Slow City development in China: process, approaches and acceptability

Abstract

The Slow City concept advocates the development of cities by combining modern technologies and traditional lifestyles to provide efficient transportation and communication and high quality of life for the residents. This study investigates the present situation, development approach and public acceptability of the Slow City concept in China. Based on the theory and the practical application of the Slow City concept in major member countries, the development process of Slow City can be divided into three stages: the origin stage, the development stage and the promotion stage. This study shows that the Slow City development in China is at the third stage. Due to diverse economic foundations, cultural traditions and the sociopolitical environment, the Slow City in China represents different features compared to the Slow City in Europe. A systematic analysis provides a better understanding of the situation of the Chinese Slow City. Then, the authors evaluate the degree of acceptability of the Slow City concept in China based on three aspects: the understanding, the awareness, and the popularity of the Slow City. Based on the results, this paper suggests optimistic growth opportunities for the Slow City in China and provides several strategies with regard to diverse perspectives.

Keywords:

• Slow City
• development process
• development approaches
• acceptability of Slow City
• development strategies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on this manuscript.

Notes

Notes

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6 Wang, “Progress and Inspiration of Research,” 95.

7 Zhang and Wang, “Cittaslow: A New Low-Carbon,” 53.

8 Duranton, “Urban Evolutions,” 197.

9 Zhao et al., “Slow City Development and Planning,” 45.

10 Shi, Wang, and Li, “Explore the Development Patterns of Yaxi,” 305.

11 Pink and Servon, “Sensory Global Towns,” 451.

12 Shi, Zhai, and Guan, “Comparative Research on Slow City Development,” 13.

13 Baldemir, Kaya, and Şahin, “Management Strategy within Sustainable City Context,” 75.

14 Keskin, “Different View to the Concept,” 81.

15 Üstündagli, Baybars, and Güzeloglu, “Collaborative Sustainability,” 125.

16 Ekinci, “Cittaslow Philosophy,” 178.

17 Pink and Lewis, “Making Resilience: Everyday Affect,” 695.

18 Gunduz, Oner, and Knox, “Social Resilience in Aegean Slow Cities,” 211.

19 Ni, Wang, and Tao, “In the Concept of ‘Slow City,’” 68.

20 Yan, Lv, and Cao, “Urban Slow Community Design,” 56.

21 Hatipoglu, “‘Cittaslow’: Quality of Life,” 20.

22 Shi, Zhai, and Guan, “Comparative Research on Slow City Development,” 13.

23 Meng, Information Theory, 58.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yijun Shi

Yijun Shi is an Assistant Professor of urban and rural planning at School of Landscape Architecture, Zhejiang A&F University. He completed his PhD in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University, in 2018. His research mainly includes urban disaster risk assessment, and urban and regional planning. He was also one of the first Chinese scholars to study the Slow City.

Guofang Zhai

Guofang Zhai is a research a Professor at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Nanjing University. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economic geography and urban planning from Nanjing University, and his master’s and doctoral degrees in urban and regional planning from the University of Tsukuba in Japan, in 1997 and 2000 respectively. His research focuses on urban and regional planning, urban disasters and risk assessment.

Shutian Zhou

Shutian Zhou is a PhD candidate in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Nanjing University. Her research has focused on resilient city studies, regional spatial planning and urban governance.

Wei Chen

Wei Chen is a PhD candidate in the School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences at Nanjing University. His research has focused on urban disasters and risk assessment.

Zhongyu He

Zhongyu He is an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Nanjing University. His research direction mainly includes the study of the distribution of urban living space and employment space.