Creating Chinese Urbanism: understanding urban governance from the transformation of urban spaces. Shanghai, China. 08/11/2024.

This keynote speech was partly based on Prof. Wu’s book ‘Creating Chinese Urbanism: Urban revolution and governance changes‘ published in 2022. During the speech, Prof. Wu introduced the historical development of urbanisation in China, from the imperial time to the 2000s. Different stages reflect differentiated characteristics embedded in the particular historical context. While every stage is connected, as the ideology and practice from the previous stages still exert significant influences over urban affairs today. Prof. Wu focused more on the rapid urbanisation after the economic reform in the late 1970s. He demonstrated different and changing types of residential landscapes in the form of various kinds of neighbourhoods, including alleys, work-unit neighbourhoods, urban villages, and gated communities. Using these examples, he reflected on the changing governance mode of urban development and spaces in China.

The speech led to active discussions. After the speech, there were discussions on different topics related to urban transformation. The PhD graduate, Dr. Siyao Liu, who is now a lecturer at Central Minzu University of China, shared her insights.

On the next day, Prof. Wu, Dr. Liu, and Jingyi Qin participated in a field visit organised by the organising committee. They visited Dongming Neighbourhood in the Pudong New District, Shanghai. This neighbourhood was a typical exmaple of successful participatory neighbourhood governance.