Environmentalism with Chinese Characteristics? Urban River Revitalization in Foshan

Figures & data

Table 1. Urban rivers in a broad historical socio-economic context

Pre-industrial era →	Industrial era →	Post-industrial era
• Human–river relationship viewed in fundamentally ecological terms	• Human–river relationship viewed in starkly utilitarian terms	• Human–river relationship viewed in increasingly aesthetic terms
• Rivers as a direct and immediate basis for sustenance of human settlements	• Rivers as inputs to industrial processes	• Rivers as amenity-laden loci for people-centered activities
• Sustainable practices inculcated and reinforced by social traditions and human cultural practices	• Industrial practices shaped by market forces and mechanisms	• Land use practices formed through political processes and civic engagement

Figure 1 “Town of Rivers”, by Niu Zhiye. Source: http://www.nsjd.com, with permission of the artist.

Figure 2 Map of Pearl River Delta Region. Source: Enright & Scott (2007).

Figure 3 Urbanization in the Pearl River Delta; 1979, 2003. Source: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/, a government document.

Figure 4 Map of key polluting industries. Source: Foshan (2009, vol. II), with permission of the municipality.

Figure 5 Industrial stretch of Fenjiang River. Source: E.J. Heikkila.

Figure 6 Dilapidated factory. Source: E.J. Heikkila.

Figure 7 Medium scale residential/commercial use. Source: E.J. Heikkila.

Figure 8 Higher scale residential/commercial use. Source: E.J. Heikkila.

Figure 9 Ceremony marking resumption of annual dragon-boat race along the Fenjiang River. Source: E.J. Heikkila.

Figure 10 Ceramics and cultural heritage in Foshan. Source: E.J. Heikkila.

Figure 11 A field perspective of ENGOs in China. Source: Adapted from Guobing Yang (2005).

Figure 12 “Releasing of Life” ceremony in Foshan. Source: E.J. Heikkila.

Figure 13 Foshan Mayor Hosts International NGO Forum on Fenjiang River Project. Source: PRCUD, with permission.

Table 2. Urban rivers in the Chinese context based on Foshan case study

• Human–river relationship viewed in terms of a quest for modernization

• Rivers as geographical loci for urban redevelopment interventions

• Nascent civil discourses interpolated by professional practices and traditional value

Yang , G. 2005 . Environmental NGOs and institutional dynamics in China . China Quarterly , 181 : 46 – 66 .

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