Chinese Cities Research Articles

Chinese cities show different trend toward carbon peak.

Understanding the disparities in carbon emission trend among cities is critical for achieving carbon peak goal. However, the status and trends of carbon peaking and reduction in various city types are still unclear. Therefore, this study classified 315 Chinese cities according to their economic and industrial structure by SOM-K-means, aiming to evaluate the trends and dynamic drivers of carbon peaking progress in different city types. The findings reveal a decline in carbon emissions in 110 cities (34.9 %) since 2020. Notably, all city types show potential for carbon reduction and achieving carbon peaking. Specifically, resource-based cities and high-end service cities have the most effect on reducing emissions, with 48.4 % and 42.1 % of the cities declining in carbon emissions. Energy-based and heavy industrial cities face heightened pressure to reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, in high-end service cities, energy efficiency and investment intensity contribute to emission reduction, while industrial structure adjustment decrease carbon emissions in resource-based cities. Furthermore, enhancing energy efficiency effects and R&D intensity are effective ways to significantly reduce carbon emissions in heavy industrial cities. We conclude that differentiating carbon reduction pathways for different cities should constitute be a breakthrough in achieving the goal of carbon peaking. These insights provide recommendations for cities that have yet to reach their carbon peak for both China and other developing countries.

Hindrance or facilitator? The economic consequences of national demonstration eco-industrial parks in China.

Many countries attach great importance to the green, low-carbon, and circular development of industrial parks. China is one of them and has entered an exploration journey of national demonstration eco-industrial parks (NDEIPs). However, the impact of the transformation of industrial parks into NDEIPs on local economic development still remains a mystery. To address this issue, we develop an empirical study using a combination of the multi-period difference-in-differences method and the propensity score matching method based on the panel data for 266 cities in China from 2001 to 2021. The results show that industrial parks becoming NDEIPs promotes cities' economic development. This conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests, such as the reverse causality test and the placebo test. Moreover, the park heterogeneity tests show that the economic consequences vary according to differences in levels, industry types, life cycle phases, and the degree of foreign firm agglomeration. The city heterogeneity tests show that the economic consequences differ based on administrative levels, innovation capabilities, technology industrialization, and environmental friendliness. The spatial heterogeneity tests show that the economic consequences differ according to geographical location and whether situated in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The policy upgrading heterogeneity tests show that the economic consequences differ during the process of policy upgrading and transformation. In addition, the mechanism tests reveal that green innovation, human capital level, and firm attractiveness mediate the relationship between industrial parks becoming NDEIPs and cities' economic development. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the economic effects of the transformation of industrial parks into NDEIPs, and provides a reference for the government on how to maximize these economic effects.

Study on the Evaluation of Urban Park Landscape Pattern Index and Its Driving Mechanisms in Nanchang City

Urban planning is often influenced by industrial and construction activities, leading to a lack of attention to the planning and construction of urban parks, which results in prominent spatial layout problems. Urban parks, as an important part of the urban green space system, play a significant role in improving the ecological environment, promoting urban economic development, and enhancing the daily living standards of the people. As a typical representative of China’s second and third-tier cities, Nanchang’s analysis of the evolution process of urban landscape patterns has reference significance for other similar cities in China. This paper is based on the theoretical foundations of landscape ecology, human geography, and urban planning, and analyzes the evolution of the park landscape pattern in the central urban area of Nanchang from 1999 to 2019 from the perspective of urban context, revealing the driving mechanisms. It provides important references and bases for the further optimization and construction development of the park landscape pattern in Nanchang. The results show that the park area and number in the central urban area of Nanchang have significantly increased, with the overall layout evolving from “central aggregation” to “core aggregation in each area”, and from “central scarcity, more on the periphery” to “inward concentration, outward diffusion”. However, the distribution of various types of parks is uneven, and there is a lack of green corridor links between parks. The park landscape pattern is driven by multiple factors such as natural factors of urban context, socio-economic factors, urban construction factors, historical policies, and related planning, which can have positive or negative effects. Incorporating relevant urban factors into the park planning system analysis can promote the benign development of urban context and park landscape layout, thereby achieving the “parkification” of the city.

