With accelerating globalization and urbanization,population mobility has profoundly reshaped the social spatial structures of cities.Spatial differentiation of employment among social groups not only reflects the degree of social integration but also has direct implications for the formula-tion of inclusive urban policies.However,existing studies have largely focused on residential spatial differentiation,while the spatial differentiation of employment and its formation mechanisms remain insufficiently examined in a systematic manner.Based on mobile phone signaling data,this study takes Hangzhou,a rapidly developing megacity in China,as a case to investigate the characteristics of employment spatial differentiation between mi-grants and local residents.A Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression(MGWR)model is then employed to investigate the mechanisms under-lying these patterns.The results show that Hangzhou has become a migrant-dominated city,where migrants and local residents exhibit a relatively high degree of integration in employment space.Employment among local residents is primarily concentrated in the old urban areas,whereas migrants'employment is more dispersed across peripheral areas,forming a polycentric pattern along major transportation corridors.Overall,the employment spatial structure can be characterized as a composite pattern of polycentric,sector-shaped,and concentric-ring structures.The findings further indi-cate that employment spatial differentiation is mainly shaped by commercial facilities and housing prices,and is also influenced by urban spatial ex-pansion and migrants'sectoral employment choices.By shedding light on the social spatial characteristics of population-dense and migration-intensive regions,this study provides new empirical evidence for understanding urban social space and offers policy-relevant insights for fostering inclusivity through spatial planning and development guidance.
Taking Beijing as an example,this paper explores three governance models for transforming old industrial buildings into cultural and crea-tive spaces:informal,semi-formal,and formal regeneration.Informal regeneration represents an early governance model,exemplified by the 798 Art District,in which artists initiated the adaptive reuse of old industrial buildings,while property owners did not pay land transfer fees to the government for land use change.Subsequently,the government introduced a"transition period"policy,allowing the land use change of old industrial buildings within five years without paying any compensation.This policy signified official recognition of and accommodation for informal regeneration,steering it toward a semi-formal approach.Formal regeneration,represented by Shougang Park,strictly adheres to statutory planning and urban management requirements throughout the regeneration process.The research findings indicate that semi-formal regeneration has become the dominant practice in Beijing,despite its tendency to reduce land revenue of the government.In contrast,formal regeneration remains extremely rare as its implementation depends heavily on tailor-made and difficult-to-replicate innovative policies.Therefore,how to promote the broader implementation of formal regen-eration projects in Beijing continues to be a challenge.
This study provides a systematic examination of the spatiotemporal evolution of chemical oxygen demand(COD)and ammonia nitrogen(NH3-N)emissions in China from 2004 to 2022,together with their major socioeconomic and industrial driving factors.Using the Spatial Durbin Model(SDM),the study evaluates both the direct impacts and spillover effects of economic variables,including GDP per capita,urbanization rate,and secondary industry output,on pollutant emissions.The results reveal a"rise-then-fall"trajectory of COD emissions,which reflects the combined influence of national environmental policies,such as the 13th Five-Year Plan for Ecological Environmental Protection and the Urban Black and Odorous Water Re-mediation Program.Although these interventions and technological upgrades effectively reduced emissions,early-stage economic expansion initially intensified pollution.After 2019,however,COD emissions began to increase again,indicating that once GDP per capita reaches a certain level,the relationship between economic growth and pollution becomes positively correlated.This reversal is likely associated with accelerated industrialization and urbanization,which may have outpaced the capacity of existing pollution control systems.Spatially,COD and NH3-N emissions exhibit strong clustering patterns,with the eastern coastal provinces forming pronounced high agglomeration zones.Meanwhile,the central and western regions have experienced growing emission pressure due to ongoing industrialization.Among the key drivers,secondary industry output plays a dominant role in shaping emission levels,while urbanization significantly exacerbates pollutant discharge.Overall,the findings provide empirical support for the formulation of region-specific and adaptive pollution control policies.This research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the multiscale mechanisms driving water pollution in China and offers scientific guidance for harmonizing economic development and environmental sustainability,particularly in regions experiencing rapid industrialization.
