As China transitions from pursuing high-speed growth at any cost to a growth model that focuses on sustainability, inclusivity, and efficiency, cities like Chongqing are a critical part of this new urbanization strategy.
A new World Bank report titled Chongqing 2035: Spatial and Economic Transformation for a Global City provides a framework of five strategic pillars for the city’s transformation: spatial structure, connectivity, innovation, inclusivity, and green growth.
Chinese cities implementing transit-oriented development (TOD) strategies is a clear win-win: TOD creates more livable cities and mitigates their emissions, which in turn reduces their impact on climate change.
In the video on the page linked to below, Xueman Wang, a lead author of the Chongqing 2035 report, speaks with Peter Calthorpe, known as the founding father of TOD, who conducted the scenario analysis for the report. He talks about the transition in China’s urbanization from quantity to quality, and the shift away from “superblock expansion” to create walkable neighborhoods.
Photo of Chongqing Central Business District and Hongya Cave is by Juukeihc via Wikipedia.