Table Of ContentThe Urban Book Series
Yanpeng Jiang
Mega Urban
Projects in
China
The Case of Hongqiao
The Urban Book Series
Editorial Board
Margarita Angelidou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Fatemeh Farnaz Arefian, The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, UCL, Silk
Cities, London, UK
Michael Batty, Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, UCL, London, UK
Simin Davoudi, Planning & Landscape Department GURU, Newcastle University,
Newcastle, UK
Geoffrey DeVerteuil, School of Planning and Geography, Cardiff University,
Cardiff, UK
Jesús M. González Pérez, Department of Geography, University of the Balearic
Islands, Palma (Mallorca), Spain
Daniel B. Hess , Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University at
Buffalo, State University, Buffalo, NY, USA
Paul Jones, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney,
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Andrew Karvonen, Division of Urban and Regional Studies, KTH Royal Institute
of Technology, Stockholm, Stockholms Län, Sweden
Andrew Kirby, New College, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Karl Kropf, Department of Planning, Headington Campus, Oxford Brookes
University, Oxford, UK
Karen Lucas, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
Marco Maretto, DICATeA, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Ali Modarres, Tacoma Urban Studies, University of Washington Tacoma, Tacoma,
WA, USA
Fabian Neuhaus, Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Calgary,
AB, Canada
Steffen Nijhuis, Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of
Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
Vitor Manuel Aráujo de Oliveira , Porto University, Porto, Portugal
Christopher Silver, College of Design, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Giuseppe Strappa, Facoltà di Architettura, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome,
Roma, Italy
Igor Vojnovic, Department of Geography, Michigan State University, East Lansing,
MI, USA
Claudia Yamu, Department of Spatial Planning and Environment, University of
Groningen, Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Qunshan Zhao, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow,
Glasgow, UK
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Yanpeng Jiang
Mega Urban Projects
in China
The Case of Hongqiao
Yanpeng Jiang
School of Urban and Regional Science
East China Normal University
Shanghai, China
Research conducted for this book was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of
China (grant number: 42271216).
ISSN 2365-757X ISSN 2365-7588 (electronic)
The Urban Book Series
ISBN 978-981-19-6932-4 ISBN 978-981-19-6933-1 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6933-1
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature
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Preface
A fence needs the support of three stakes. An able fellow needs
the help of three other people.
I owe a great debt of gratitude to all those who have mentored, supported, and
encouraged me over the years, which has meant a great deal to me!
First, I must thank Prof. Paul Waley and Prof. Sara Gonzalez, for their invaluable
guidance and tremendous help with my research during my period of studies at
Leeds and my work in Canberra, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Without her dedicated
support and encouragement, I would never have been able to complete my book
on time. I always felt full of inspiration. Paul Waley was responsive, thoughtful,
and responsible in his exceptionally dedicated supervision. He had great patience
with me and offered many imaginative suggestions. I am especially grateful for his
constant encouragement and help with my English. Paul Whaley’s outstanding spirit
of dedication to scholarship and his rigorous academic integrity have influenced and
benefited me as a researcher. His extensive knowledge of urban studies has guided me
along the way. He has taught me much not only as my supervisor but also as a good
friend. Sara Gonzalez, warm and friendly, has mentored me constructively over the
years. Her serious academic attitude has deeply influenced me, and I appreciated her
constructive advice during my research process. She spent a lot of time reading my
work and giving me comments. In the evenings, while taking care of her two lovely
children, she also invited me to her home to revise my chapters. Sara Gonzalez also
always encouraged me during difficult times, especially with her spring-like smile.
I would like to thank my Research Support Group—Dr. Stuart Hodkinson, Dr.
Alex Schafran, Profs. Martin Clarke, John Stillwell, and Dr. Paul Norman—for their
constructive and useful comments and suggestions, especially Dr. Stuart Hodkinson,
who helped and encouraged me greatly. I am very grateful to the wonderful staff of
the School of Geography: Andy Turner, Dr. Zuo Chengchao, Dr. Rachel Homer, and
Dr. Franklyn Cudjoe. I am also grateful to my postgraduate colleagues—Li Pengfei,
Liu Huifang, Majing, Andy Newing, Nezihe Bas¸ak Ergin, Reynhard Sinaga, Simon
Desmet, Tom Collins, Stephen Clark, and Stella Darby—for creating a friendly atmo-
sphere in our office. My special thanks go to my friend and former office colleague,
Dr. Nalini Mohabir, who has encouraged and supported me over the years and even
v
vi Preface
now from as far away as Canada. I would like to thank Li Pengfei, Andy Newing,
Zuo Chengchao, and my office colleagues. I have had many interesting discussions
with them that will remain fond memories for a lifetime.