Chinau2019s megacities are undergoing a critical transition from incremental expansion to stock optimization in order to achieve high-quality spatial development. However, the complex interactions among land use, population, and economy involved in this transition remain underexamined, particularly with respect to human-land relationships in suburban areas. From an incremental-stock-decremental perspective, this paper develops a construction land-population vitality discriminant matrix. Using land use data (CNLUCC), population data (WorldPop), and nighttime light data (DMSP-OLS), the paper examines the spatiotemporal characteristics of human-land spatial development patterns in Beijingu2019s suburban areas from 2000 to 2020 and analyzes the underlying formation mechanisms across different periods. The findings show that: u2460 From 2000 to 2020, land use in Beijingu2019s suburban areas shifted from incremental expansion to quantitative reduction and qualitative improvement, while population vitality continued to increase and was not constrained by a reduction in land supply. u2461 The suburban plain area, strongly influenced by the central city, evolved from free-form expansion to preferential point-like incremental development. In contrast, the ecological conservation zone exhibited the coexistence of incremental and decremental spaces, with population vitality growing increasingly stronger. The suburban areas gradually formed an urban-rural integration pattern in which urban areas led rural development, and the plain area facilitated the development of the ecological conservation zone. u2462 Incremental development was primarily shaped by urban master plans and major project initiatives. Incremental-contraction patterns reflect human-land mismatches resulting from uncontrolled sprawl, disorderly construction, and population outflow. Decremental development was mainly driven by land reduction policies, including the demolition of illegal structures, the phasing-out of inefficient industrial land, and pilot programs for intensive land use. Decremental-growth patterns, supported by intensive land use and collective land marketization policies, contributed to a more balanced human-land relationship and fostered high-quality economic and population growth. This paper highlights the critical role of policy-driven strategies in guiding sustainable urban development and enhances our understanding of how to achieve efficient and balanced human-land development in suburban areas. It offers insights applicable to other megacities undergoing similar transitions.
As a pivotal city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area(referred to as the Greater Bay Area hereinafter),Macao is renowned for its development history that spans several centuries.While existing studies approach Macao's urban development from multiple per-spectives,such as political system,urban space,urban construction,and planning concept,they don't yet adequately underscore the fundamental role of the Portuguese urban planning system in Macao's long-term development.Employing the tool of theme river chart,this study visualizes Macao's urban development from 1845 to 2022 into five periods with a distinctive feature respectively,i.e.,the implementation of colonial rules,the consolidation of colonial rules,the development of a neutral zone,the development of a high-degree autonomy,and the development under the"One Country,Two Systems"policy.It finds that Macao's urban development in the modern and contemporary times is synchronously shaped by six key dynamics.They are demographic changes reflecting institutional fluctuations,land expansions mirroring the evolution of urban texture,legal norms ensuring orderly development,shifts of urban development goals from individual buildings to regional integration,requirements for improv-ing living quality,and forward-looking planning in response to actual demands.It concludes that Macao's urban development in the modern and contemporary times demonstrates some notable strengths,such as resilience throughout fluctuations,prevention of proactive conflicts,refinement of regulatory frameworks,emphasis on development constraints,management of fine-tuned demands,and phasing of forward-looking planning,which can offer valuable historical insights,development paradigms,and future prospective for other cities.
Entering a new era of high-quality development,China's urban development is shifting from incremental growth to retrofit upgrading,making urban renovation a key task of the times.Given the comprehensiveness of practical tasks and the complexity of stakeholder interests in urban renovation,multi-party cooperation has become essential to ensure the feasibility and success of urban renovation projects.Through analyzing the relation network of multiple parties in urban renovation,and based on case studies of urban renovation practice in France and China,this paper seeks to reveal the mechanisms of multi-party cooperation in different kinds of urban renovation projects.It argues that:① only when a cooperative relation-ship based on consensus regarding land development goals is established among decision-makers,producers,and supporters,can urban renovation projects be implemented smoothly and successfully;② to achieve this,planning and design should serve as a platform for dialogue,enabling multiple parties to reach an agreement on the win-win goals of minimizing transaction costs and maximizing overall benefits of land development;③ regarding urban renovation projects that concern mostly the public interest,the government should play a leading role,safeguarding the public interest through intergovernmental cooperation and shared responsibilities;④ regarding urban renovation projects that concern both public and private interests,enter-prises should be actively engaged through government-enterprise cooperation,sharing both the interests and responsibilities of land development for the win-win goals of minimizing transaction costs and maximizing overall benefits.
