The development of Guangzhou's The development of Guangzhou's University Town Project: China's University Town Project: China's Old Wine of Revanchist City in a Old Wine of Revanchist City in a

New Bottle?New Bottle? Daniel You-Ren YANG, Visiting Fellow, Daniel You-Ren YANG, Visiting Fellow,

School of Environment and School of Environment and Development, Development,

University of ManchesterUniversity of Manchester

Hung-Kai WANG and Ming-Yi Hsiung, Hung-Kai WANG and Ming-Yi Hsiung, Graduate Institute of Building and Graduate Institute of Building and

Planning, Planning, National Taiwan UniversityNational Taiwan University

2007.12. Hong Kong2007.12. Hong Kong

Guangzhou University Town Project

Master PlanMaster Plan

HighlightsHighlights

From 1996 to 2007 there are more than fifty uniFrom 1996 to 2007 there are more than fifty university town appeared in China. Except to raise versity town appeared in China. Except to raise the enrolment ratio of university students, such the enrolment ratio of university students, such project may also contribute to real estate markproject may also contribute to real estate market locally. et locally.

City built from the village (City built from the village ( 村中城村中城 ): ): urban revanurban revanchism, China versionchism, China version, , destroy the village by waydestroy the village by ways of land acquisition to build the citys of land acquisition to build the city

““Empty land return (Empty land return ( 空轉空轉 )”: The local institut)”: The local institutions of land acquisition that raise the “historicions of land acquisition that raise the “historical debts” al debts”

The university town “movement” might be reThe university town “movement” might be regarded as the revised version of “industrial zogarded as the revised version of “industrial zone” feverne” fever

The upheaved village The upheaved village

Local land acquisition and evictionLocal land acquisition and eviction Started from 2003, so far the project had acquired 18.Started from 2003, so far the project had acquired 18.

8 square km, and evicted over 11,000 villagers.8 square km, and evicted over 11,000 villagers. The governments had promised to return 15% of the aThe governments had promised to return 15% of the a

cquired collectively owned land as the construction lacquired collectively owned land as the construction land to compensate the villages, totally 4800mu.nd to compensate the villages, totally 4800mu.

However, by now, the promised return land(However, by now, the promised return land( 返還地返還地 ) s) still waited to be “acquired” from other village.till waited to be “acquired” from other village.

The government is launching the second round of UniThe government is launching the second round of University Town project, and will result in more land acquversity Town project, and will result in more land acquisition.isition.

““Empty land return circle”: to compensate for the lEmpty land return circle”: to compensate for the last round of land acquisition, the government have to ast round of land acquisition, the government have to launch next round of land acquisition.launch next round of land acquisition.

The city built by ways of destroying villageThe city built by ways of destroying village

Under the “empty land return circle”, the amount of Under the “empty land return circle”, the amount of land acquisition is increasing, and the villages are dimland acquisition is increasing, and the villages are diminishing.inishing.

The landless farmers are facing severe living conditionThe landless farmers are facing severe living condition * jobless* jobless * social security burden* social security burden * lacking of lowest living secure (* lacking of lowest living secure ( 最低生活保障最低生活保障 )) * expensive rehousing* expensive rehousing * other impacts….* other impacts…. What else could the landless farmers do????????What else could the landless farmers do????????

Nong zhuan fei ( 農轉非 )

Could they afford this?

Urban revanchism, China versionUrban revanchism, China version

•Revanchism, France version: Destroyed the Parris Commune in 1871.

•Urban revanchism, China version: Destroyed the villages in 21 century

Concluding remarksConcluding remarks

Besides “industrial zone fever”, now we have “Besides “industrial zone fever”, now we have “university town fever”.university town fever”.

The agency of local governments in these cases coThe agency of local governments in these cases could be explained by “uld be explained by “rent-gap seeking regimerent-gap seeking regime” ” (Yang and Chang, 2007) to a certain degree.(Yang and Chang, 2007) to a certain degree.

In terms of China’s political geography, we argue In terms of China’s political geography, we argue that a significant “rescaling”that a significant “rescaling” is “the urban oppris “the urban oppressing the village”.essing the village”.

The consequence of such rescaling could result in The consequence of such rescaling could result in significant social-economic impact on the peasant.significant social-economic impact on the peasant.

Thank you very much for your attention!Thank you very much for your attention!