My name is Luo Chang, and I am a first-year doctoral student at XJTLU, originally from China. I completed my undergraduate studies at Northwest University and pursued my postgraduate studies at the University of Glasgow. My research project focuses on the application of knowledge management systems in enclave economies. Personally, I am interested in regional economic development and planning, particularly in how to apply principles of sustainable development in these areas.
Doctoral Research: A framework for knowledge transfer and embodying it in Chinese sustainable and eco-oriented enclave projects
Exclave economy is a new phenomenon that has emerged with economic globalization, representing a model where elements from a different location engage in economic activities locally. This model is often associated with spatial forms such as immigrant gathering places, multinational company factories, and resource areas. In China, exclave economies are often linked to economic zones, especially cooperative economic zones. The purpose of this research is to explore how knowledge transfer, application, and creation play a role in the operation of exclave economic models in cooperative parks. Additionally, the study aims to investigate how to promote a more sustainable and green exclave economy.
Supervisor team: Dr Yunqing Xu, Dr Olivier Sykes（UoL）, Dr Sheng Zhong, Dr Peng Liu
Yanting Fan obtained her master degree in Urban Planning from XJTLU and BA in Environmental Engineering from East China University of Science and Technology. Her research interests include environmental planning and sustainable urban development. She has also worked as a research assistant in several research projects related to resettlement neighborhoods, watershed management, air quality and land value capture.
Doctoral Research: Effects of Urban Form on Air Quality in China: Spatial Interaction and Time-lag Effect in 288 Cities
Over the last two decades, air pollution has posed a tremendous socioeconomic challenge to the development of Chinese cities with rapid urbanisation. Many empirical studies suggest that urban form can sustainably reduce urban air quality deterioration. However, there is debate over what is the urban form that is conducive to the improvement of air quality. Specifically, understanding the dynamic temporal impacts of urban form on air quality is critical to predicting future air quality and making constant air quality improvement plans, while the long-term effects of urban forms may be understudied. Further, there is only scant evidence on the effect of interactions between different urban forms on air quality, bringing difficulties in the application of evaluation results to urban spatial planning practices. This research aims to provide a deeper insight into the spatiotemporal relationship between urban form and air quality by investigating the time-lag effect and the interaction of different urban forms on air quality. The study will be conducted through a spatial panel model based on the panel data of 288 cities in China during 2000 – 2020.
Supervisor team: Prof Joon Sik Kim (XJTLU), Prof Alex Lord (UoL), Dr Hyung-Chul Chung (XJTLU)
Xiang Chen is a PhD student majoring in urban planning. Prior to his PhD study, he completed a master’s degree in Architecture at the University of Newcastle, Australia and a BE degree at Lanzhou Jiaotong University. He used to work in China Railway Shanghai Design Institute Group Co.,Ltd as an architect designer, mainly engaged in architectural design and planning work related to urban rail transit and urban village reconstruction.
Doctoral Research: Coordination Mechanism of Integrated Development of Transit and Land Use in TOD-based Old City Regeneration in China
This study investigates the mode of TOD-based OCR in the Chinese context, focusing on the integrated development of transit and land use. It examines key barriers for the integrated development and develops a framework for incentive-compatible coordination on the basis of TOD theory and mechanism design theory. Employing institutional analysis, it develops mechanism designs for the integrated development that motivate participation and combine expertise with balanced interests of stakeholders and needs of integrated TOD for quality old city regeneration. Examining and comparing case studies in China and abroad, it further puts forward locally-adaptive institutional innovations of regulatory planning and development in China.
Supervisor team: Yunqing Xu (XJTLU), Rui Wang (XJTLU), and Alex Lord (UoL)
Anna has had a vibrant career as a researcher and marketing strategist. Among other endeavours, she was a Project Lead at the Organization of American States in Washington DC, Communications and Evaluations Manager at the International Red Cross in Panama City, and Senior Editor at Huawei in Shanghai.
Currently, Anna is pursuing a PhD in digital heritage, looking at ways modern technology and innovation can contribute to how we understand and experience our past.
Anna holds an MSc in Urban Planning from UoL / XJTLU and an iBA in Political Sciences from York University in Canada. She speaks English, Spanish, Russian, and a little Mandarin and French.
Doctoral Research: Fun, Fact, or Fiction? Evaluating the Authenticity of Experiencing Augmented Reality at In-Situ Heritage Sites
Previous studies have concluded that the concept of authenticity is not a stagnant one. It changes, evolves, and often rests with the user’s perception rather than the object itself. As such, several authors have proposed that digital heritage — reproductions of real-life heritage sites in virtual reality, augmented reality, or mixed reality — can provide visitors with an authentic experience of a digitalized heritage site. This, however, poses challenges to experienced designers in maintaining “scientific” authenticity and staying true to what we know as historical facts. Finding the balance between engaging the user and ensuring heritage authenticity and integrity is essential. This project will develop an evaluation framework that will enable international conservation organizations like ICOMOS and UNESCO, national and local authorities, and various cultural organizations in the heritage and tourism sector to evaluate the authenticity of digital heritage reproductions. It will examine what qualifies a true-to-life digital experience on two fronts: a) the objective authenticity of a digital experience at a heritage site, that is, how true it is to what we know as historical facts; and b) the subjective authenticity of the same digital experience, that is, authenticity experienced from the user’s perspective.
