Embedding place attachment: Residents’ lived experiences of urban regeneration in Zhuanghe, China

Abstract

Urban regeneration has become a popular programme for revitalising decaying urban neighbourhoods. While research on urban regeneration abounds, little is known about its association with place attachment in a developing country context. This paper examines the lived experiences of urban regeneration and place attachment in Zhuanghe, a neighbourhood undergoing government-led regeneration in China. Using a case study approach, involving in-depth interviews, this paper addresses two key research questions: (i) how do residents develop place attachment in Zhuanghe? and (ii) What are the effects of urban regeneration on the three-dimensional attachments at the pre-relocation stage? Findings indicate that residents' feelings mostly expressed ambivalence. While residents have a strong place attachment to their community, they still have intentions to move out to make way for the regeneration programme, and fear losing their social networks and ties. This article advocates for an alternative approach to improving living conditions of residents. With in-situ relocation or relocating residents to a nearby neighbourhood, urban regeneration may reduce the disruptive impacts of the massive, monetised resettlement approach on residents’ place attachment.