Search Results (112)

China’s rapid urbanization has given rise to the phenomenon of “urban villages”, which are often regarded as chaotic fringe areas in traditional studies. With the rise of the concept of resilient cities, the value of urban villages as potential carriers of sustainable development has been re-examined. This study adopted research methods such as field investigations, in-depth interviews, and conceptual sampling. By analyzing the interlinked governance relationship between Xiamen City and the urban villages in the Bay Area, aspects such as rural housing improvement, environmental governance, residents’ feedback, geographical pattern, and spatial production were evaluated. A field investigation was conducted in six urban villages within the four bays of Xiamen. A total of 45 people in the urban villages were interviewed, and the spatial status of the urban villages was recorded. This research found that following: (1) Different types of urban villages have formed significantly differentiated role positionings under the framework of regional governance. Residential community types XA and WL provide long-term and stable living spaces for migrant workers in Xiamen; tourism development types DS, HX, BZ, and HT allow the undertaking of short-term stay tourists and provide tourism services. (2) These urban villages achieve the construction of their resilience through resisting risks, absorbing policy resources, catering to the expansion of urban needs, and co-construction in coordination with planning. The multi-cultural inclusiveness of urban villages and their transformation led by cultural shifts have become the driving force for their sustainable development. Through the above mechanisms, urban villages have become the source of resilience and sustainability of healthy cities and provide a model reference for high-density urban construction. Full article

This study investigates the complex dynamics of new-type urbanization in resource-based county-level cities, using Wuan City in Hebei Province, China, as a representative case. As China pursues a high-quality development agenda, cities historically dependent on resource extraction face profound challenges in achieving sustainable and inclusive urban growth. This research employs a multi-method approach—including Theil index analysis, industrial shift-share analysis, a Cobb–Douglas production function model, and a composite urbanization index—to quantitatively diagnose the constraints on Wuan’s development and assess its transformation efforts. Our empirical results reveal a multifaceted situation: while the urban–rural income gap has narrowed, rural income streams remain fragile. The shift-share analysis indicates that although Wuan’s traditional industries have regained competitiveness, the city’s economic structure is still burdened by a persistent negative structural component, hindering diversification. Furthermore, the economy exhibits characteristics of a labor-intensive growth model with inefficient capital deployment. These underlying issues are reflected in a comprehensive urbanization index that, after a period of rapid growth, has recently stagnated, signaling the exhaustion of the city’s traditional development mode. In response, Wuan attempts an “industrial transformation-driven new-type urbanization” path. This study details the three core strategies being implemented: (1) incremental population urbanization through development at the urban fringe and in industrial zones; (2) in situ urbanization of the existing rural population; and (3) the cultivation of specialized “characteristic small towns” to create new, diversified economic nodes. The findings from Wuan offer critical, actionable lessons for other resource-dependent regions. The case demonstrates that successful urban transformation requires not only industrial upgrading but also integrated, spatially aware planning and robust institutional support. We conclude that while Wuan’s model provides a valuable reference, its strategies must be adapted to local contexts, emphasizing the universal importance of institutional innovation, human capital investment, and a people-centered approach to achieving resilient and high-quality urbanization. Full article

Rapid urban expansion has led to an increasing number of people relocating to Urban–Rural Fringe Areas (URFAs) in China, with related development placing pressure on ecosystems in these locations. Community parks (CPs) are a key category of urban public park (UPPs) in Chinese planning and play a vital role in improving residents’ quality of life and enhancing regional environment, whilst also promoting sustainable urban development. Consequently, CPs are considered by many to be integral components of “communities” in Chinese cities. Drawing on documentary analysis and field research, this paper explores the socio-economic and ecological values associated with CP investments in URFAs in China. It assesses governmental policies and expert perspectives concerning CPs’ development in URFAs and analyses the factors influencing their planning and delivery. The research highlights how policy and stakeholders’ viewpoints impact the development of sustainable green space in URFAs. To enhance the construction of multi-functional CPs in URFAs, we propose a series of characteristics that need to be considered in future developments, including stakeholder engagement, resident needs, and park design. These insights offer an evidence-based reference for decision-makers, aiming to better meet the requirements of residents and support the development of urban sustainability. Full article