Supervisor team: Dr Yiwen Wang, Dr Nick Webb（UoL）, Dr. Yue Li
Publications and Conference Papers:
Vichnevetskaia, “Implications of the Use of Virtual Reality in Heritage Conservation,” 2021 IEEE 7th International Conference on Virtual Reality (ICVR), Foshan, China, 2021, pp. 215-222, doi: 10.1109/ICVR51878.2021.9483868.
Shaohua Hu was in Zhejiang Province Institute of Architectural Design and Research. He is now a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University, Suzhou. His research focuses on the appreciation of holistic thinking and the utilization of relevant theories in transport policy implementation and social phenomena, as well. Meanwhile, he also explores the application of psychological theories, specifically self-determination, in understanding and influencing intrinsic motivation in people’s behaviors.
Doctoral Research: Getting Public Transport Networked: How to improve the implementation of this “wicked” problem
The implementation of Network Public Transport (NPT) poses a complex challenge. This research aims to develop a systematic approach to effectively address the intricate issues associated with NPT implementation. The study conducts a thorough review of current NPT-related research and identifies gaps, delving into the mechanisms involved in the complex process of NPT implementation through a lens of complexity and holistic thinking, along with relevant theories. Ultimately, this research seeks to explore how future societies should navigate complex social issues and respond to policy transfers.
Supervisor team: Dr Anna Sophie Sturup, Dr Olivier Skyes (UoL), and Prof Rhiannon Corcoran(UoL)
Tianjie Jiang is a planning education researcher, mainly focuses on the approach to competitive strategy of planning education differentiation. Prior to her PhD study, she completed a master’s degree and BSc in Landscape Architecture at Huazhong Agriculture University (HZAU). She used to work in China Academy of Urban Planning & Design (CAUPD) as a planner and designer, mainly focused on the practices in Jing-Jin-Ji region in different scales. Also she has been teaching and managing in a planning and design programme in Gengdan Institute for 14 years, collaborated with European universities.
Doctoral Research: How can the planning education in China be reformed to support territorial and spatial planning？
Supervisor team: Dr Bing Chen (UPD, XJTLU), Dr Thomas Moore (Department of Geography and Planning, UoL)
The research aims to explore the differentiation strategy in planning education by analysis of indicators (defined crucial elements related to differentiation), mapping the domain of planning knowledge/skills/values according to planning industries on different levels and planning schools with different backgrounds respectively, and summary of the trends of the contemporary planning education and practice.
Publications and Conference Papers:
Journal Articles
JIANG, T. & CHEN, B. (2023), “Research on the Evolution and Comparison of Planning Education Accreditation in China and the UK “, City Planning Review, Vol. 02 No. 47, pp. 101-110.
JIANG, T. & CHEN, B. (2022), “Reform of Planning Education based on the Supply and Demand of Planning Graduates in the Information Age”, in 2022 International Conference on Identification, Information, and Knowledge in the Internet of Things (IIKI), FULLERTON,CA,USA, pp.
JIANG, T. & CHEN, B. (2023) A Theoretical Framework of Systematic Pedagogical Design based on the Principle of Outcomes-based Education. International Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Structures. Suzhou, China.
JIANG, T., CHEN, B., MOORE, T. & STURZAKER, J. (2022) The Evolution of Urbanization and Planning Practice: A Comparative Study between England and China. 2022 International Symposium on Sustainable Urbanism and Architecture: Australia and China Perspectives on Urban Regeneration and Rural Revitalization. Sydney, Australia (Virtual) & Suzhou, China (Virtual).
Ms Beixi Sun is a second-year PhD student at the University of Liverpool, based off-site at Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, China. Her research interests lie at the intersection of heritage studies, tourism studies, and memory studies. Her doctoral research investigates the issues and challenges associated with colonial heritage in post-colonial China. Prior to her PhD study, Beixi obtained her master’s degree in international cultural heritage management from Durham University.
Doctoral Research: To whom do we entrust the memories of our colonial past? – The dissonance of prison heritage in Qingdao and Dalian in postcolonial China
Heritage is a process of memory and construction, and this process is often selective and biased. The interpretation of heritage sites associated with colonial history are often treated as political events by governments. In some narratives of colonial heritage sites, particular aspects of the colonial past have been selectively highlighted to fulfill the political ideology or interests.