How Does Environmental Protection Tax Affect Urban Energy Consumption in China? New Insights from the Intensity Difference-in-Differences Model

Against the backdrop of accelerating environmental protection and resource conservation, it is of great significance to achieve energy conservation and sustainable growth. In this context, by collecting panel data from 284 cities in China from 2009 to 2021, this paper constructs an intensity difference-in-differences (I-DID) model, using the implementation of China’s environmental protection law in 2018 as an event shock, to explore the impact of environmental protection tax (EPT) on urban energy consumption. The results indicate that EPT significantly reduces urban energy consumption. After several robustness tests, the estimation results shown above still hold. The mechanism test reveals that EPT mainly reduces energy consumption by promoting urban industrial upgrading, economic openness, and technological innovation. In addition, the heterogeneity test shows that EPT has a greater impact on energy consumption in central and western cities, small and medium-sized cities, non-resource-based cities, and non-old industrial bases. Therefore, to fully improve the positive effect of EPT on urban energy consumption, we suggest increasing energy efficiency, promoting the green transformation of energy structures, enhancing the ability to open-up and innovate, and improving a differentiated regional EPT management system.

Evaluating the Impact of Low-Carbon Urban Policy on Corporate Green Innovation—Evidence from China’s National Low-Carbon City Strategy Program

Low-carbon urban policy (LCUP) and corporate green innovation are considered crucial strategies and methods for reducing urban carbon emissions, addressing climate change, and promoting urban environmental sustainability. This study constructed a quasi-natural experiment based on the low-carbon city strategy program implemented in China in 2010, utilizing data from Chinese prefecture-level cities and publicly listed companies from 2005 to 2020. Employing a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) approach, this paper reveals that the establishment of low-carbon model cities effectively fosters green innovation in corporations. Further analysis demonstrates that this promotional effect is particularly significant in non-state-owned enterprises, enterprises with high media attention, those with a high level of digitalization, and enterprises located in cities with high levels of green finance and in the Eastern and Central regions of China. These conclusions withstood a series of robustness tests, confirming their validity. Meanwhile, the examination of policy mechanisms reveals that public environmental awareness, government environmental regulation, and corporate environmental information disclosure are three key policy transmission mechanisms through which LCUP affects corporate green innovation. The findings of this study provide significant empirical insights for addressing climate change and enhancing the sustainable capacity of urban environments.

Does industrial sustainable development policy act as a booster for urban economic growth? Evidence from China's eco‐industrial parks

AbstractEco‐industrial parks (EIPs), which reduce pollution and transform the industrial sector to be more environmentally benign, represent the industrial sustainable development policy. However, little research has concentrated on its economic effects. We explore the impacts of 93 national demonstration EIPs on urban economic development using time‐varying difference‐in‐difference, based on panel data from 330 Chinese cities from 1995 to 2018. We show that EIPs have contributed to an economic growth range between 7.47% and 7.61% in pilot cities, with robustness considering price deflators and alternative satellite data on night lights. Structure, technological, and scale effects help explain the mechanisms. Further estimates show that EIPs have had mixed success in addressing the resource curse, where they only alleviate the curse for growing resource‐based cities. We argue that the industrial sustainable development policy not only conveys significant economic benefits but also holds the potential to address the resource curse.

Impacts of Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy on Urban Land Green Use Efficiency: Evidence from 283 Cities in China

On the global scale, the low-carbon city pilot policy (LCCPP) has important significance for and influence on the study of urban land green use efficiency (ULGUE). Based on the panel data of 283 cities in China from 2007 to 2019, this study uses the super-SBM model, multi-period DID model, spatial econometric model, intermediary effect model, and heterogeneity analysis methods to deeply explore the specific impact mechanism of LCCPP on ULGUE. The results show the following: (1) During the study period, the average ULGUE of the selected samples increased by 11.71 percentage points overall and showed a certain spatial agglomeration effect. (2) LCCPP has a significant promoting effect on the improvement of ULGUE, and there is a positive spatial spillover effect. (3) The impact of LCCPP on ULGUE is mainly achieved through two paths: reducing energy utilization intensity and improving urban innovation level. (4) In cities with different levels of land green use efficiency, geographical location, and resource endowment, there are significant differences in policy effects. This paper puts forward countermeasures and suggestions to comprehensively promote the sustainable development of global cities and the improvement of land green use efficiency.

Digital memory construction in Lijiang

Purpose The ancient town of Lijiang is a representative place of ethnic minorities in China’s southwest border area jointly built by many ethnic groups. Its rich and diversified history, culture and architecture as well as its artistic and spiritual values need to be better retained and explored.Design/methodology/approach The protection and inheritance of Lijiang’s cultural heritage will be improved through the construction of digital memory resources. To guide Lijiang’s digital memory construction, this study explores strategies of digital memory construction by analyzing four case studies of well-known memory projects from China and America.Findings From the case studies analysis, factors of digital memory construction were identified and compared. Factors led to the discussion of strategies for constructing the digital memory of Lijiang within its design, construction and service phases.Originality/value The ancient town of Lijiang is a famous historical and cultural city in China, and it is also a representative place of ethnic minorities in the border area jointly built by many ethnic groups. The rich culture should be preserved and digitalized to offer better use for the whole nation.

