Urban Micro-Renewal in Chinese Cities: A Geographical Perspective on Spatial Transformation, Community Participation, and Sustainable Development

Guiqing Liu

doi:10.62051/ajmse.v1n5.04

Authors

Guiqing Liu Xi'an International Studies University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710128, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62051/ajmse.v1n5.04

Keywords:

Urban Micro-renewal, Urban Geography, Spatial Transformation, Community Participation, Sustainable Development, Chinese Cities

Abstract

Urban micro-renewal has emerged as a pivotal strategy for addressing post-industrial urban transformation challenges in China, shifting the paradigm from large-scale demolition-and-reconstruction toward incremental, human-scale interventions. This paper examines urban micro-renewal from a geographical perspective, analyzing its spatial characteristics, socio-spatial dynamics, and environmental implications across Chinese cities. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from urban geography, including the production of space, gentrification theory, and sustainable urbanism, the study develops a multi-dimensional analytical framework to understand how micro-renewal reshapes urban spatial structures and social relations. Through comparative case studies of Shanghai's community gardens, Beijing's hutong preservation, and Shenzhen's urban village micro-transformations, the paper identifies distinct spatial typologies and implementation pathways. The findings reveal that while micro-renewal enhances local environmental quality and fosters community engagement, it also generates complex socio-spatial inequalities, including indirect displacement pressures and uneven access to renewal benefits. The study argues that a geographically informed approach must integrate spatial justice principles, multi-scalar governance coordination, and ecological sensitivity to ensure inclusive and sustainable urban development.

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