Colonial prisons in China, for example, are often used as a place for invoking the collective memories of China as a victim of imperialism, a base for patriotic education and a destination of ‘red tourism’—arousing Chinese nationalism and anti-Japan antagonism through tourism. However, there is also a need to curate it as a dark-tourism site, fulfilling the expectation and curiosity of young-generation thrill seekers and international visitors, performing the education and entertainment function of penal tourism, which has been long ignored in current heritage interpretation. Therefore, this research seeks to investigate the dissonance – conflicting views of different stakeholders — embodied in the colonial prisons in China and explore the socio-cultural and educational implications of this long-ignored dissonance.
Supervisor team: Dr. Yi-wen Wang, Professor Barry Godfery (UoL), Dr. Katherine Roscoe (UoL)
Hui Wang’s research focuses on the cultural economy and urban development transformation in China’s inland regions. She holds a BA in Creative Culture Industry from Ocean University of China and an MSc in Sustainable Cities from King’s College London. Upon completing her master’s degree, she worked as a writer and editor for Urban China magazine and other creative agencies.
Doctoral Research: When Film Festivals Arrived in Small Cities: The Changing Geography of Chinese Film Production and Urban Development in Inland China
This thesis examines the development of the cultural economy and urban development transformation in China’s inland regions, with a focus on the recent proliferation of emerging film festivals events. The phenomenon of the inland becoming more ‘central’ for the film industry contradicts the existing theory that cultural industries are a product of post-industrial transformation. The study considers that understanding this dynamic needs an exploration of the diverse ways and forces shaping urban development in China, beyond the mainstream thesis of state entrepreneurialism that emphasis on the administrative role of state bureaucracy. The changing geography of Chinese film production and their role in inland cities suggest the importance of incorporating cultural economy into the narrative of urban processes. By expanding the research scope of the culture industry of Chinese cinema to spatial and social domains, this study argues that film festivals not only play a role in their own cultural and economic sectors, but also constitute driving forces for the development and transformation of inland Chinese cities.
Supervisor team: Shih-yang Kao (XJTLU), Mark Riley (UoL), and Yiwen Wang (XJTLU)
Publications and Conference Papers:
Wang, H. and Kao, S.Y. (2023) Cultural events and the city: The migration of FIRST International Film Festival from Beijing to Xining, China. City, Culture and Society, 32, 100506.
Wang, H. (2020) Double Exposure·Factory Rebirth, Site Project of Innovation Galaxy, Jing’an District. In: This Connection. Shanghai: Tongji University Press, 112–134.
Huo Da is currently a PhD student focusing primarily on utilising landscape design to support healthy ageing-in-place. Prior to her doctoral studies, she earned a Master of Arts with merit from Newcastle University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Landscape and Design from Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology.
Doctoral Research: Healing landscape design that can support healthy ageing-in-place in China at the community level – a case study in Suzhou
This research-by-design study investigates whether and how healing landscapes can facilitate healthy ageing-in-place at the community level in Suzhou. In the process of retrofitting existing communities, landscape design is often neglected, leading to a lack in meeting the needs of older residents and supporting their outdoor activities. To address this gap, the interrelationship among landscape design features, older residents’ needs, and their behaviours is identified through a literature review, forming the conceptual framework for the subsequent research.
In the second phase of the study, case study communities in Suzhou are chosen to assess the effectiveness of the synthesised conceptual framework. This assessment is conducted through observations and interviews, facilitating cross-validation. Utilising plants selected from an established database, modular landscape designs are presented, in order to support older residents’ behaviours.
During the third phase of the research, an iterative process is undertaken to evaluate the design outcomes with older residents. Finally, design guidance on vegetation configuration is proposed to inform the design and redesign process of communities in Suzhou, aiming to promote healthy ageing-in-place.
Supervisor team: Dr Chen Bing (XJTLU, primary), Dr Chen Fei (UoL)
Peiao Tan is a current PhD in the Department of Urban Planning and Design. He was one of the undergraduate student at XJTLU. Peiao obtained MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies from London School of Economics and Erasmus Master in Economics from Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne — Paris School of Economics.
Doctoral Research: Reassessing county to district reform in China from a population urbanization perspective
CTD reform is one of the two types of amalgamation, annexation, which refers to one municipal with larger scale, more developed or strategically important mergers other municipals. On the other hand, it is also a reform about local political centralization that city government converts existing county (part of the county) into new urban district under its direct control with centralization of decision-making power. The dual characteristics of CTD reform make it valuable to the existing literatures. It contributes the empirical evidences of the impacts of municipal amalgamation in developing and autocratic country experiencing rapid urbanization and economic transition. This study provides new evidences to the debate about centralization and decentralization using a rare policy reform at local level.
Supervisor team: Profwssor Rui Wang, Professor Olivier Sykes (UOL)
Qinyu Zhang is a PhD student in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at XTLU. She obtained her MSc in Urban Analytics from the University of Glasgow. Her doctoral research focuses on the institutional arrangement of urban regeneration.
