The comprehensive large-scale redevelopment of Pazhou Village in Guangzhou, China: The interaction of state, market and local community

Urban villages are an important element of the urban environment in China. Often characterized by high densities, illegal construction and poor quality, the key issue of urban villages for city planners and officials is whether to try to comprehensively redevelop them or opt for gradual upgrading. This paper provides an evaluation of the comprehensive redevelopment of Pazhou Village in Guangzhou, China, after a decade and shows that under certain important conditions including good co-operation between governments, developers and village collectives, land use intensification and participatory planning, it is possible for comprehensive redevelopment to benefit the original villagers. The redevelopment was initiated by the local state, and the case study examines the dynamic interactions between the key actors and their respective roles in ensuring the success of the development. Using the theory of state entrepreneurialism, the findings highlight the leading yet subtle role of the state in Chinese cities.