Since 2000, we have published fifteen studies on the Chinese upscale gated communities （in Chinese ＂haohua bieshu qu＂ or ＂shehua bieshu qu＂）. This research was based on various field surveys around big or medium...Since 2000, we have published fifteen studies on the Chinese upscale gated communities （in Chinese ＂haohua bieshu qu＂ or ＂shehua bieshu qu＂）. This research was based on various field surveys around big or medium cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, or Suzhou, and a theoretical framework. It also led us to carry out a statistical approach by elaborating a complete database on all the China＇s high-end gated communities. The main aim of the current article is to focus the analysis on the China＇s most luxurious zones of villas （e.g., Longhu Yiheyuan villas in Beijing, Ziyuan villas in Shanghai... ）. Indirectly, it appears an efficient way to get information on the still mysterious world of the China＇s very very rich people, their imaginary, their values, and their dreams. This analysis will be developed through two complementary approaches and parts. Firstly, we will discuss the general notion of luxury in China; we also will highlight the specific features of hyper-rich and hyper-luxury in China. It will describe the social stratification of the rich, their spatial distribution and patterns of consumption. In a more holistic approach, the analysis will put into perspective the special status of the rich in a socialist market economy and their very ambivalent image in the Chinese society. Secondly, it will focus on the notion of ＂residential hyper-luxury＂. Through field surveys, the analysis will compare the China＇s most expensive gated communities and elaborate a typology of hyper-luxurious gated communities by underlining their uniqueness and extreme nature.展开更多
文摘Since 2000, we have published fifteen studies on the Chinese upscale gated communities （in Chinese ＂haohua bieshu qu＂ or ＂shehua bieshu qu＂）. This research was based on various field surveys around big or medium cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, or Suzhou, and a theoretical framework. It also led us to carry out a statistical approach by elaborating a complete database on all the China＇s high-end gated communities. The main aim of the current article is to focus the analysis on the China＇s most luxurious zones of villas （e.g., Longhu Yiheyuan villas in Beijing, Ziyuan villas in Shanghai... ）. Indirectly, it appears an efficient way to get information on the still mysterious world of the China＇s very very rich people, their imaginary, their values, and their dreams. This analysis will be developed through two complementary approaches and parts. Firstly, we will discuss the general notion of luxury in China; we also will highlight the specific features of hyper-rich and hyper-luxury in China. It will describe the social stratification of the rich, their spatial distribution and patterns of consumption. In a more holistic approach, the analysis will put into perspective the special status of the rich in a socialist market economy and their very ambivalent image in the Chinese society. Secondly, it will focus on the notion of ＂residential hyper-luxury＂. Through field surveys, the analysis will compare the China＇s most expensive gated communities and elaborate a typology of hyper-luxurious gated communities by underlining their uniqueness and extreme nature.