Doctoral Research: Incentive-based Regeneration of Traditional Blocks in China: FAR Incentives for Quality and Equity
Urban regeneration is in a critical moment to explore a new mechanism with both high quality and effective implementation. The priority over asset exchange value should shift to use value via quality and functional optimisation inclusive to different urban users and syncretic to history and modernity. This research aims to examine influential factors and barriers for low-cost and enforceable planning incentives for regeneration of traditional blocks and puts forward institutional rearrangements and technological advancement contributing to the balance of quality and equity in Chinese context. It employs theories and approaches of institutional analysis and transaction costs, based on comparative studies of international and domestic cases with visualization on complex relations and cause-effects by cognitive mapping, it conceptualizes the suitability, efficacy and limitations of FAR incentives, and institutions for effective motivation, viability evaluation and quality management.
Supervisor team: Dr Yunqing Xu (UPD, XJTLU), Dr Alex Lord (Department of Geography and Planning, UoL), Dr Sheng Zhong
I obtained my MA in Arts Management from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. I am currently a PhD student in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. My doctoral research investigates the changing, dynamic relationship between theatre art festivals and rural regeneration in China.
Doctoral Research: Culture-led Rural Revitalisation in China: A Case Study of Chinese Rural Theatre Festivals
The proposed research project will use qualitative research methods to examine contemporary (theatre) festivals in rural China. Using three rural theatre festivals as a case study, the study aims to determine how festivals in rural China influence and are influenced by local revitalisation. Additionally, the study aims to develop an implementable model to guide culture-led local revitalisation practices for multiple festival stakeholders such as cultural policy makers, rural communities, festival organisations, artists, etc.
Supervisor team: Shih-Yang Kao, Yiwen Wang, Mark Riley (UoL)
Yuanyi graduated from Nanjing Forestry University with a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Rural Planning. He further pursued his academic journey by attaining a Master of Science degree from XJTLU. With a focus on Healthy Urban Environment elements, his passion for research intensified during his PhD studies. He delved into understanding healthy behaviors, particularly dietary habits, and their consequential health impacts.
Doctoral Research: Exploring the Impact of Online-to-Offline Take-out Food Consumption on Overweight, Obesity, and Subjective Well-being of Urban Adults in China: Dual Perspectives of Traditional Food Environment and Digital Food Environment
As China’s megacities approach the culmination of their urbanization trajectory, the ascent of online-to-offline (O2O) take-out food consumption is profoundly reshaping the lifestyle patterns and dietary practices of urban dwellers. While extensive research has elucidated the associations between general dietary behaviors—such as fast-food consumption, takeaway food consumption, or out-of-home eating—and heightened risks to physical health, including overweight and obesity, as well as adverse mental well-being outcomes, scant attention has been directed towards discerning the specific health ramifications of O2O take-out food. Moreover, there remains a dearth of understanding regarding how the urban food environment, especially the nascent digital food environment, influences O2O take-out food consumption behaviors. This study endeavors to fill the research gaps by comprehensively delineate the diverse array of characteristics underpinning O2O take-out food consumption behaviors and scrutinize the ramifications of take-out food consumption on the prevalence of overweight and obesity, as well as the manifestation of adverse subjective well-being among urban denizens. Besides, this study will also endeavor to scrutinize the influence exerted by distinct types of urban food environments on O2O take-out food consumption behaviors.
Supervisor team: Dr Lin Lin, Professor Thomas Fischer (UoL), Professor Jane Hao
Publications and Conference Papers:
‘Take-out food consumption and overweight and obesity of adult urban residents in China,’ 2023, conference paper at the 17th Annual Conference of International Association for China Planning (IACP), Tianjin, China.
‘O2O take-out food consumption and overweight, obesity and subjective well-being of urban adults,’ 2023, conference paper at the Annual Conference of Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP), Chicago, USA
‘Happy and Healthy Commuters: An Empirical Study Investigating How Travel Behavior and Commute Satisfaction Affect Self-rated Health and Happiness,’ 2023, conference paper at the Annual Conference of Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP), Chicago, USA
‘From Clicks to Calories: Online-to-Offline Food Consumption Increases Overweight and Obesity,’ journal paper submitted to Preventative Medicine Report (Under review).
Prior to Lin Ji’s Ph.D. study, she obtained a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Sheffield, and she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Landscape from Suzhou University of Science and Technology. Her research interests in community participation.
