New China Square: Chinese public space in developmental, environmental and social contexts

Abstract

ABSTRACT Reconfigured public spaces—particularly those established during the early years of Mao’s China—are significant features in China’s urban core areas. The motivations for maintaining urban public spaces include the desire to foster urban development, to produce environmentally sustainable cities, and to foster a healthy society. This article explores the manifestations of these three aspects of Chinese urban change in relation to formal mass-rally squares—arguably the quintessential public spaces of Mao’s China. As a context-setting analysis, it centers on understanding these inter-relating development priorities through a case study of New China (Xinhua) Square in Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, in its transformation from socialist monument to multi-functional urban center over the past 6 decades.