Introduction The year 2025 marked the 40th anniversary of the journal China City Planning Review (CCPR). To commemorate this milestone,a "Journal on Campus" initiative was successfully held at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University on Sept. 20,2025. The initiative provided an open platform for academic exchange,aiming to advance discussions on "Building Liveable Cities Through Urban Regeneration in the Era of AI," while also cultivat-ing a broader and more diverse community of readers and contributors.
Artificial intelligence,sensor networks,city-scale simulation,and impact simulation of policy and design choices increasingly shape urban development and regeneration.Conventional smart city strategies may minimize lived experience,cultural identity,and justice while overemphasizing control and efficiency.This article suggests shifting from smartness to intelligence:a flexible,human-centered strategy in which AI and urban digital twins serve as civic media that foster creativity,debate,and climate resilience.A case is made for flipping the conventional digital twin paradigm,moving from virtual thinking to physical reality rather than merely reproducing reality in virtual space,drawing on design thinking principles.A con-ceptual framework converts livability into operational criteria and connects the reality-virtuality continuum to participatory urbanism.Two practice cases,heritage preservation in Kashgar and industrial heritage regeneration in Anshan,illustrate how immersive gaming,narrative techniques,and educational animation can expand participation while maintaining cultural authenticity.Intelligent regeneration should be evaluated not by techno-logical sophistication alone,but by its capacity to strengthen ecological balance,cultural continuity,and inclusive wellbeing in the face of accelerating climate change.
In recent years,the conservation of revolutionary heritage sites has become increasingly important within the context of urban transforma-tion and sustainable development.This study defines them as the nodal places embedded in the urban fabric of Nanjing(1919-1949),which materially witness and carry revolutionary narratives.Using multi-source spatiotemporal data,this paper integrates the complex relationships among historic sites,figures,activities,and events in Nanjing into a thematic semantic network,facilitating a shift from site-based conservation toward area-based strategies.It aims to provide theoretical support and practical pathways for applying narrative spatial networks to heritage conservation,while contrib-uting to the comprehensive maintenance and revitalization of the historic urban landscape.
The trajectory of contemporary urbanization is defined by a dialectical tension between the high-frequency dynamism of digital innovation and the structural inertia of the built environment.As global urban development—particularly in China—enters the"Deep Water Zone"of stock re-generation,traditional regeneration paradigms have proven demonstrably insufficient.This paper posits a theoretical and methodological rupture:the transition from passive,reactive smart cities to Artificially Evolved Spatial Organisms(AESOs).Central to this evolution is the theory of Em-Spaced Intelligence(ESI),an ontological shift wherein space is reconceptualized as an autopoietic,cognitive agent.By integrating Multi-Modal Large Foun-dation Models(LFMs),Graph Neural Networks(GNNs),and Non-Euclidean Manifold Geometry,we propose a generative framework that enables space to identify and internalize its own social,economic,and ecological values.This paper explores the transition from"static syntax"to"dynamic semantic generation,"validated through the Shanghai Quantum City pilot.Furthermore,it outlines a new paradigm of Robot-Intelligent Space,where autonomous agents and the environment co-evolve through a"Dynamic Space Protocol."By resolving the dimensionality catastrophe of Euclidean modeling,this"AI for Science"(AI4S)approach ensures that urban morphology"fits"the rhythms of human and robotic life,moving from physical repair to"quality emergence."