Doctoral Research: Sustaining Urban Commons: An Institutional Approach to Securing the Longevity of Community Gardens in the Yangtze Delta
The study focuses on the management issues of community gardens in China, from the perspective of collaborative governance of urban common. After an intensive literature review, this study will firstly identify the stakeholders and actors of representative community gardens in three cities of the Yangtze Delta, followed by a document analysis of the statutory and legal norms and regulations that define the property rights, responsibilities, and obligations of different stakeholder and actors and perceived ownership, rights and obligations of participants. The core part of the study is to identify the barriers, both formal and informal that prevent the transition of community gardens from a placemaking niche to a regime with clear definitions of rights, responsibilities and obligations that regulate and enable sustainable, inclusive, and collaborative governance of community gardens. This study will enrich both collaborative planning theory and its practical application at the micro-neighbourhood level.
Supervisor team: Dr Ying Chang, Dr Juhyun Lee, Dr Thomas Moore (UoL)
Siyu Chen is a PhD candidate of XJTLU and research topic is age-friendly urban health niche modelling. He achieved his master degree of urban design in the University of Melbourne with best outstanding academic award and BA (Hons) in Urban Planning and Design from XJTLU with first class. He is also a research assistant of NSFC Project of Taihu new town elderly-friendly community research.
Doctoral Research: Explore influences of small-scale public open space of resettlement neighbourhood environment on landless elderly residents’ health-related behaviours in China —a Health Niche Model Approach
This research aims to explore the interrelationship between small-scale public open space within resettlement neighbourhoods and health-related behaviours of the landless elderly in China. Extensive previous researches have shown the complex relationship between neighbourhood environment, behaviours, and health outcomes, but the role of public open space within the resettlement neighbourhood has been largely overlooked. Most landless farmers, especially the elderly, have a strong sense of place attachment to their farmland and homestead. After losing farmland and relocating to the resettlement neighbourhood in the city, many elderly farmers may experience adaptation issues in terms of unhealthy lifestyle, stress and broken social ties. Those ‘soft edge’ space between buildings and roads is indeed the most intimate space for the elderly, as an extension from home place to public space, particularly for displaced farmers who used to live in the countryside. Based on the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, the objective evaluation of small-scale public space of resettlement neighbourhood, observational behaviours, and self-report perceived environment will be collected and analysed. It is expected to be found from this research that the interrelationship among SNPOS (small-scale neighbourhood public open space), PE (Perception of environment), HRB (health-related behaviours) within the resettlement neighbourhood and enriching the concept of health niche model (Sarkar et al., 2014) at meso-macro level.
Supervisor team: Dr Ying Chang, Dr Bing Chen, Dr Fei Chen (UoL), Professor Dunning Richard (UoL)
Publications and Conference Papers:
Chen, S., Chang, Y., & Benton, J.S. (2021). AB038. Neighbourhood health niche and well-being related behaviour change after coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Journal of Public Health and Emergency.
Xiaohan obtained her BA degree in Civic Design from the University of Liverpool (UoL) and BEng in Urban Planning and Design, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). She received her MSc degree in Urban Planning at the Department of Urban Planning and Design, XJTLU. Her research interests cover transportation and land use planning. She has also involved as a research assistant in several research projects related to housing market, urban spatial planning, transportation, and air quality.
Doctoral Research: Accessibility, Congestion, and Air Pollution in Location Choice: An Empirical Study in Suzhou, China
In economic geography, accessibility is an essential factor for effectively boosting the economy. Empirical studies show that businesses and companies are tend to agglomerate in areas that benefit from accessibility to maximize productivity and increase economic advantages in the densest areas of cities. However, some studies have shown a trade-off between benefits brought by accessibility and negative effects caused by air pollution and congestion. The benefit of accessibility can be reduced through negative external costs generated by air pollution and congestion. The influence of this trade-off could be varied depending on locations, and/or submarkets.
Regarding Suzhou as the study area, this research aims to investigate the effects of accessibility, air pollution and congestion on the housing price from spatial dimension at both city level and district level. The study intends to contribute to understanding of the spatial implication of urban transportation infrastructure provision and policy in China, and more generally to new urban transportation policy discussion at both national and global level.
Supervisor team: Dr Hyung-chul Chung, Dr Anna Sophie Sturup, Professor Alex Lord (UoL)
Publications and Conference Papers:
Lin, S., Chen, C.-L., Yu, X., Chung, H., & Vickerman, R. (2024). A holistic motility understanding of the social phenomena underlying inter-city high-speed rail commuting: Evidence from China’s Yangtze River Delta. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 15. doi:10.1016/j.cstp.2023.101131
Liyang Chen is a PhD student whose research mainly focuses on rural planning and its placemaking process. Meanwhile he is also a lecturer in Guilin University of Technology, teaching landscape design and planning studio II and III. Liyang has several years of practical experience, he previously worked as a Design Director in Lab D+H, and before that he was designer at Coen Partners and Halvorson Design in the United States. Liyang holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Washington.
Doctoral Research: How rural sustainability can be achieve through the lens of placemaking?
This research project aims to investigate placemaking’s potential as a sustainable rural development framework. By examining the interplay between placemaking and rural sustainability, the study explores how rural communities can shape their environment, fostering a sense of place, cultural identity, and economic viability.