As human activities increasingly encroach on ecologically sensitive lake zones, China’s lake-ring urban agglomerations struggle to balance the intensifying human footprint (HF) and declining habitat quality (EQ). Addressing the spatiotemporal interactions between HF and EQ is essential for achieving human–environment coordination. This study examined five major freshwater lake-ring urban agglomerations in China during the period from 2000 to 2020 and developed an HF–EQ assessment framework. First, the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model quantified the spatiotemporal coupling between HF and EQ. Second, GeoDetector identified how HF and EQ interact to influence CCD. Finally, the four-quadrant static model and CCD change rate index formed a dual-dimensional management framework. The results indicate that the spatiotemporal evolution patterns of HF and EQ are highly complementary, exhibiting a significant coupling interaction. High-CCD zones expanded from lakeside urban areas and transport corridors, while low-CCD zones remained in remote, forested areas. HF factors such as GDP, land use intensity, and nighttime lights dominated CCD dynamics, while EQ-related factors showed increasing interaction effects. Five human–environment coordination zones were identified based on the static and dynamic characteristics of HF and EQ. Synergy efficiency zones had the highest coordination with diverse land use. Ecological conservation potential zones were found in low-disturbance hilly regions. Synergy restoration zones were concentrated in croplands and urban–rural fringe areas. Imbalance regulation zones were in forest areas under development pressure. Conflict alert zones were concentrated in urban cores, transport corridors, and lakeshore belts. These findings offer insights for global human–environment coordination in lake regions. Full article

In recent years, the intense urbanisation processes in Latin American cities have generated fragmented landscapes in the transition zones between urban and rural areas. There is growing interest among urban planners in the delimitation and management of the urban fringe due to the challenges these areas face, including the accelerated conversion of agricultural land, the loss of biodiversity, ecosystem fragmentation, and increasing socioeconomic inequalities resulting from limited regulation in Latin American cities. This study aims to identify criteria for the delimitation of the urban fringe in Latin American cities, oriented toward policy development and the creation of new management tools. A three-stage mixed-method approach was used, i.e., (1) a structured literature review following the PRISMA protocol, identifying 58 criteria from Global South studies, grouped into seven thematic categories; (2) a qualitative analysis using the SMART methodology to identify feasible criteria; and (3) a survey of 19 Latin American experts to prioritise criteria based on data availability and spatial comparability in the region’s cities. The results reveal a growing concern regarding the conceptual development of the urban fringe in Latin America. Methodological gaps persist in the delimitation of these areas. The final catalogue of criteria shows a trend toward measurable and comparable criteria and highlights the need to approach the urban fringe from a multidimensional perspective, which could facilitate its integration into comparative studies at the regional scale. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between Green View Index (GVI) and street thermal environment in Hangzhou’s main urban area during summer, quantifying urban greenery’s impact on diurnal/nocturnal thermal conditions to inform urban heat island mitigation strategies. Multi-source data (3D morphological metrics, LCZ classifications, mobile measurements) were integrated with deep learning-derived street-level GVI through image analysis. A random forest-multiple regression hybrid model evaluated spatiotemporal variations and GVI impacts across time, street orientation, and urban-rural gradients. Key findings include: (1) Urban street Ta prediction model: Daytime model: R² = 0.54, RMSE = 0.33 °C; Nighttime model: R² = 0.71, RMSE = 0.42 °C. (2) GVI shows significant inverse association with temperature, A 0.1 unit increase in GVI reduced temperatures by 0.124°C during the day and 0.020 °C at night. (3) Orientation effects: North–south streets exhibit strongest cooling (1.85 °C daytime reduction), followed by east–west; northeast–southwest layouts show negligible impact; (4) Canyon geometry: Low-aspect canyons (H/W < 1) enhance cooling efficiency, while high-aspect canyons (H/W > 2) retain nocturnal heat despite daytime cooling; (5) Urban-rural gradient: Cooling peaks in urban-fringe zones (10–15 km daytime, 15–20 km nighttime), contrasting with persistent nocturnal warmth in urban cores (0–5 km); (6) LCZ variability: Daytime cooling intensity peaks in LCZ3, nighttime in LCZ6. These findings offer scientific evidence and empirical support for urban thermal environment optimization strategies in urban planning and landscape design. We recommend dynamic coupling of street orientation, three-dimensional morphological characteristics, and vegetation configuration parameters to formulate differentiated thermal environment design guidelines, enabling precise alignment between mitigation measures and spatial context-specific features. Full article

