A visual essay concerning how efficient and inclusive governance works via analysing the urban villages issue in Guangzhou

1. The Dynamic of Guangzhou
Development: Urban Villages
A visual essay concerning how efficient and
inclusive governance works via analysing the
urban villages issue in Guangzhou
PLAN7614 Urban Management & Governance in Developing Countries
Deyi Wang 43831733

2. Introduction
“Urban Village” is the product of rapid urbanisation. It is a rural-urban structure, and
it provides housing to rural migrants. Urban villages are enclosed by skyscrapers and
regarded as “an eyesore” because of their striking contrast to the urban context.
Buildings in urban communities are extremely high density and low stories. Rural
migrants constructed them without planning instructions. People live in such areas
with few green space or public space(Yang, 2011).
Figure 1

3. Severe Infrastructure Issue
The electric wires which connected between buildings without any cover are
overlapping. They provide power, communication and the Internet supply. Once there
is an accident, the whole power, communication, and the Internet system of urban
villages will collapse. Beside this, there are safe concerns. Especially a rainy day, there
presumably is a short circuit because of a rainy day.
Figure 2

4. Illegal Building Structure
To maximise the building area, cantilevered structure was added from the third floor,
which in turn lead to high density and “handshake” building (the tidy interval
between two balconies enough people to shake hand). In some buildings, the interval
just no more than 1 meter that makes life inconvenient.
Figure 3

5. Live with Rubble and Rubbish
Some reconstruction projects continue a couple of years, after “demolition”, the base
is full of rubbles and construction rubbish. The related staff or workers do not want to
spend extra money to remove them. More ridiculously, the process probably ceases
after destroying. Rural migrants’ living environment is extremely severe(Young, 2012).
Figure 4

6. From “Demolition” to “Regeneration”
One of the street cadres pointed out that the previous hurricane-like work pattern
(finish demolition and construction process in a short time) is unsuitable for the
present comprehensive measures. Policy- makers should complete urban villages’
redevelopment from the current conditions rather than turning the urban
communities into a flat ground.
Figure 5

7. Capacity Enhancement
In order to improve administrative management capabilities as well as professional
knowledge and reduce the cost, related management apartments will launch several
training courses to help their staff and other people from informal institutions. The
government also regularly invites some professors and technicians to share their
outcomes of research and techniques.
Figure 6

8. Decentralization
In an effort to promote work efficiency, alleviate the work pressure and lower
administrative costs, governments decentralise and empower non-state institutions
with more autonomy. Furthermore, this is an efficient approach to encouraging other
organisations’ participation and listen to the different views of all directions. Non-
state actors could also supervise the government.
Figure 7

9. Transparency
The local government or the village committee will post up every regeneration project
or the latest news on the notice board. It lists leader groups, content, master plans,
related approaches and telephone and mobile phone number from leaders to
operators even security men and cleaners.
Figure 8

10. Online Petition
The government opens online petition function for citizens including rural migrants in
urban villages. Individuals can provide their suggestions, complaints, feedbacks, and
evaluations. Save the costs of time. The website also includes the dynamic work and
announcement of the government, which makes citizens more easily to participate in
government affairs.
Figure 9

11. Conclusion
In order to improve the efficiency and inclusiveness of governance, Guangzhou
government changed its previous planning strategies to advanced comprehensive
strategies. What is more, the government decentralises and empowers other
institutions to participate and self-organized their living area. The government also
makes policies more transparent and welcome citizens supervise its staff and
management process.
Figure 10

12. References
Image 1: Source: http://www.amusingplanet.com/2016/02/the-urban-villages-of-china.html
Yang, Z. (2011). University Libraries. Retrieved from Ball State University:
http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/123456789/194791
Image 2: Source: https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=zh-CN&sl=zh-
CN&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fgd.qq.com%2Fa%2F20151109%2F016581.htm
Image 3: Source: http://urbz.net/urban-villages-of-guangzhou/
Image 4: Source: https://adamrobertyoung.wordpress.com/2012/07/14/xiancun-village-a-
brave-fight-and-sad-loss/
Young, A. R. (2012, 7 14). A Brave Fight and Sad Loss. Retrieved from Wordpress:
https://adamrobertyoung.wordpress.com/2012/07/14/xiancun-village-a-brave-
fight-and-sad-loss/
Image 5: Source: https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-
CN&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ycwb.com%2FePaper%2Fycwb%2Fhtml%2F2015-
11%2F05%2Fcontent_830797.htm%3Fdiv%3D-1
Image 6: Source: https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-
CN&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gz.gov.cn%2Fgzccjg%2Fgzdt%2F201608%2F29e5b3
4a56754879b5119b47f09244b8.shtml
Image 7: Source:
http://polyucrdn.eksx.com/userfiles/file/Dr_%20He%20Shen%20Jing%20(English).pdf

13. References
Image 8: Source: http://www.itdp-china.org/ennews/?newid=12&lang=1
Image 9: Source: https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=zh-CN&sl=zh-
CN&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gz12345.gov.cn%2Findex.ht
Image 10: Source: https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=zh-CN&sl=zh-
CN&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fzh.house.163.com%2F14%2F1024%2F09%2FA9AFSMRE0
2210JNU.html