Supervisor team: Dr Lin Lin (UPD, XJTLU), Dr Stephen Jay (Department of Geography and Planning, UoL), Dr Shih-yang Kao (UPD, XJTLU)
Publications and Conference Papers:
Liyang Chen ，Yunmeizi Tang，Xiaoyi Liu. From Brownfield to Green Space-Typologies, Values, and Perspectives，Art ＆ Design Research, 2022(4)
Liyang Chen，Zhiyuan Xie. Urban Planning Strategy Based on Locality—A Comparative Study of Urban Planning in Paris and Beijing, Communication and Engineering Science, 2021(4)
Wenquan Gan is an urban designer and planner currently conducting his PhD research at the School of Environmental Science, University of Liverpool. He received a B.A. in Public Arts from the Central Academy of Fine Arts and an M.A. in Urban Design from Cardiff University. His research interests include ageing-friendly communities, sustainable urban regeneration, ecological urbanism and urban analytics based on multiple urban data.
Doctoral Research: Renovating the Existing Old Residential Neighbourhoods to Improve Older Adults’ Well-being and Support ‘Healthy Ageing-in-place’: A case study of Suzhou, China
Wenquan Gan’s PhD research aims to explore the renovating design strategies to improve the ageing-friendly standards of existing old residential neighbourhoods and support older adults’ healthy ageing-in-place. This research adopts a multi-strategy method to undertake this pursuit, encompassing desktop research and rigorous field investigations. The foundational underpinning of this research is drawn from the concept of environmental psychology. The field investigations are executed through a methodologies triad encompassing GPS tracking, structured observation, and semi-structured interviews. The findings harvested from these empirical inquiries substantiate the pivotal role of outdoor activities in amplifying the well-being of older adults while concurrently affirming the pivotal significance of the built environment as a facilitator of these activities. In alignment with the conceptual framework, environments imbued with characteristics in consonance with the paradigm of healthy ageing proffer a conducive milieu for diverse activities catering to the multifaceted needs of older adults. In a community context, the pivotal role of neighbourhood resident committees, community public spaces, and urban parks in nurturing social networks and social participation among the elderly becomes patently evident. Indeed, older adults prioritise social interaction as a dire need that exerts a salient influence on their well-being. Finally, a cross-comparison and analysis of the responses of older adults in different types of residential neighbourhoods were conducted to gain insight into the cognitive differences of older adults on environmental preferences. These individualised preferences are the bedrock for formulating design strategies for regenerating ageing residential neighbourhoods. It is envisioned that applying these guidelines will be instrumental in constructing genuinely friendly cities for aging individuals.
PAN, L; Gan, W*.; Chen, J.; Ren, K. 2023. An Integrated Model for Constructing Urban Ecological Networks and Identifying the Ecological Protection Priority: A Case Study of Jiang District, Suzhou. Sustainability, 15, 4487. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054487.
CHEN J, LI P, WANG H, GAN W*. 2023. Research on Community Vitality Measurement and Regeneration Strategy Based on Multi-source Data from the Perspective of Social Sustainability: A Case Study of Suzhou Central Area. Shanghai Urban Planning Review 3, 119-127.
Zhaoqin is a PhD candidate at UPD. He completed a master’s degree in Sustainable Urbanism at University College London and a BA in Urban Regeneration and Planning at XJTLU/UoL. His research interests include rural planning and land property rights.
Doctoral Research: The Impact of Imperfect Land Property Rights on Rural Development: A Case Study of Rural China
Insufficient property rights hinder economic development in developing countries. Despite global efforts to implement land titling programs, the expected economic benefits often fall short due to discrepancies between actual and legal property rights. This research focuses on rural China, exploring the impact of special land property rights arising from non-formal property rights systems post-reform on rural development. Understanding this interplay can enhance property rights theory, offering valuable insights for policymaking, both within China and globally, to foster sustainable economic growth in developing nations.
Supervisor team: Xuefeng Wang, Yiwen Wang, David Shaw (UoL)
Kunlun Ren is a PhD student in architecture. Prior to his PhD study, he completed a master’s degree in architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and a bachelor’s degree in architecture at Shandong Jianzhu University.
Doctoral Research: Design Research on University Campus Environment to Promote Students’ Mental Health
This research aims to analyze ways in which the university campus design can affect students’ mental health and provide a design guideline that can support future renovation of existing campus and new campus design to promote students’ mental health. Based on the literature review and case studies, students’ perception needs and activity patterns relating to mental health will be identified. The corresponding campus design approaches will be explored.
Supervisor team: Dr Bing Chen (XJTLU), Dr Junjie Xi (UoL), Dr Manuela Madeddu (UoL)
Prior to PhD study, Yang completed a master’s degree in Housing and City Planning at University College London (UCL) and a BA in Environment and Planning at XJTLU/UoL. Her research intersts are in housing development, conceptualising liveable developments, changing motivations and interactions among stakeholders.