I would also like to thank all the participants who took the time to give interviews
and fill out my questionnaires during my fieldwork in Shanghai. Without their infor-
mation and insider knowledge, my research and book would not have been finished.
My special thanks go to Dr. Zhang haiyan, Yu Bin, and Lu Liang, who provided great
help in Hongqiao in contacting officials and experts related to the construction of the
Hongqiao project and in obtaining invaluable secondary documents. Without their
help, it would have been impossible to complete my book. My special thanks go to
my former colleagues Song Bei and Chang Lixia at East China Normal University,
who assisted me in conducting my survey and interviews in Shanghai. I am deeply
indebted to my students Chen Youhua and Lindong Zhang Liyuan for their support.
My special thanks go to Dr. Heather Zhang from the University of Leeds and
Professor Shion Kojo from Kagoshima University, who have supported and encour-
aged me not only in my research but also in my life. Special thanks to Prof. Jonathan
Unger, Prof. Anita Chan, Prof. Sally Sargeson in the Australian National University
for their support in the research and my life in Canberra. I would also like to thank
the Consulate of Wu Xiaoming, Zhu Yu, Deputy Consul General of Zhou Haicheng,
Consul General of Li YongSheng, and Pan Yudong from the Consulate General of
the PRC in Manchester for their help.
I thank my friends in China and the UK: Dr. Ding Lingping, Liu Xiaowen, Brian
Jones, Lynne Jones, Wu Dongfa, Lee, Doreen Dalgleish, and especially Brian Jones
and Lynne Jones without whom my life would have been much more difficult and
quite boring. I am also grateful to the members of the Chinese Students and Scholars
Association in Leeds for their support. I had a wonderful time as President of the Asso-
ciation for 2 years. I am also deeply indebted to many other people who have helped
me directly and indirectly through their comments, suggestions, and questions. Due
to space limitations, it is impossible to thank everyone.
No words can adequately express my gratitude to my family members, whose
selfless love, care, help, and unconditional support have guided me through every
important step in my life. They have made me what I am today. My father has always
been the most loyal man in my heart. My mother, who embodies the best qualities
of Chinese women, is a persistent, wise, peaceful, and hardworking woman. She has
inspired me to move forward. Mumu is one of the most important pillars in my life.
The same goes for my dear sister Bifen. We are not only siblings, but also close
friends and mutual supporters. I am grateful for all the practical and spiritual support
and encouragement she has given me in difficult times.
I would especially like to thank the editor of Lydia Wang and the editorial
team of Springer Nature Publishing House, consisting of AP Umamagesh, Sridevi
Purushothaman, and Nobuko Hirota, for their helpful and constructive suggestions
and comments on this book. I greatly appreciate their responsible work attitude and
they encouraged and supported me in completing this manuscript.
Shanghai, China Yanpeng Jiang
Contents
1 Introduction: Hongqiao and Urban Theory ....................... 1
1.1 Introduction .............................................. 1
1.2 Why Study the Hongqiao Project? ........................... 2
1.3 Research Aims and Objectives .............................. 3
1.4 Theoretical Issues ......................................... 4
1.4.1 Entrepreneurial Urbanism and Mega Urban Projects
from London Docklands to Hongqiao in Shanghai ....... 5
1.4.2 Accumulation by Dispossession and Its Relevance
to Hongqiao ........................................ 8
1.4.3 The Chinese Urban Growth Coalition and Hongqiao ..... 10
1.5 Method and Materials Used for the Book ..................... 13
1.5.1 The Aims, Scope, and Phases of Fieldwork ............. 14
1.5.2 The Study Area and Initial Access to Fieldwork ......... 16
1.5.3 Survey Questionnaire ................................ 18
1.5.4 Conclusions ........................................ 26
1.6 Roadmap of the Book ...................................... 27
References ..................................................... 30
2 Shanghai in the Context of Urban Change in the PRC ............. 35
2.1 Introduction .............................................. 35
2.2 Urban Policy Before the Reform Period ...................... 36
2.2.1 Stagnation and Fluctuations in the Pattern of Chinese
Urbanization, 1949 to 1978 ........................... 36
2.2.2 The Government’s Role in Urbanization ................ 40
2.2.3 Urbanization of Local Government Through
the Land-Centred Development Model
and Property-Led Projects ............................ 41
2.3 Urban Conditions Today 1: Housing, Social Segregation,
Migrants ................................................. 44
2.3.1 Housing ........................................... 44
2.3.2 Social Segregation .................................. 45
2.3.3 Migrants ........................................... 45
vii
viii Contents
2.4 Urban Conditions Today 2: Urbanization, Urban Villages
