Downtown Retailing Development Under Suburbanization——A Case Study of Beijing

The role of retailing has diminished in the center of cities of Western countries since its heyday in the 1920s. This trend was caused by violent transformations in the economic, social and locational contexts which involve resi- dential suburbanization, as well as new forms of commercial development out of town. As far as transforming China is concerned, the downtown retailing center has also come to turning point of development in the context of suburbaniza- tion. Based on the survey of Beijing residents’ shopping behavior, the present research tends to making clear the actual change and development problem of downtown retailing center. Combining with the macro retailing environment, re- lated influencing factors are further discussed too. Study results show that downtown retailing still plays an important part in resident’s shopping activity. However, with rapid urban sprawl, retailing in urban center has been greatly threatened by booming out-of-town commerce. In the course of such spatial change, the suburbanization of resident, the prevalence of new commercial forms and the change of consumers’ life style all have exerted their own pressure on downtown retailing. But for the special socioeconomic background of development and the support of government policy, it will still keep its vitality of retailing for a long period of time.

Suburbanization and Subcentering of Population in Beijing Metropolitan Area:A Nonparametric Analysis

This study focuses on the suburbanization and subcentering of population and examines the nature of spatial restructuring in terms of the population distribution in the Beijing metropolitan area.Instead of the classic density function approach,we employ the nonparametric analysis to characterize the spatial pattern of population densities in the Beijing metropolitan area and identify the suburban subcenters.Our findings suggest that the population has spread with rapid urban growth in the Beijing metropolitan area,and the compact urban form has been replaced by a more dispersed polycentric spatial distribution.However,compared with the decentralization of western cities,the spatial extent of the decentralization of population in the Beijing metropolitan area is quite limited.The rapid growth of population in the near suburbs has expedited the sprawl of the central city,with a larger central agglomeration of population dominating the metropolitan area.In this sense,the spatial pattern of the Beijing metropolitan area is still characterized by the continuous compactness.However,our findings do provide the evidence that the city has been turning to a polycentric structure.We find significant population subcenters have emerged in the suburbs of Beijing since the 1980s.But the polycentricity emerged in the Beijing metropolitan area is very different by nature from that observed in Western cities.The subcenters emerged are adherent to the development scheme planned for the city,so it can be referred to as the so called 'planned polycentricity'.

ON THE SUBURBANIZATION OF BEIJING

Suburbanization is a stage of urbanization provess. The author discesses the situation of Beijing from the data of three population censuses(1964, 1982, 1990) and considers that the suburbanization in Beijing has been in process since 1982. During 1982-1990, population of all districts of the inner city lost 82 000 persons and in fact the permanent residents holding the household registration lost 144 000, which is about 6. 12% of permanent residents in the inner city.Like the West, suburbanization in China the happened against the macro backgrounds of improvements of transportation and loving conditions, growth of urban population moving from rural areas. But in the case of the forces that make decentralization possible, China is different from the western countries. In China, the levels of economy and urbanization are rather low, the red middle class is not rich; only very few Chinese families families provate cars, and the inner cities still have great attraction to Chinese people. The author considers three causes of decentralization: (1) reform of urban land use system brings about migration from the core area; (2) construction of a large number of city roads reinforces this process; (3) reforms of housing system and renovation of dilapidated houses encourage outward movement. However, the process wasn’t of spontaneity of any individual but of the leadership of government and “Dan Wei” (Work Unit).

Impacts of Suburbanization on Urban Eco-environment of Xi'an in China

Suburbanization in large cities is an important phenomenon in the process of urbanization development in China in recent decades,which plays a very important role in promoting city development,whereas some side effects on the eco-environment appeared at the same time.This paper,taking Xi'an City in China as a case study site,analyzed the features of population suburbanization and industry suburbanization and pointed out the impacts of suburbanization on urban eco-environment.Based on the research,suggestions of countermeasures for urban planning and municipal management of Xi'an City in protecting urban eco-environment and conserving natural ecology were put forward in the end.

Dynamic Analysis on Population Suburbanization and New Town Development in Shanghai

This paper studies the suburbanization process of Shanghai from 2000 to 2010 and the population aggregation of its five suburban new towns including Jiading,Songjiang,Qingpu,Nanqiao,and Lingang.It finds that Shanghai's population distribution pattern is featured by both continuity and variety.In detail,although Shanghai is still dominated by a single-centered expansion pattern,a multi-centered spatial pattern is gradually formed with a narrowing gap in population density between the central city and the suburbs.As the suburbanization of the migrant population is faster than that of the registered population and migrants re-gather in the central city as a result of its service industry development,there is a relatively smaller migrant population in the area between the Inner Ring Road and the Outer Ring Road.Consequently,the population in the new towns that the city planning strategy has focused on is not increasing at the expected speed,thus more attention should be paid to a reasonable central citycentered,multi-leveled,towns-grouped,and compact urban spatial structure.