Doctoral Research: For A Better Quality of Life in China: Planning Incentivisation in Housing Development
Housing, taking the largest share of urban land use, is central to the shaping of attractive living environment. Yet the financialisaton of the China’s housing system has turned housing from a social good towards an investment vehicle, intensifying problems such as vacant spaces, car-oriented development and air pollution, urban sprawl with inadequate infrastructure and social divides. Re-emphasising functional instead of investment becomes central to China’s pursuit of quality development attributes of housing given problems related to housing over-speculation. Planning incentivisation has emerged as a proactive mechanism to shape desired forms of development while minimising their negative public impacts through leveraging developers’ resources and motivations. Thus, this research aims to examine how planning intervention incentivises housing development towards improving quality of life and identify mechanisms that reshape the public-private relations and interactions in China’s urbanisation.
Supervisor team: Dr Yunqing Xu, Dr Olivier Sykes (UoL), Dr Sheng Zhong
I hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Design from the University of New South Wales, Australia, specializing in spatial design and interior architecture. Recognized for Academic Excellence (top 5%), my research interests lie in urban design, where I explore the intersection of urban planning and public health.
Doctoral Research: An analysis of blue and green spaces across Suzhou and its association with subjective well-being and recreational activities
The global trend of increasing urbanization brings health risks such as pollution and stress, impacting mental well-being. Urban areas can benefit from natural elements, promoting health through improved air quality and physical activity. In China, urban planning emphasizes health and well-being, with limited research on green spaces’ impact. A study in Suzhou examines how blue and green spaces affect well-being and recreation, using regression models to analyze their influence on physical activity. By understanding the relationship between green spaces, health behaviors, and well-being, this research aims to promote healthy lifestyles and enhance residents’ well-being urban areas.
Supervisor team: Dr Jinglu Song (XJTLU), Professor Thomas Fischer (UoL), Dr Hyungchul Cheung (XJTLU), Dr Xuefeng Wang (XJTLU)
Luo Chang
Email: Chang.Luo22@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
My name is Luo Chang, and I am a first-year doctoral student at XJTLU, originally from China. I completed my undergraduate studies at Northwest University and pursued my postgraduate studies at the University of Glasgow. My research project focuses on the application of knowledge management systems in enclave economies. Personally, I am interested in regional economic development and planning, particularly in how to apply principles of sustainable development in these areas.
Doctoral Research: A framework for knowledge transfer and embodying it in Chinese sustainable and eco-oriented enclave projects
Exclave economy is a new phenomenon that has emerged with economic globalization, representing a model where elements from a different location engage in economic activities locally. This model is often associated with spatial forms such as immigrant gathering places, multinational company factories, and resource areas. In China, exclave economies are often linked to economic zones, especially cooperative economic zones. The purpose of this research is to explore how knowledge transfer, application, and creation play a role in the operation of exclave economic models in cooperative parks. Additionally, the study aims to investigate how to promote a more sustainable and green exclave economy.
Supervisor team: Dr Yunqing Xu, Dr Olivier Sykes（UoL）, Dr Sheng Zhong, Dr Peng Liu
Yanting Fan
Email: yanting.fan20@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Yanting Fan obtained her master degree in Urban Planning from XJTLU and BA in Environmental Engineering from East China University of Science and Technology. Her research interests include environmental planning and sustainable urban development. She has also worked as a research assistant in several research projects related to resettlement neighborhoods, watershed management, air quality and land value capture.
Doctoral Research: Effects of Urban Form on Air Quality in China: Spatial Interaction and Time-lag Effect in 288 Cities
Over the last two decades, air pollution has posed a tremendous socioeconomic challenge to the development of Chinese cities with rapid urbanisation. Many empirical studies suggest that urban form can sustainably reduce urban air quality deterioration. However, there is debate over what is the urban form that is conducive to the improvement of air quality. Specifically, understanding the dynamic temporal impacts of urban form on air quality is critical to predicting future air quality and making constant air quality improvement plans, while the long-term effects of urban forms may be understudied. Further, there is only scant evidence on the effect of interactions between different urban forms on air quality, bringing difficulties in the application of evaluation results to urban spatial planning practices. This research aims to provide a deeper insight into the spatiotemporal relationship between urban form and air quality by investigating the time-lag effect and the interaction of different urban forms on air quality. The study will be conducted through a spatial panel model based on the panel data of 288 cities in China during 2000 – 2020.