Formulating regulatory detailed plans for historic urban areas consistently faces a central challenge:balancing preservation and innovation while addressing practical issues such as functional decline,environmental risks,loss of vitality,and cultural discontinuity.Accordingly,in response to spatial form control requirements of territorial and spatial planning in the new era ‒ namely,integrating fragments into a coherent whole,harmoniz-ing differences while seeking commonality,preserving authenticity,and guiding micro-level spatial development through macro-level spatial imagery‒ this paper proposes a series of planning strategies.These include figure-ground control to restore urban fabric,typological control based on spatial form division,prototypical control by tracing origins,and imagery control to maintain cultural continuity.The application of these strategies in the regulatory detailed planning of Wuhan's historic urban areas demonstrates their feasibility and practicality,offering a reference for similar planning efforts in other historic urban areas.
This study examines the patterns of population spatial restructuring emerging from the long-term implementation of teleworking by employing questionnaire data from 822 respondents in Shanghai to construct a teleworking intention model and a residential relocation intention model. The results show that job characteristics are the dominant factors shaping individualsu2019 work mode choices. Residential locations with higher facility levels, better park accessibility, and lower population density are generally preferred, as are those offering convenient commuting conditions for both respondents and their spouses. Moreover, as the work mode increasingly approaches full-time teleworking, the likelihood of relocating outside the city rises. Based on simulations of individual work mode choices and household relocation decisions using synthetic population data, this study reveals a potential teleworking share of 71.6%. Teleworking-induced relocation is projected to involve approximately 12% of all households in Shanghai, with about 5% relocating outside the city. The resulting patterns of population spatial restructuring can be characterized as u201Cbroad dispersion, localized concentration, and a younger population in inflow areas.u201D Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces constitute the main destinations for intercity relocation, while net population inflow within Shanghai is concentrated in a limited number of central subareas with high-level facilities and in selected outer suburban subareas with high-quality ecology.
Soft City:Building Density for Everyday Life Author:David Sim (translated by Wang Yue et al.;proofread by Jiang Yang,Wang Jiangyan)Year:2021 Publisher:China Architecture & Building Press ISBN:9787112267903 (in Chinese) Against the backdrop of global climate change,urban sustainable development has become one of the most pressing challenges facing human society in the 21st century. In 2014,the global urbanization rate surpassed 50％ for the first time,marking the transition of human society into the urban age. While cities have improved quality of life,urban problems—such as resource scarcity,ecological degradation,high energy consumption,housing shortages,and traffic conges-tion—continue to intensify (Wu,2001). Consequently,creating people-oriented cities has gradually become a central theme in urban development worldwide.
Introduction On Sept. 20,2025,CCPR held a "Journal on Campus" initiative at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University,engaging in in-depth discus-sions on "Building Liveable Cities Through Urban Regeneration in the Era of AI." This article presents perspectives and insights shared by experts during Panel Session 2:Urban Intelligence and Urban Regeneration.
Urban development disparities are intensifying in the era of artificial intelligence(AI).A limited number of cities with strong potential in in-telligence are poised to lead the next phase of development,while many others face declining competitiveness.This paper focuses on the intelligent re-vival of the city-being,viewing the city as a living entity that embodies history,culture,and social relations.Drawing on empirical projects,it examines pathways of urban regeneration through heritage conservation,ecological restoration,spatial vitality maintenance,environmental governance,and AI empowerment.It argues that urban regeneration is not merely about physical structures;rather,its true value lies in reviving the history,humanity,and wisdom embedded within the physical fabric of the city.It further explores how AI—via intelligent sensing,data-driven approaches,and Human-AI(HAI)collaboration—can transform cities from static built environments into adaptive and learning systems.The paper concludes by outlining five key prin-ciples of HAI regeneration,emphasizing human-centered approaches,systemic governance,multi-dimensional balance,and a global perspective,and advocates placing people at the center of all urban regeneration efforts.
