Mix leading to success? Exploring the innovative development model in peri-urban China

With the development of urbanization more focusing on quality and human-orientation in the transitional period, the mixed characteristics and challenges in peri-urban China are emerging. The emergence and promotion of Area Development PPP (ADP) as an effective and innovative development model in peri-urban areas offer a feasible way to address the development needs. This paper is trying to explore and examine this innovative model firstly by identifying the three main features of the mixed land development in peri-urban China in terms of properties, functions and the development patterns. Secondly, this paper tries to describe and review the practice and spatial pattern of PPP (Public Private Partnership) and ADP projects in China. Thirdly, this paper takes Gu'an Industrial Park PPP project as the typical case to further verify the effectiveness of the ADP model. Finally, this paper attempts to answer the question how to realize the mixed land use by discussing the rationale and key points of the ADP model in combination with the theory of urban growth coalitions. The research shows that the ADP model can be a successful solution for quality peri-urban development in terms of mixed land use. This model may lay the foundation for in-depth comparative study and provide useful references for other developing countries in their peri-urban development.