Urban green spaces face increasing pressure to reconcile ecological conservation with rising public demand as urbanization accelerates. Yet the spatial coupling of human needs and natural provisioning in the urban–rural fringe remains insufficiently understood. Focusing on the country park cluster in Beijing’s Huitian region, this study develops an integrated assessment framework—combining ecological importance, ecological connectivity potential, construction suitability, and recreational demand—to evaluate nature suitability and pinpoint spatial mismatches in human–nature interactions. Ecological importance is quantified through ecological sensitivity analysis and InVEST-based habitat-quality modeling, while ecological connectivity potential is estimated via normalized least-cost corridor analysis. Construction suitability is derived from the proportion of artificial surfaces and road network density, and recreational demand is measured by population concentration, facility density, and transport accessibility. These metrics are synthesized to map nature-suitability patterns and reveal divergences between human demand and ecological provisioning. The results show a pronounced north–south gradient in ecological importance, with Dongxiaokou Ditch and Dongxiaokou Forest Park emerging as ecological hotspots. Nineteen ecological source patches are identified, with the strongest connectivity in the southern sector of Dongxiaokou Forest Park. Areas of high construction suitability coincide with well-developed infrastructure, whereas recreational demand clusters around Tiantongyuan and Beiqing Road. Natural and artificial elements intertwine to form an ecological core of 870.74 hm², yet 13.29% of the study area exhibits mismatches—particularly residential zones lacking green-space access. Over-development within Dongxiaokou Urban Recreation Park likewise falls short of ecological expectations. The study offers targeted recommendations—ecological protection, facility optimization, green-space enhancement, and the integration of multifunctional green infrastructure—and provides a transferable framework for coordinating human and natural systems in other urban–rural fringe contexts. Full article

Urban–rural fringe areas are critical transition zones where ecological functions and human activities interact intensely, often leading to complex spatial patterns and trade-offs among ecosystem services (ESs). Understanding these patterns and their socio-ecological drivers across multiple spatial scales is essential for sustainable land-use planning and ecosystem management. This study, using the urban–rural fringe (URF) of Beijing as an example, quantified eight representative ecosystem services at the 1 km grid, 3 km grid, and township scales. It employed hotspot analysis, Moran’s Index, and the Spearman correlation to analyze trade-offs and synergies (TOSs) among ESs. The study also applied a self-organizing map and the NbClust function to identify and determine the optimal number of ecosystem service bundles (ESBs) for ecological functional zoning. Redundancy analysis was used to explore the impacts of six socio-ecological drivers on the spatial distribution of ESs. The results revealed the following: (1) The spatial distribution of ESs in Beijing’s URF exhibits clustering and cross-scale variations, with spatial clustering intensifying as the scale expands. (2) TOSs among ESs vary in strength and direction across the three spatial scales. (3) The primary drivers of TOSs at all three scales are the normalized vegetation index and annual precipitation. (4) Based on the supply intensity of various ESs, the study area was classified into four types of ESBs across the three scales: ecologically restricted areas, food production areas, ecologically balanced areas, and high-quality ecological areas. The township scale is more conducive to planning and management, while the 1 km and 3 km grid scales are more helpful for understanding the relationship between land use and ESs. Full article

Assessing URI and its driving mechanisms can promote urban–rural integration (URI). However, existing research has often underexplored county-scale analyses within national strategic zones in China and has given limited attention to the spatiotemporal impacts of drivers. Focusing on the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) of China, this study examined the spatiotemporal dynamics of county-level URI from 2000 to 2020 and analyzed the spatiotemporal heterogeneity effects of drivers using a geo-detector and the geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model. The findings reveal the following: (1) The level of URI in the counties of the YREB generally increased over the study period, though social and spatial integration lagged behind economic and environmental integration. (2) URI decreased spatially from east to west, forming high and low levels of spatial agglomeration in the YREB’s urban agglomerations and the provincial fringes in the west, respectively. (3) Economic development, social fixed asset investment, transportation accessibility, and geographical conditions drove the spatiotemporal differentiation of URI in YREB counties. The elevation significantly hindered URI in the eastern region, while URI in the central region was significantly promoted by social fixed asset investment and transportation accessibility, despite the inhibitory effect of the slope. In the western region, economic development played a critical facilitating role, but the slope remained a limiting factor. Tailored strategies are needed for different regions to promote URI. Full article

