Changing Concepts of City and Urban Planning Practices in Guangzhou(1949–2010): An Approach to Sustainable Urban Development

By focusing on Guangzhou, this paper examines how different concepts of city in terms of urban-rural relationships are shaped in transforming China since 1949, and explores how they influence the way in which urban planning are practiced. In the pre-reform era, the city was defined as a productive space under the system of urban-rural segregation established for securing rapid industrialization. Urban planning was thus only concerned with the development of urban areas. In the 1980 s and 1990 s after the reform, institutional change and economic transformation mobilized the urban-rural linkages. The development of suburban areas was then considered by urban planning, but this consideration was a passive response to urban problems such as population explosion and water resources protection. Since the new millennium, the agenda for sustainable development and problems of uneven urban-rural development have called for the development of urban-rural integration. In this context, the city is conceptualized as a complex of mountain, city, river, farmland and sea, reconstructing the ideology of urban-rural division in defining urban development. Urban planning has therefore sought in an active way to develop a sustainable city embracing rural and natural elements, and to balance economic growth and environmental protection. It is argued that developing the concept of city as a complex of urban and rural elements contributes to the urban planning for sustainable urban development, while this conceptualization relies on the recognition of the integrated urban-rural relationship.

Problems of Spaces in Urban Villages and Optimization Strategies Based on the Concept of Healthy City:A Case Study of Luotuo Lane in Lanzhou City,Gansu Province

Urban villages are closely related to residents’health as the built-up areas for their living activities.Taking Luotuo Lane in Qilihe District,Lanzhou City,Gansu Province for example,this paper based on the concept of healthy city analyzed the study area mainly from the perspectives of fundamental research,influence factors,status quo investigation,and problem analysis,so as to put forward the optimization strategies.

Discrimination on the Concept of Historic City in China

In 1982,the State Council announced a list of historic cities in China,aiming to set up a conservation measure to conserve the cultural heritages from the perspective of a city.The historic city is a concept in relation to urban administrative governance.Its conservation scope and specific contents should be defined in conservation planning.Since the conservation planning of historic city is a part of the city master planning,its planning area should be the same as that in the master planning,with focus on the central urban area.The conservation planning of a historic city should define its objects in view of the interconnection between city history and culture and thus specify its conservation scope and contents accordingly.

Take Tradition as Bronze Mirror——Some Points of Physical Space in our Modern Cities contrary to the Traditionally Spatial Concept and Means

Take bronze mirror, one can be properly dressed. Take tradition asbronze mirror, we can know some problems of urban planning and designin modern cities. This article is intended to relatively analyse theinadequate space in modern cities on the basis of the traditional ideas andmeans recaardincf space in 9 aspects in order to seek the ways of reform.