Pathways to mitigate household carbon emissions in Chinese cities: Intentions, actions, and environments

Cities represent primary origins of carbon emissions and key spaces to cope with climate change. Low-carbon city pilots (LCP) have carried out three groups to mitigate household carbon emissions in China. There are many difficulties in identifying possible sources and factors of household carbon emissions. This study attempted to construct the analytical framework to examine potential mitigation pathways, which would influence household carbon emissions. Collecting data from urban energy consumption, the difference-in-differences model, a widely utilized quantitative method, is employed to assess the policy effect of LCP on mitigating household carbon emissions in China. Results indicated that: (1) LCP could mitigate household carbon emissions (−7.6%) and per capita household carbon emissions (−8.8%), which passed serious robustness tests. (2) Potential mechanisms, through which LCP mitigate household carbon emissions, were recognized, in terms of subjective intentions, objective actions, and external environments. (3) Policy effects in eastern and central cities were significantly negative.The improvement of energy consumption for winter heating in northern cities could mitigate more household carbon emissions.

Performance Evaluation of Carbon-Neutral Cities Based on Fuzzy AHP and HFS-VIKOR

Climate change threatens human survival and development. Cities, as the main gathering places for human production and life, serve as the focal points for the implementation of the policies related to energy efficiency, energy transition, and environmental protection. This study constructs an index system for the evaluation of carbon-neutral cities from the perspectives of carbon sources and carbon sinks. The system includes thirteen indicators under six dimensions. It combines objective and subjective data (i.e., statistical data and expert evaluations) by integrating two approaches: the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (fuzzy AHP) and vise kriterijumska optimizacija i kompromisno resenje with hesitant fuzzy sets (HFS-VIKOR). We verify the efficacy of the proposed approach through a case study of thirteen low-carbon pilot cities in China. The results indicate that among these cities, Shenzhen performs the best, followed by Guangzhou and Hangzhou, while Kunming, Baoding, and Tianjin show poor performance in terms of carbon neutrality. Kunming and Baoding exhibit shortcomings mainly in carbon sources, while Tianjin faces deficiencies in both carbon sources and carbon sinks. Sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis show the availability and effectiveness of the proposed method. The proposed radar chart further highlights the improvement directions for each city to achieve carbon neutrality.

Trending Time-Varying Coefficient Spatial Panel Data Models

This article investigates the estimation and inference of spatial panel data models in which the regression coefficient vector is a trending function. We use time differences to eliminate the individual effects and employ various GMM estimations for regression coefficients with both linear and quadratic moments. Time trend estimator based on these GMM estimations is also proposed. Monte Carlo experiments show that the finite sample performance of the estimators is satisfactory. As an empirical illustration, we investigate the trending pattern of the spillover effect of air pollution among Chinese cities from 2015 to 2021.

Recycled Excavation Soils as Sustainable Supplementary Cementitious Materials: Kaolinite Content and Performance Implications

In response to the environmental implications of the massive quantities of excavation soil generated by global urbanization and infrastructure development, recent research efforts have explored the repurposing of calcined excavation soils as sustainable supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). As it is still at an early stage, current research lacks systematic analysis across diverse soil deposits regarding their reactivity and mechanical properties within cementitious binders, despite recognized geographical variability in kaolinite content. Through comprehensive experimentation with soils sourced from four major southern Chinese cities, this study presents a pioneering assessment of the compressive strength, pozzolanic reactivity (X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance), and microstructural development (mercury intrusion porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy) of mortars modified by various calcined excavation soils (up to 28 days curing). The experimental data suggest that soils with a kaolinite content above 53.39% produce mortars of equal or superior quality to plain cement mixes, primarily due to their refined pore structures, microstructural densification, and enhanced hydration reactions. The findings highlight kaolinite—specifically, aluminum content—as the principal indicator of excavation soil viability for SCM application, suggesting a promising avenue for sustainable construction practices.