This study addresses the challenges related to the distribution of elderly care facilities in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, which is experiencing a rapidly aging population. With over 176 million people aged 65 and above in China as of 2019 and the elderly population in the YRD continuing to grow, the study analyzes the spatial distribution, evolution, and supply–demand balance of elderly care facilities. Using GIS technologies, multi-source data analysis, and spatial autocorrelation techniques, the research identifies key regional patterns. Shanghai exhibits a clear hierarchical distribution of facilities, Jiangsu shows a “south strong, north weak” trend, while Zhejiang and Anhui demonstrate the opposite. The study also highlights a shift towards smaller, community-based care facilities, reflecting the growing demand for more localized services. It uncovers significant spatial mismatches and low coordination between supply and demand, particularly in rural and urban fringe areas, indicating the need for better regional coordination and more balanced resource distribution. To address these challenges, the study recommends (a) establishing cross-regional elderly care resource-sharing mechanisms; (b) promoting the development of small, community-based facilities; (c) integrating urban and rural services; and (d) leveraging technology for smart elderly care, including the use of big data and AI to optimize service delivery. These strategies aim to improve the equity and accessibility of elderly care services, ensuring that underserved areas receive better support. The findings provide a comprehensive framework for elderly care policies, offering valuable insights for other rapidly urbanizing regions and countries facing similar demographic challenges. Full article

Urbanization has significantly impacted ecological connectivity, making the optimization of ecological networks (ENs) crucial. However, many existing strategies focus on overall network structure and overlook the spatial concentration of local ecological processes flow (EPF), limiting the effectiveness of ecological planning. This study proposes a novel EN optimization framework based on urban–rural gradient spatial zoning to enhance connectivity from the perspective of EPF. The framework divides areas outside the core urban zone (CUZ) into the urban fringe zone (UFZ), urban–rural interface zone (UIZ), and natural rural zone (NRZ), applying tailored optimization strategies in each zone. These strategies include increasing corridor redundancy, reducing corridor resistance, and expanding corridor width to alleviate EPF concentration. Using Jinan, a mega-city in China’s Yellow River Basin, as a case study, this study simulated EN changes over 20 years and validated the framework’s effectiveness. Optimization validation showed that increasing ecological land in low-flow corridors to 65% in the UIZ and expanding NRZ corridors to 5 km improved connectivity by 6.3%, addressing seven pinch points and three barrier points. This study highlights the importance of optimizing ENs via urban–rural zoning to support sustainable development and ecological protection policies. Full article

Small-scale, dispersed agroforestry spaces in the urban fringe constitute ecological land that serves dual public benefit functions: natural ecological conservation and rural-urban services. The purpose of this study is to construct a green infrastructure network by integrating the existing and potential green spaces in an urban fringe. The urban fringe in Zhengzhou was chosen as the study site. First, the urban fringe of Zhengzhou was identified based on multi-source data and artificial intelligence, followed by the extraction of green infrastructure elements through morphological spatial pattern analysis. Then, a public benefit output evaluation system was constructed to assess the land value of green infrastructure in the study area. Finally, based on the evaluation results, a classified network planning was conducted, and a triple-network integrated planning strategy was proposed. The results showed that (1) the administrative area of Zhengzhou is divided into three spatial types: urban core areas, the urban fringe areas, and urban periphery area; this study focuses on the urban fringe surrounding the main urban area of Zhengzhou, area of 678.93 km²; (2) the patch sizes of green infrastructure land in the study area range from approximately 0.01 km² to 2.83 km²; (3) green infrastructure land was classified into levels 1~5 based on ecological conservation and rural-urban services, and comprehensive high-grade land was identified for the construction of the green infrastructure network; and (4) the green infrastructure network in the study area was divided into the forest natural habitat network, the blue-green infrastructure network, and the agroforestry landscape recreation network, and a triple-network integrated green infrastructure network strategy was developed. This study aims to strengthen the effective protection and utilization of micro-habitats in the urban fringe, contributing to the formulation of strategies to reduce the ecological vulnerability of the urban fringe and promote sustainable urban development. Full article

