The Status and Development of Informal Housing in Guangzhou Urban Villages

Abstract

Amid rapid urbanization, the housing market must be more robust to provide housing for vulnerable groups. In China, informal housing, represented by urban villages, provides a large amount of living space and alleviates the emergence of urban poverty and slums. However, due to the social and environmental problems of urban villages, there are certain contradictions with the sustainable development of cities. This paper takes Guangzhou as an example, looking at the trajectory and underlying mechanisms of informal housing growth in urban villages utilizing field surveys and questionnaire interviews. The study extracts the current housing conditions and development concerns in urban villages and tries to unearth the economic and social issues behind urbanization. In addition, this study discusses the inclusive development strategy of informal housing in urban villages from three aspects: the improvement of affordable housing, the protection of migrant populations' rights and interests, and the renovation and renewal of urban, which offer insight into managing informal housing and supporting sustainable development in developing countries.