Urban conservation in China in an international context: Retrospect and prospects

Abstract

Many historical cities in China are facing exceptional pressures for redevelopment and other changes because of the growth of the market-oriented economy over the past three to four decades. Urban conservation in China, which is influenced by Western experiences, has its own characteristics. Both its theory and practice reflect the distinctive philosophical and cultural traditions and the political-economic conditions of the country. The retrospect development of urban conservation in China, from an international comparative perspective, aims to generate a more systematic and critical understanding of the differences and links between urban conservation in China and that being in the West. Although considerable effort has been devoted to reconciling authentic conservation and the demands for growth in China, a more adaptable and historically sensitive framework for future urban change is slow to develop. Focusing on UNESCO's historic urban landscape recommendation and issues over its recent implementation in China, the paper intends to form a basis for future research, in which the theoretical, institutional, and practical aspects of urban conservation can be further improved, both in China and international context.