Safeguarding the Past, Embracing the Future An Examination of Alternative Development Strategies for Chinese Historic Urban Quarters

My research aims to assess development strategies for historic urban quarters. The broad aim will be achieved by assessing issues involved in the development of historic urban quarters and the potential application of spatial production theories in China. It would examine the development strategies to develop and maintain the built environment. The development of China's modernization is compressed and leaping, which leads to a more dramatic conflict between traditional quarters and contemporary lifestyles. How to compromise with each other in the struggle to build new images of cities expected by local governments, the economic profits pursued by investors and the improvement of living environment desired by residents? All these requirements need to be considered in the development strategy. This research would contribute to the theoretical innovation of urban heritage conservation and urban regeneration. By regarding historic urban quarters as social spaces to put forward possible strategic approach for regeneration, the urban space theory could be enriched.

Thesis title: Safeguarding the Past, Embracing the Future An Examination of Alternative Development Strategies for Chinese Historic Urban Quarters

Supervisors: Professor Beth Perry, Dr Linda Westman

Education/career to date: 

I obtained my Master’s degree in Cultural Heritage Management from the Department of Archaeology at the University of Sheffield and Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Forestry Economics & Management from Beijing Forestry University. My master dissertation focused on the authenticities in historic streetscapes and I continue my PhD research about historic urban quarters. I once took part in several projects across China, like the examination of urban green-land well-being in Beijing, the examination of the effectiveness of ‘Resources to Assets, Cash to Shares, Farmers to Investors’ Policy in Panzhou, Guizhou Province, the redevelopment of Sunwenxi historic urban quarter in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province. Urban transformation, cultural heritage tourism are also part of my interests.