Inner-city station areas in Chinese cities

Abstract

Redevelopments of Chinese inner-­?city station areas introduced both new transport infrastructures (high speed railway, urban mass transit system, etc.) and real estate projects to station vicinities during the past decades. However, existing station areas are isolated from the rest of the city, and seldom urban activities take place in station surroundings. This paper aims at exploring mechanisms behind the emergence of “urban isolation”. To this end, four relevant topics are discussed, namely urbanization in China, travel model shift in and between big cities, railway station operation and planning philosophy of inner?city station areas. Examining above aspects in some China’s big cities, especially in two typical station areas, Beijing West and Tianjin station areas, this paper examines why Chinese inner?city station areas have gained an increasing role as transport nodes but have paradoxically become isolated enclaves in city centers. Two recommendations are also generated out of above review and analysis.ArchitectureArchitecture and The Built Environmen