This study employs various comprehensive research methods to thoroughly analyze the relationship between urban–rural integration and sustainable development, proposing corresponding optimization pathways. First, a literature review method systematically examines existing theories on urban–rural integration and sustainable development. Then, it identifies the main problems and challenges in the current process of urban–rural integration, thereby laying a theoretical foundation for the study. Second, a case study approach is adopted, selecting Caoqiao Village in Fengtai District, Zhenggezhuang Village in Changping District, and Xihoujie Village in Majuqiao Town, Tongzhou District of Beijing, as typical cases. These cases are analyzed in depth to explore their implementation outcomes and validate the practical results of different development pathways. Subsequently, based on specific data from Beijing’s urban–rural fringe, this study utilizes data analysis methods to conduct an in-depth examination of land use changes, ecological environment status, and influencing factors, with a focus on analyzing relevant data from 2009 to 2023. This analysis reveals the dynamic relationship between urban–rural integration and sustainable development. Regression analysis is adopted to quantify the effect of urban–rural integration on sustainable development, thus exploring the correlation between urban–rural integration, spatial planning, economic development, financial development, and sustainable development. Finally, targeted management recommendations and policy optimization plans are proposed based on the principles of ecological protection red lines and urban development boundaries. The results indicate a significant positive correlation between urban–rural integration and sustainable development levels, with a regression coefficient of 0.48, demonstrating its role in promoting sustainable development. The levels of spatial planning and economic development also positively affect sustainable development, with coefficients of 0.32 and 0.27, respectively. Moreover, financial development and social investment levels show a certain positive relationship. It is noteworthy that although the correlation between foreign trade and sustainable development levels is the lowest, the interconnections between other variables further emphasize the key position of urban–rural integration in overall sustainable development. This study offers a theoretical basis and empirical support for spatial planning in the urban–rural fringe of Beijing, ecological environment protection, and scientific policy formulation, thus advancing sustainable urban development. Full article

Digital technology has facilitated the transformation and upgrading of agriculture, profoundly altering production and marketing methods, especially in peri-urban agriculture. Taking the peri-urban agriculture of Guangzhou, China, as an example, this paper delves into the digital transformation of peri-urban agriculture through in-depth interviews, field research, and participatory observation via a qualitative research approach. It explores the relationship between agricultural producers and consumers and its urban–rural integration mechanism. The findings reveal that digital technology promotes the digitization of agricultural production management and the networking of agricultural product sales markets. It further reconstructs the relationship between agricultural production and consumption, transcending traditional geographical constraints and fostering a direct production–consumption community link. With the empowerment of digital technology, peri-urban agriculture integrates seamlessly with manufacturing, services, culture, and ecology, thereby enhancing its value-added role in the metropolis’ fringes and facilitating the integration of urban and rural industries. Moreover, digital technology has significantly bolstered the role of peri-urban agriculture as a pivotal link between urban and rural areas, expanding its spatial function beyond mere production to include consumption and leisure. This not only solidifies the connection between urban and rural food systems but fosters social integration through subject interaction, cultural exchange, and value exchange. This paper broadens the interdisciplinary field of agricultural economics and digital technology, promoting sustainable agricultural development. It also accelerates urban–rural integration and harmonious development, providing new impetus for increasing farmers’ incomes and driving rural economic growth. Full article

The urban–rural fringe, serving as a frontier space and protective barrier for urban–rural factor circulation, is a complex area marked by significant human–land conflicts. Therefore, scientifically identifying and dynamically monitoring the urban–rural fringe is crucial for its integrated development and spatial governance. In this context, this paper constructs an information entropy model using land use data, combined with the central gravitational agglomeration method, to accurately identify the evolution of Harbin’s urban–rural fringe over the past 40 years. The research reveals that Harbin’s urban–rural fringe exhibits a distinct circling pattern, with spatial morphology changes characterized as “low-speed spreading—jumping expansion—internal dissimilarity”, allowing for improved identification of its three types: stable, expanding, and degrading. The study also tracks the scale of the urban–rural fringe in Harbin with three types of stable, expanding, and degrading urban–rural fringe. Drawing on previous research, we visualize the fringe area’s functional spatial positioning, showing its dominant function shifting from a production–ecological composite to a production–life–ecological coordinated function. Concurrently, the study’s findings, alongside Harbin’s socioeconomic development, indicate that the urban–rural fringe’s evolution is driven by economic, policy, and environmental factors. Based on the multi-dimensional research outcomes, we conclude that the evolution of Harbin’s urban–rural fringe can be divided into three stages: a slow gestation period (1980–1990), a rapid development period (1990–2010), and a stable reconstruction phase (2010–2020). In the initial phase, urban and rural development is minimal; during the second phase, the trend of urban expansion is significant, and the urban–rural fringe is rapidly shifted to the city; and in the latter stage, urban and rural elements are stabilized and coordinated, and urban and rural areas are realized to be developed and reconstructed as one. This paper provides a scientific basis for understanding the dynamic evolution of the urban–rural fringe in Harbin City and is an important reference for future territorial spatial planning and development. Full article