The production of space and 'urban fortunes' in Shenzhen: a comparison study of Baishizhou and Overseas Chinese Town

In less than four decades, the urban landscape in Shenzhen has been transformed from small rural collectives to industrial development areas constructed by state-owned enterprises and commodified housing units. The... [ view full abstract ]

In less than four
decades, the urban landscape in Shenzhen has been transformed from small
rural collectives to industrial development areas constructed by state-owned
enterprises and commodified housing units. The transformation has provided
excellent research materials and contexts to understand the production of
space and consequent ‘urban fortunes’ in China’s open cities. This paper
examines two geographically proximate residential settlements in Shenzhen:
Baishizhou, an urban village in the central district of Shenzhen and Overseas
Chinese Town (East group) previously an industrial staff quarter developed by
a state-owned enterprise. Although the two settlements juxtaposed each other,
the evolving mechanisms accounting for the production of both places are
completely different and so are the resultant ‘urban fortunes’.