Re-imagining Periphery

Abstract

North Anhui 6 cities locate at the periphery of Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in the eastern part of China. Even though YRD are the country’s most developed region, north Anhui are the most underdeveloped area according to Human Development Index in the region with only 1/5 of the core area’s GDP per capita. Large population outflow and high take-up of primary industry are two key features of the area. All 6 cities are secondary cities (non-capital prefecture-city), with similar GDP total amount and different development momentum. The 6 cities’ geographical location also lays in the middle ground of two urban agglomeration, Xuzhou urban agglomeration and Greater Shanghai Metropolitan Area, giving them opportunities to exploit the development opportunities offered by both.

Currently, the Yangtze River Delta is facing the urgency to transit its current industrial landscape into a carbon-neutral circular economy. A new industrial value chain is about to be implemented throughout the region which can be a chance for the north Anhui area.

The project thus raises the research question: how and to what extend can circular transition help develop peripheral area. By combining Stan Allen’s infrastructural urbanism and Jo Williams’ three pillars of circular development, the project proposes the concept of place-based circular transition which guide the strategy setting towards agro-industrial synergy, regenerative agriculture and distributive justice through designing hard, soft and organizational infrastructures. The project is thus not only a proposition of new way of looking at region development equality, but also discusses a missing yet important spatial aspect of circular transition.