The principle of scenery borrowing originates from classical Chinese garden design.Emphasizing the visual relationships between a garden and its surrounding areas,it offers a pathway to understand the holistic nature of traditional urban landscapes.Taking Yuanmingyuan dur-ing the Qianlong period as its research object,this paper first extracts viewed imagery from 1,585 poems composed by Emperor Qianlong for Yu-anmingyuan.It then deconstructs Yuanmingyuan's viewing landscapes into three hierarchical scales:the whole-garden scale,the scenic-unit scale,and the constructed-element scale.Through classification and localization,the visual relationships across these spatial hierarchies are reconstructed,a classification system for viewed imagery specific to Yuanmingyuan is established,and the perceptual patterns of the various categories of viewed imagery from different viewing locations are further analyzed.The findings reveal the overall composition of viewing landscapes both within and beyond Yuanmingyuan,the multi-layered arrangement of viewing locations,as well as the ingenious incorporation of exterior viewing and the diverse combination of elements of interior viewing at the scenic-unit scale.This paper provides a foundation for the holistic understanding and con-servation of Yuanmingyuan as cultural landscape heritage and also preliminarily establishes an analytical framework for the planning and manage-ment of historic urban landscapes in Beijing.
China's economic growth through Special Economic Zones(SEZs)highlights the role of institutional incentives in its economic develop-ment.This study develops an analytical framework to explore how institutional change fosters urban growth and innovation,and examines the mecha-nisms through which institutional change drives growth and innovation.Moreover,it investigates"intra-institutional innovation"as a driver of market-oriented innovation.Employing empirical methods,including big data analysis,agglomeration indices,and social network analysis,the study examines innovation dynamics in the SEZ cities of Shenzhen and Xiamen.It further evaluates policy impacts and the formation of"innovation spatial units."Comparative analysis reveals the following three main findings.First,Shenzhen has completed the cycle of"introduction-digestion-absorption-creation"and has advanced to a stage of comprehensive innovation development.Second,Xiamen remains at an early stage,with innovation activities largely concentrated locally.And third,institutional change and innovation cycles in SEZ cities contribute to the promotion of innovative development.However,differences in institutional,geographical,and cultural conditions lead to diverse innovation pathways.
Migration flows are affected by both origin and destination attributes as well as spatial interaction between them.However,most studies build their insights on one-step gravity spatial interaction models,which fail to distinguish the spatial interaction effect from the attributes as the dis-persal capacity and the attraction capacity.In particular,the effect of spatial interaction,often approximated solely by distance and viewed as the most intractable component in the models,leads to model biases and hinders the theoretical interpretation of migration mechanisms and spatial patterns.Drawing on the method of migration flow decomposition and structural gravity model theory,this paper replaces the one-step"flow-variable"ap-proach with a two-step"flow-effect-variable"framework for modelling migration flows.Based on interprovincial migration data from China's Sixth and Seventh National Population Censuses,the paper decomposes migration flows to measure the effects of dispersal capacity,attraction capacity,and spatial interaction,identifying temporal trends in their effects.Building on measured effects of spatial interaction,the paper uses multiple regression analyses to identify key influencing factors of spatial interaction,and examines how bilateral explanatory variables shape the spatial structures.
In the era of digital economy, the new retail consumption space, in which consumersu2019 experience can be enhanced through the creation of consumption scenes, is having an increasingly important influence on urban spatial development. From the perspective of spatial field, revealing the complex economic and social mechanisms behind scene creation in the new retail experience consumption space contributes to a deeper understanding of consumption space formation mechanisms. Utilizing data from Dianping and Baidu Street View apps, this paper applies spatial syntax and spatial econometric models to assess the spatial effects of consumption scenes. It explores the mechanisms through which street environment, as a narrative means for consumption scenes, influences the distribution of new retail experience consumption space, thereby further extending the scope of consumption space research. The findings reveal that: u2460 the economic value of the consumption scene is central to the street environmentu2019s impact on the distribution of new retail experience consumption space. This spatial effect extends the relationship between physical elements in the street environment into the network relationship within the spatial field. u2461 Consumersu2019 behavioral preference for consumption space arises from a dependence relationship, while merchantsu2019 construction of such space is shaped by a heterogeneity-based relationship. u2462 In the interaction between physical and virtual spaces, consumers exercise their spatial rights, while merchants respond to consumersu2019 spatial demand. The compression of physical and virtual spaces alters the logic behind consumersu2019 scene attachment and merchantsu2019 scene creation. u2463 Urban planning can facilitate scene narration and promote the development of the consumer economy by developing a business-friendly street environment, coordinating the relationship between local and neighboring spaces, and optimizing the scale relations of the street environment.