Residence Suburbanization in Dalian

Analysing on the questionnaire surveyconducted in Dalian, this paper is concerned with thespatial change of residential areas since 1980s andconsidering that Dalian has stepped into a initial stageof suburbanization.

Suburbanization in China─A Case Study of Shenyang

By examining the suburbanizationprocess of Shenyang in the northeast China, the articleanalyzes the mechanism of China’s current suburbanization process and makes comparisons with that inthe west.

Weak influence of natural vegetation in urban green spaces compared to agricultural ecosystems on House Martin populations:Insights from nationwide citizen science data in the Czech Republic

The House Martin(Delichon urbicum)is a common farmland bird species in the European landscape,yet its population numbers are currently in decline.However,it is not yet sufficiently explained why this long-term decline occurs.To fill this gap in our knowledge,we investigated how land cover composition affects the abundance of House Martins on the landscape scale by using nationwide citizen science data.Utilizing a generalised linear mixed-effect model(GLMM),we evaluated 12,094 records from the Czech Republic spanning 2009-2017.Our analysis underscores the significance of land cover type in shaping House Martin abundance.More specifically,our results indicate that within agricultural land covers“naturally managed arable lands”exhibited significant positive effect,while forests,orchards,and vineyards were deemed less favourable for House Martin populations.Within urban land covers,we found a clear distinction in the impact on House Martin populations,with a positive effect observed in urban infrastructure,development areas,and post-industrial sites(i.e.,UrbanAreas),while an indifferent impact was noted within urban green spaces and landscaped areas(i.e.,GreenUrban).Notably,our findings suggest that the simple spatial,age,and species structure typical of forests in Europe,and similarly,the uniform structure of parks and gardens,may be responsible for the decline in the abundance of the House Martin.We advocate for the preservation or enhancement of urban greenery,expansion of natural vegetation in rural areas and adoption of ecological management practices in orchards and vineyards to mitigate further declines in House Martin populations.

Socio-environmental factors associated with small mammal assemblage and Leptospira prevalence in Suburban Areas of Terengganu,Malaysia

Objective:To examine the socio-environmental factors associated with the assemblage of small mammals and the prevalence of Leptospira pathogen in poor suburban communities of Terengganu,Malaysia.Methods:We trapped small mammals from 119 trapping points scattered around three suburban communities of Terengganu using sausage-baited live traps.On the average,we set up five traps for three nights at each sampling point during the trapping period.Kidneys of captured animals were harvested and processed for Leptospira investigation.Additionally,environmental survey was conducted at each trapping point to obtain information about possible variables supporting small mammal assemblage.We used a generalized linear model to evaluate the effect of different socio-environmental variables on small mammals’assemblage.Results:A total of 89 small mammals,specifically,Rattus norvegicus(n=39),Rattus rattus(n=27),Rattus exulans(n=10),Suncus murinus(n=11),and Tupaia glis(n=2)were captured from 1385 trap nights.Fourteen individuals(15.7%)of the captured animals tested positive for Leptospira bacteria using PCR detection.Results of our generalized linear model showed only residences bordering vacant lots as the variable positively associated with small mammal occurrence in the three study sites.Conclusions:Small mammal community,especially the often neglected species,could harbour and potentially contribute towards pathogenic Leptospira maintenance in the study sites.To adequately control small mammals’population and subsequent human zoonoses transmission,it is critical to advocate and promote appropriate infrastructure and suburban services,together with good hygiene practices that can reduce the animals’access to food and harborage.

Changing Spatial and Structural Patterns of Non-agricultural Activities in Outward-moving Beijing Urban Fringe

As responses to metropolitan suburbanization and rural urbanization,the formation and evolution of urban fringes should be understood against the background of overall economic development and spatial reconstruction of entire metropolises.At the same time,however,endogenous interactions between industrial structure and spatial patterns of non-agricultural activities are also worthy of scholarly attention.Since the 1980s,studies on urban fringes in China have been restricted by the lack of micro-level data.This paper investigates the spatial expansion and structural evolution of the urban fringe by taking the case of Beijing and uses systematic firm-level data in 1996 and 2001 from the National Census of Basic Units.The diversity of distribution patterns across industrial sectors brings about two interrelated results.On the one hand,structural adjustment of non-agricultural industries promotes the expansion and spatial evolution of the urban fringe.On the other hand,the stability and dynamics of industrial structure coexist in the moving urban fringe.This study also reveals that the outward-moving urban fringe is the optimal location for manufacturing,especially heavy manufacturing,as well as traditional producer and consumer services.However,industries with spatial stickiness such as tourism and sports have not moved with the fringe.Most advanced services remain concentrated in the city center.The authors argue that it is essential for understanding and managing urban fringes to take into account spatial evolution and industrial structural adjustment together with their interaction with each other.