Assessing Traffic Noise and Its Impact on High-Rise Apartment Buildings Adjacent to an Urban Expressway: A Case Study in Chengdu, China

With rapid urbanization, traffic growth has accelerated in some cities in China. Due to strict urban construction land utilization policies, many high-rise apartment buildings have been constructed adjacent to expressways. To better understand the impact of urban traffic noise on the residents of high residential buildings adjacent to expressways and the differences in noise impacts on different floors, on-site noise monitoring and questionnaires for building residents have been conducted. The characteristics of traffic noise were analyzed based on the measured data, and factors, including time periods and building floors, were considered. According to the results of the questionnaire survey, 56.06% of the male respondents and 54.55% of the female respondents think that the impact of traffic noise on high-rise buildings is “high” or “very high”; 50.53% of the respondents who were in “good” or “very good” condition thought that the traffic noise has a “significant impact” or “very significant impact” on their sleep and daily life. In addition, 25% of respondents living on floors 4–10 and 62.5% of respondents living on floors 11–20 considered the traffic noise to have a “significant impact” or “very significant impact” on their sleep and daily life. The on-site noise monitoring results show that the noise levels (LAeq) outside the windows of the studied buildings remain significantly elevated, with daytime noise on working days ranging from 56 to 70 dB(A), and on weekends ranging from 50 to 65 dB(A). During the four time periods on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. to 12 a.m., the average LAeq levels on floors 11–20 are higher than those on floors 4–10 by 4.04 dB(A), 4.92 dB(A), 4.06 dB(A), and 2.67 dB(A), respectively. Similarly, during these time periods on weekends, the levels on floors 11–20 are higher than those on floors 4–10 by 4.96 dB(A), 6.32 dB(A), 5.28 dB(A), and 5.24 dB(A), respectively. This indicates that floors 4–10 of the building experience relatively lower noise levels, while floors 11–20 are subjected to comparatively higher levels of noise disturbance.

Pre-treatment assessment of chemotherapy for cancer patients: a multi-site evidence implementation project of 74 hospitals in China

BackgroundChemotherapy, whilst treating tumours, can also lead to numerous adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting, fatigue and kidney toxicity, threatening the physical and mental health of patients. Simultaneously, misuse of chemotherapeutic drugs can seriously endanger patients' lives. Therefore, to maintain the safety of chemotherapy for cancer patients and to reduce the incidence of adverse reactions to chemotherapy, many guidelines state that a comprehensive assessment of the cancer patient should be conducted and documented before chemotherapy. This recommended procedure, however, has yet to be extensively embraced in Chinese hospitals. As such, this study aimed to standardise the content of pre-chemotherapy assessment for cancer patients in hospitals and to improve nurses' adherence to pre-chemotherapy assessment of cancer patients by conducting a national multi-site evidence implementation in China, hence protecting the safety of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and reducing the incidence of adverse reactions to chemotherapy in patients.MethodsThe national multi-site evidence implementation project was launched by a JBI Centre of Excellence in China and conducted using the JBI approach to evidence implementation. A pre- and post-audit approach was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the project. This project had seven phases: training, planning, baseline audit, evidence implementation, two rounds of follow-up audits (3 and 9 months after evidence implementation, respectively) and sustainability assessment. A live online broadcast allowed all participating hospitals to come together to provide a summary and feedback on the implementation of the project.ResultsSeventy-four hospitals from 32 cities in China participated in the project, four withdrew during the project's implementation, and 70 hospitals completed the project. The pre-and post-audit showed a significant improvement in the compliance rate of nurses performing pre-chemotherapy assessments for cancer patients. Patient satisfaction and chemotherapy safety were also improved through the project's implementation, and the participating nurses' enthusiasm and belief in implementing evidence into practice was increased.ConclusionThe study demonstrated the feasibility of academic centres working with hospitals to promote the dissemination of evidence in clinical practice to accelerate knowledge translation. Further research is needed on the effectiveness of cross-regional and cross-organisational collaborations to facilitate evidence dissemination.

Mapping urban green space of the 36 major cities in China using ZY-3 satellite images based on a feature robust to low-brightness pixels

Abstract. Urban green spaces (UGS), integral to modern urban life, play a pivotal role in shaping ecological, low-carbon, resilient, and livable cities. Understanding the microstructure and macro patterns of UGS is necessary but limited. In this context, we investigated the spatial patterns in the 36 major cities in China using Ziyuan-3 remote sensing images. We used a method for extracting UGS suitable for complex urban environments, and then selected 5 landscape pattern indices such as percent of landscape and patch density to analyse the spatial pattern of UGS in the 36 cities. The results show that: (1) The overall accuracy, recall, F1 value, and intersection over union of the extraction results of UGS were 94.62%, 94.11%, 94.36%, and 89.33% respectively; (2) Overall, the green space rate of the 36 cities exhibited a spatial distribution pattern of “high in the east and low in the west, low in the north and high in the south”; (3) Variations among cities were weak in terms of patch shape, but significant in patch density. The findings of this study cater to the escalating demands of urban planning and management.

