Current urban renewal in China lacks effective public engagement, limiting the agency enabled by the ‘Responsible Planner’ mechanism. This paper explores how exploratory walks mediated by planners support problem identification and co-production of interventions. By analysing spatial capital through the spatial distribution of four forms of capital, it examines and operationalizes spatial (in)justices in community renewal. Two case studies in Beijing’s historical and commercial districts reveal capital imbalance, empowering participants to potentially mobilize spatial capital to address spatial disparities co-creatively. The paper highlights the practical value of walking research and provides an actionable model for participatory planning and long-term policymaking.

Integrating sustainable urban water management into the urban planning process is essential for developing water-resilient cities. To this end, the central government of the People’s Republic of China initiated the “Sponge City” programme. However, challenges and gaps exist in current urban planning practice. The operationalizable planning approach to realise the multiple objectives of Sponge City is missing in the existing guidelines. Using a local example of Sponge City planning in Nanjing City as a case study, this paper outlines the current Sponge City approach from the perspectives of planning content and planning process. A qualitative comparative analysis between Nanjing’s Sponge City planning and Auckland Water Sensitive Design, as well as an evaluation of the Sponge City approach through the lens of Dutch urban water management, identified key missing elements that would enhance the current Sponge City planning approach. Examples include targets for pluvial flood protection, a strategy for planning interventions, and tools for interdisciplinary cooperation in the planning process. This enhanced approach was successfully applied in the Sponge City planning for Qinhuai District, Nanjing City. Nevertheless, challenges on data availability and the decision-makers’ mindsets called for more efforts on the interface of research and policy development for upscaling the Sponge City approach.