Design history of China's gated cities and neighbourhoods: Prototype and evolution

As a global phenomenon, the gating form of gated community is often understood within a general context which by and large ignores the significance of the unique historical, political and socio-cultural momentums in a specific urban context. Through a historical review of the vicissitudes of gated cities, neighbourhoods and residential compounds in China and their physical evolution as well as the social change behind them, this paper endeavours to reveal that the enclosed physical forms and organizational patterns of gated community are deeply ingrained in the Chinese history of city design. Moreover, it shows that rather than exhibiting a localized version of a global process, gated community in contemporary China has its own socio-political rationale in the making. In consequence, the ingrained tradition and unique developing trajectory have a profound impact on both the visible and the invisible characteristics of gated community in China today, while the latter has eventually distinguished itself from all its predecessors in history. Based on this review, this paper concludes by arguing that any comprehensive understanding of gated community in contemporary China can only be achieved if the significance of the historical and local socio-political context is fully appreciated. URBAN DESIGN International (2009) 14, 99-117. doi:10.1057/udi.2009.12