The effects of low-carbon city pilot policy on urban land green use efficiency: evidence from 284 cities in China

The effects of low-carbon city pilot policy on urban land green use efficiency: evidence from 284 cities in China

Impact of Low-Carbon City Pilot Policies on Regional Green Total Factor Productivity: A Study

Based on data from 246 prefecture-level cities in China spanning the years 2006 to 2019, this paper employs a multi-temporal double-difference model to empirically examine the effects of low-carbon pilot policies implemented since 2010 on green total factor productivity. Furthermore, the paper conducts a mechanism analysis and heterogeneity analysis to explore the policys impact mechanisms and effects on different regions. The study reveals that low-carbon pilot policies have enhanced Chinas green total factor productivity. Results from the mechanism analysis indicate that these policies increase green total factor productivity by promoting the agglomeration of productive service industries and the innovation of green technologies, with the mechanism test for manufacturing industry agglomeration showing non-significant effects. Heterogeneity analysis results suggest that the impact of low-carbon pilot policies on the improvement of green total factor productivity is significant in Chinas eastern and western regions as well as in non-resource-based cities.

How does digital technology administrative penalty affect big data technology innovation: evidence from China

Administrative regulation is an essential institutional arrangement for governing innovation in big data technology. Administrative penalties are one of its main methods. It is worth investigating whether administrative penalties can serve as an institutional safeguard to promote technological innovation. This study collects data on digital technology administrative penalty (DTAP) and big data technology innovation (BDTI) from 2008 to 2020 in 281 cities in China and empirically evaluates the impact and mechanism of DTAP on BDTI. The findings suggest that the normative impact of the DTAP system can foster a conducive business ecosystem for big data innovation. The incentive mechanism motivates firms to increase their long-term investment in technological innovation, while the deterrence mechanism ensures the existence of a regulated competitive market. These mechanisms play a crucial role in facilitating BDTI. Mechanism tests show that the DTAP has the potential to promote novel business models in the digital economy and accelerate progress in industrial digitalisation, which in turn promotes innovation in big data technologies. The impact of the DTAP on promoting BDTI is diverse, with a significantly greater impact in the first-tier cities. DTAP plays a more important role in fostering BDTI in places where the digital factor-driven industry is still in its early stages of development.

Research of multimodal transport potential of major cities in China based on the satellite remote sensing

Abstract. By two or more modes of transportation to connect with each other and complete the transport process, multimodal transport could significantly improve transport efficiency, reduce costs, while promote energy conservation and emission reduction, compared with the traditional single mode of transport. Therefore, the multimodal transport development reflects the level of national or regional economic development to some extent. In this study, multimodal transport potential index was built to evaluate the possibility of multimodal transport. Remote sensing images from satellites were used to extract roads, railway stations and airports. A method was proposed to derive the road-rail transport potential index and road-air transport potential index, and then for the analysis of multimodal transport potential in 36 cities. Results show that there is a big gap among 36 cities on the development potential of road-rail and road-air transport. Compared with the road-rail transport potential index, the distribution of road-air transport potential index is more consistent among and within the seven regions. Index values of megacity and super cities are much higher than type I and II big cities. Moreover, in the 36 cities, there is a positive correlation between the multimodal transport potential index and GDP. The research results could be used to quantitatively evaluate the development of transport infrastructure, consequently provide more solid and reliable basic information for the planning, design and scheme adjustment of multimodal transport, thus comprehensively improve the efficiency and quality of multimodal transport, serve the territorial spatial planning.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of urban sprawl in China from 2000 to 2020

ABSTRACT Accurately and timely quantifying the dynamics of urban sprawl is essential for improving land use efficiency and land use planning. However, existing research mainly focused on the sprawl of a single city or urban agglomerations in China, while national scale studies mainly used short-term remote sensing data to quantify urban sprawl. Therefore, we still lack a long term and most up-to-date understanding of urban sprawl in China, especially in different regions, cities of different sizes. Here, we quantified the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban sprawl using urban sprawl index (USI) based on the latest population census, and analyzed its driving force in China during 2000 ~ 2020 using the optimal parameters-based geographical detector. The results showed that in the past two decades, Chinese cities were still experiencing urban sprawl, with an average USI of 3.04, indicating that the average annual growth rate of urban lands was 3.04% higher than that of the urban population. Overall, the sprawl showed a slowdown, with the USI dropping from 3.55 in 2000 ~ 2010 to 2.53 in 2010 ~ 2020. Among regions, urban sprawl was more severe in the western region, where the USI was 5.33 during 2000 ~ 2020 and 89.3% of the cities exceeded the national average sprawl speed. Recently, the driving force of transportation on urban sprawl substantially increased. In the future, the Territorial Spatial Planning should pay attention to confining excessive sprawl of small- and medium-sized cities in the western region of China.