzhongcun). This urbanized rural community usually is an informal settlement with low-quality housing, and lack of planning regulation adjacent to or merged into urban boundary. Meanwhile, Chengbiancun is transforming with traditional rural social and economic characteristics. In the absence of planning guideline, the evolution of Chengbiancun lies in aggressive demolition to face rapid social–economic transition. The demolition-rebuilt mode would no longer be the cost-effective solution for urbanized rural communities in China, but alternative responses under culture-driven creativity advocated by post-productivism would produce a positive regeneration strategy in the new urbanization era. This study attempts to discover a new urban rural relationship driven by culture creativity linking to the filed practice in two Chengbiancun cases in China. On the interaction of a new style of urbanization and post-productivism for Chengbiancun transition, this paper examines how these Chengbiancun are being transformed in the new agenda of urbanization in China since 2014. More importantly, the findings from the two cases in this paper illustrate how culture creativity, public participatory, local authorities, and community planning can eventually assist an outcome of more satisfactory in this urban rural transition movement.