Decoding the Self-organizing Dynamics of Informal Street Vending in Guangzhou

While informal street vending plays an important role in the economic development of cities, it has also caused some environmental problems, such as illegal occupation of public spaces, blocking traffic and affecting citizens' travel. Therefore, understanding the distribution pattern and the operating rules of street vendors can provide insights into urban spatial planning and management. This study then selected three informal vending areas in Guangzhou, including Xanthi Market (suburban area), Jinhua Straight Street (old city center) and Sha Chong (old city fringe) for further research purpose. By using space syntax analysis integrated with POI data and field observations, this study analyses the business strategies of street vendors and the configurational and visual characteristics of the streets they prefer to locate in. Based on these analyses, the study aims to identify the self-organizing characteristics of informal vending and its interaction with surrounding land uses and facilities. The results show that, at the micro level, street vendors tend to cluster in areas with high visual permeability, while at the meso level they prefer locations with better physical accessibility and high pedestrian flows, reflecting the interplay between accessibility, visibility and safety. In addition, their business shows a remarkable adaptability to the surrounding urban contexts by offering flexible working hours, daily nature of goods, mobility and price advantages. It is therefore necessary to personalize management strategies based on vendor profiles and spatial dynamics in order to reduce conflicts and ensure that informal vending continues to complement rather than disrupt the urban economy.