and Urban Sprawl ......................................... 48
2.4.1 Urbanization ....................................... 49
2.4.2 Urban Villages ..................................... 49
2.4.3 Urban Sprawl ...................................... 51
2.5 The History of Shanghai’s Development ...................... 53
2.5.1 Shanghai Before 1949 ............................... 54
2.5.2 Shanghai and Its History Since 1949 ................... 55
2.6 The Development of Lujiazui and Pudong .................... 56
2.6.1 Behind the Development of Pudong ................... 56
2.6.2 Lujiazui Financial Centre and Suburban Industrial
Zones ............................................. 59
2.6.3 The Construction of New Infrastructure ................ 60
2.7 Shanghai and the World Expo ............................... 60
2.8 New Urban Projects and the Restructuring of Shanghai’s
City Centre and Inner City .................................. 63
2.9 The Debate Over Gentrification in Shanghai, with a Focus
on Xintiandi and Similar Projects ............................ 65
2.10 Conclusion ............................................... 65
References ..................................................... 66
3 Competitive Urbanism in Its Regional Setting ..................... 71
3.1 Introduction: Shanghai in the Context of the Yangtze River
Delta .................................................... 71
3.2 The Hierarchical National and Regional Administrative
Structure ................................................. 74
3.3 New City–Region Alliances in the YRD ...................... 76
3.3.1 Exogenous and Endogenous Forces Driving
the Formation of City Regions in China ................ 77
3.3.2 Examples of City–Region Alliances in the YRD ......... 79
3.4 Hongqiao Within the Wider Context of the Western
Peripheries of Shanghai .................................... 83
3.4.1 Rough Geography of the West of Shanghai ............. 83
3.4.2 Placing Hongqiao Within Its Regional Context (West
Shanghai and YRD) ................................. 86
3.4.3 From the Perspective of Shanghai’s Neighbouring
City, Kunshan ...................................... 86
3.5 Some Conclusions on Competitive Regional Growth
in the West of Shanghai .................................... 91
References ..................................................... 93
4 New Wave Development of Mega Urban Projects in China ......... 95
4.1 Chinese Mega Urban Projects (MUPs) and Urbanization
Development ............................................. 95
4.1.1 Background ........................................ 95
4.1.2 Concept and Types of MUPs ......................... 97
Contents ix
4.1.3 Current Situation of China’s MUPs—Quantity
and Spatial Distribution .............................. 98
4.1.4 China’s Urbanization Development Boosted
by UMPs .......................................... 114
4.2 Development Trend of China’s MUPs ........................ 115
4.2.1 Development Trend of New Town and New Area
in China ........................................... 115
4.2.2 The Trend Towards Mega Infrastructure Construction
in China ........................................... 120
4.3 The Developmental Power and Influencing Factors
of China’s MUPs .......................................... 122
4.3.1 The Dominant Position of the Government
in the Establishment of MUPs ........................ 122
4.3.2 Entrepreneurial Government and Competitive
Urbanization ....................................... 123
4.3.3 Multi-scalar Political Construction in MUPs ............ 124
4.3.4 Financial Dependence on the Land and Debt Risk
of the MUPs ....................................... 124
References ..................................................... 125
5 Hongqiao: Vision, Planning, and Design of the Project ............. 127
5.1 Introduction .............................................. 127
5.2 Main Aims of the Hongqiao Project .......................... 129
5.2.1 Overall Conception of the Project ..................... 129
5.2.2 Principal Elements of the Project ...................... 131
5.2.3 Hongqiao’s Overall Layout ........................... 132
5.2.4 Forms and Functions ................................ 135
5.3 Hongqiao as the Transport Hub .............................. 138
5.3.1 A Hub for Air and Land Transport ..................... 138
5.3.2 Context of Expansion Project of Hongqiao Airport ....... 139
5.3.3 Background to the Construction of a High-Speed
Rail Station at Hongqiao ............................. 141
5.3.4 Construction of the Hongqiao Integrated Transport
Hub ............................................... 142
5.4 Preparing Land for Development in the Core Area,
from ‘Immature’ to ‘Mature’ ................................ 143
5.4.1 Purchasing and Storage of Land by Minhang District
Government ........................................ 144
5.4.2 Providing Infrastructure and Utilities .................. 145
5.4.3 Leasing Plots of Land for Development ................ 146
5.5 Conclusion ............................................... 153
References ..................................................... 154