RECONSIDERATION OF THE URBANIZATION RESEARCH IN CHINA

By restudying some ideas existing in the current urbanization research field in China, this article truly puts forward the inquisitive opinion with respect to the urbanization progress, urban scale, spatial transfer of urbanization and suburbanization in China, etc. It indicates that the urbanization shall abide by the economic laws, but government should bring the appropriate adjustment and control into play as well; the urbanization shall not be limited to the west ern pattern and simple phenomenal analysis, but to pursue the virtually healthy, orderly and sustainable development of cities is the man aim for urbanization. The main views of this article are as follows: 1 ) As far as Chinese urbanization is concerned, it is in a different age compared with the west, and it has one special domestic background, so its speed and mode are different from the west and the speed can’ t be too fast. 2) External extending economic evelopment will still last for a Period. And the urbanization development has big spatial requirements. Therefore, intensive development mode of space should be explored. 3) The suburbanization in China has special forming mechanism and relevant social problems, which should be treated seriously.

Floating Population Increase and Its Influence on the Urban Population Situation:A Case Study in Beijing

Floating population is a special population group in China resulting from the implementation of household registration system. This paper uses a set of floating population survey data, population censuses data and statistical data to analyze the increase and influence of floating population on the urban population situations in Beijing. It is found that Beijing has experienced a rapid increase of floating population since the 1990s and that the increase of this group has become the key factor of the current population expansion in the city. Its distribution in the urban regions intensified and extended the suburbanization process of the capital. In addition, the population structures of sex, age, education and employment in Beijing have changed to some extent due to the influx of floating population.

Study on the Planning of Suburban New Countryside Construction with Yufa Township of Beijing City as a Case

The construction of new socialist countryside should be realized by diversified means due to the characteristics of different regions. From the perspective of planning, Liugezhuang Village of Yufa Township in Daxing District, Beijing City was taken as a case to study the characteristics and contents of suburban new countryside construction planning, and several suggestions were put forward for the implementation and management of planning.

Analyzing Land Cover Change—The Impact of the Motorway Construction and Their Operation on Landscape Structure

The aim of our study was to assess the influence of motorways on landscape structure changes. The research was situated on segments of the D1 and D3 motorways in the Czech Republic. The method used for determining the impacts of the construction and operation of the motorway on the landscape structure was based on comparing the development of the land cover types in an area where the motorway was present for almost the entire monitored period (D1 motorway segment) with the development of the land cover types in an area where the motorway was constructed towards the end of the monitored period (D3 motorway segment). Monitored period?was?between years 1949, 1988 (1984 segment of motorway D3) and 2007. Source materials were processed and analyzed in the ArcGIS software environment. Our comparison indicated that the main differences between segments were in the level of development of commercial, industrial and agricultural built-up area in the vicinity of motorways. The existence of the motorway also contributed to the development of residential areas. It should be noted that in both cases there was also an increase in the extension?of shrubs and scattered vegetation, and in small quantities also category of forest.

Agricultural Development of Nanjing Suburban Counties based on Contribution Models of Production Factors

According to data in Nanjing Statistical Yearbook, contribution made by agricultural production factors was analyzed with contribution models of agricultural factors and the results showed that with restriction of labor force and land, Nanjing suburban counties have entered into a stage of ＂high input-high output＂, considering no matter from agricultural total value of output or from agricultural added value. In future, structure configuration of agricultural input factors should be optimized in Nanjing suburban counties by technology input to improve agricultural technology and technical efficiency in order to further achieve sustainable development of agriculture.

Analysis of Protective Planning and Design of Suburban Linpan of Chengdu City in China

After the analysis of the general situation of suburban Linpan in Chengdu City,the paper has pointed out the differences between suburban Linpan and outer suburban Linpan,which are different guiding factors for Linpan declining and disappearing,existing architectural forms and styles in Linpan,infrastructure construction levels,villagers' economic sources and income levels,and villagers' attitudes towards Linpan.Based on this,it has pointed out main points for protective planning of suburban Linpan in Chengdu.It has discussed the protective design of water system,roads and agricultural lands of individual Linpan and that between Linpan and Linpan in the perspective of "patch-corridor-base".

