<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Borders are fundamental structuring elements of space. This paper uses concepts derived from the study of political boundaries to make sense of urban structures and developments. It does this in the case of Guangzhou, a mega-city in Southern China, but the suggestion is that this approach is significant beyond the Chinese case. The author introduces five different ways to see borders (political, physical, socio-spatial, psychological and functional), and holds that border analysis should combine those five aspects. In the case of Guangzhou, spatially differentiated urban governance is seen as creating strong physical, social and other boundaries. This finding is illustrated by various pieces of evidence from the author's fieldwork, including survey data and qualitative interviews.</p></abstract>

Borders are fundamental structuring elements of space. This paper uses concepts derived from the study of political boundaries to make sense of urban structures and developments. It does this in the case of Guangzhou, a mega-city in Southern China, but the suggestion is that this approach is significant beyond the Chinese case. The author introduces five different ways to see borders (political, physical, socio-spatial, psychological and functional), and holds that border analysis should combine those five aspects. In the case of Guangzhou, spatially differentiated urban governance is seen as creating strong physical, social and other boundaries. This finding is illustrated by various pieces of evidence from the author's fieldwork, including survey data and qualitative interviews.

Borders and the City: Intra-Urban Boundaries in Guangzhou (China)

School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yatsen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China

Quaestiones Geographicae

{"article-title":"Borders and the City: Intra-Urban Boundaries in Guangzhou (China)"}

Borders are fundamental structuring elements of space. This paper uses concepts derived from the study of political boundaries to make sense of urban...

Borders and the City: Intra-Urban Boundaries in Guangzhou (China)

Published Online: Dec 21, 2011

Page range: 55 - 61

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10117-011-0038-5

Keywords
borders, Chinese city, urban governance, gated community, Guangzhou

This content is open access.

Borders and the City: Intra-Urban Boundaries in Guangzhou (China)

Published Online: Dec 21, 2011

Page range: 55 - 61

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10117-011-0038-5

Keywordsborders, Chinese city, urban governance, gated community, Guangzhou

This content is open access.

Keywords
borders, Chinese city, urban governance, gated community, Guangzhou