Urban Chemical Industrial Cluster Area Restructuring and Determinants: A Case Study of a Typical Old Chemical Industry Area Along the Yangtze River, China

China is in a transitional period between urban renewal and industrial change.In this period,the focus has been on the suburbanization of enterprises and land transformation in old industrial areas,particularly areas with chemical industries.A life cycle theoretical framework was established to develop chemical industrial zones in the context of urban expansion and land function conversion.The long-term historical processes and mechanisms that transformed a typical old chemical industry area along the Yangtze River,Yanziji Area of Nanjing City were unveiled and comparatively analyzed.The study found that the entire life cycle of the case study area was formed through the combined action of different influencing factors.Traditional industrial location factors played important roles during the rise and continuity of the chemical industry zone,while unconventional environmental regulations and government policies drove its decline and transformation.In the transformation of the old chemical zone,the renewal and redevelopment of industrial land into higher-value residential land is a key link determining the feasibility of government fund compensation and the circulation of capital.These findings demonstrate that regional control and environmental regulation play crucial roles in determining the location of polluting industries and the renewal of urban industrial areas.This research enhances the understanding of the development history and reconstruction of chemical industry clusters and plots within megacities at a finer geographic scale.

Analysis of Urban Morphology in Core Towns＇ Neighborhoods of Mexico： Santa Barbara＇s Neighborhood as a Case Study

Cities＇ urban morphology is the result of historic, cultural, political and social processes. The historical cores in Mexican cities have high cultural diversity, which also intermingle pre-Hispanic cultures with colonial forms, as well with modernity and post-modernity irruption. The case study is Santa Barbara＇s neighborhood in Toluca City, which was founded in 1524, and the case study was the first neighborhood in Toluca＇s historical core. At present time, this neighborhood is considered as one of the most dangerous places in the city＇s historical core, therefore, it has been abandoned. This paper will display the changes in urban morphology of the neighborhood through the years from 1877 to 2010. For site evaluation, the methodologies of Ashihara （1982） and Lynch＇s （1961） were used in order to analyze positive and negative spaces, as well as main street visual features, street and avenue directions, street circulation and street circulation path configuration. The results show that the focal nodes are a key factor for economic and social reactivation, with which, through urban activation of vacant lots and the traditional use of the streets as public space, is possible to generate centripetal development to restructure the neighborhood.

Comparison of Ozone and PM2.5 Concentrations over Urban,Suburban,and Background Sites in China

Surface ozone(O3)and fine particulate matter(PM2.5)are dominant air pollutants in China.Concentrations of these pollutants can show significant differences between urban and nonurban areas.However,such contrast has never been explored on the country level.This study investigates the spatiotemporal characteristics of urban-to-suburban and urban-tobackground difference for O3(Δ[O3])and PM2.5(Δ[PM2.5])concentrations in China using monitoring data from 1171 urban,110 suburban,and 15 background sites built by the China National Environmental Monitoring Center(CNEMC).On the annual mean basis,the urban-to-suburbanΔ[O3]is−3.7 ppbv in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei,1.0 ppbv in the Yangtze River Delta,−3.5 ppbv in the Pearl River Delta,and−3.8 ppbv in the Sichuan Basin.On the contrary,the urban-to-suburbanΔ[PM2.5]is 15.8,−0.3,3.5 and 2.4μg m^−3 in those areas,respectively.The urban-to-suburban contrast is more significant in winter for bothΔ[O3]andΔ[PM2.5].In eastern China,urban-to-background differences are also moderate during summer,with−5.1 to 6.8 ppbv forΔ[O3]and−0.1 to 22.5μg m^−3 forΔ[PM2.5].However,such contrasts are much larger in winter,with−22.2 to 5.5 ppbv forΔ[O3]and 3.1 to 82.3μg m^−3 forΔ[PM2.5].Since the urban region accounts for only 2%of the whole country’s area,the urban-dominant air quality data from the CNEMC network may overestimate winter[PM2.5]but underestimate winter[O3]over the vast domain of China.The study suggests that the CNEMC monitoring data should be used with caution for evaluating chemical models and assessing ecosystem health,which require more data outside urban areas.

Pollution characteristics of the rivers in suburban Shanghai

Forty middle and small rivers in three towns of Fengjing, Songjiang and Zhujiajiao of suburban Shanghai were chosen as sampling sites for water quality research. Measurement results of DO, CODCr, TP, TN and so on show that the rivers are under heavy eutropic conditions, which are several times greater than the critical values of the worst level (Type V) of water. Water pollution situation has different temporal and spatial characteristics. Non-point pollution, such as village domestic sewage, farmland runoff, livestock feces, has become the primary source of pollution of the middle and small rivers in suburban Shanghai.