Supervisor team: Prof Joon Sik Kim (XJTLU), Prof Alex Lord (UoL), Dr Hyung-Chul Chung (XJTLU)
Xiang Chen
Email: Xiang.Chen2202@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Xiang Chen is a PhD student majoring in urban planning. Prior to his PhD study, he completed a master’s degree in Architecture at the University of Newcastle, Australia and a BE degree at Lanzhou Jiaotong University. He used to work in China Railway Shanghai Design Institute Group Co.,Ltd as an architect designer, mainly engaged in architectural design and planning work related to urban rail transit and urban village reconstruction.
Doctoral Research: Coordination Mechanism of Integrated Development of Transit and Land Use in TOD-based Old City Regeneration in China
This study investigates the mode of TOD-based OCR in the Chinese context, focusing on the integrated development of transit and land use. It examines key barriers for the integrated development and develops a framework for incentive-compatible coordination on the basis of TOD theory and mechanism design theory. Employing institutional analysis, it develops mechanism designs for the integrated development that motivate participation and combine expertise with balanced interests of stakeholders and needs of integrated TOD for quality old city regeneration. Examining and comparing case studies in China and abroad, it further puts forward locally-adaptive institutional innovations of regulatory planning and development in China.
Supervisor team: Yunqing Xu (XJTLU), Rui Wang (XJTLU), and Alex Lord (UoL)
Anna Vichnevetskaia
Email: a.vichnevetskaia18@xjtlu.edu.cn
Anna has had a vibrant career as a researcher and marketing strategist. Among other endeavours, she was a Project Lead at the Organization of American States in Washington DC, Communications and Evaluations Manager at the International Red Cross in Panama City, and Senior Editor at Huawei in Shanghai.
Currently, Anna is pursuing a PhD in digital heritage, looking at ways modern technology and innovation can contribute to how we understand and experience our past.
Anna holds an MSc in Urban Planning from UoL / XJTLU and an iBA in Political Sciences from York University in Canada. She speaks English, Spanish, Russian, and a little Mandarin and French.
Doctoral Research: Fun, Fact, or Fiction? Evaluating the Authenticity of Experiencing Augmented Reality at In-Situ Heritage Sites
Previous studies have concluded that the concept of authenticity is not a stagnant one. It changes, evolves, and often rests with the user’s perception rather than the object itself. As such, several authors have proposed that digital heritage — reproductions of real-life heritage sites in virtual reality, augmented reality, or mixed reality — can provide visitors with an authentic experience of a digitalized heritage site. This, however, poses challenges to experienced designers in maintaining “scientific” authenticity and staying true to what we know as historical facts. Finding the balance between engaging the user and ensuring heritage authenticity and integrity is essential. This project will develop an evaluation framework that will enable international conservation organizations like ICOMOS and UNESCO, national and local authorities, and various cultural organizations in the heritage and tourism sector to evaluate the authenticity of digital heritage reproductions. It will examine what qualifies a true-to-life digital experience on two fronts: a) the objective authenticity of a digital experience at a heritage site, that is, how true it is to what we know as historical facts; and b) the subjective authenticity of the same digital experience, that is, authenticity experienced from the user’s perspective.
Supervisor team: Dr Yiwen Wang, Dr Nick Webb（UoL）, Dr. Yue Li
Publications and Conference Papers:
Shaohua Hu
Email: shaohua.hu20@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Shaohua Hu was in Zhejiang Province Institute of Architectural Design and Research. He is now a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University, Suzhou. His research focuses on the appreciation of holistic thinking and the utilization of relevant theories in transport policy implementation and social phenomena, as well. Meanwhile, he also explores the application of psychological theories, specifically self-determination, in understanding and influencing intrinsic motivation in people’s behaviors.
Doctoral Research: Getting Public Transport Networked: How to improve the implementation of this “wicked” problem
The implementation of Network Public Transport (NPT) poses a complex challenge. This research aims to develop a systematic approach to effectively address the intricate issues associated with NPT implementation. The study conducts a thorough review of current NPT-related research and identifies gaps, delving into the mechanisms involved in the complex process of NPT implementation through a lens of complexity and holistic thinking, along with relevant theories. Ultimately, this research seeks to explore how future societies should navigate complex social issues and respond to policy transfers.
Supervisor team: Dr Anna Sophie Sturup, Dr Olivier Skyes (UoL), and Prof Rhiannon Corcoran(UoL)
Tianjie Jiang
Email: tianjie.jiang20@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Tianjie Jiang is a planning education researcher, mainly focuses on the approach to competitive strategy of planning education differentiation. Prior to her PhD study, she completed a master’s degree and BSc in Landscape Architecture at Huazhong Agriculture University (HZAU). She used to work in China Academy of Urban Planning & Design (CAUPD) as a planner and designer, mainly focused on the practices in Jing-Jin-Ji region in different scales. Also she has been teaching and managing in a planning and design programme in Gengdan Institute for 14 years, collaborated with European universities.
Doctoral Research: How can the planning education in China be reformed to support territorial and spatial planning？
Supervisor team: Dr Bing Chen (UPD, XJTLU), Dr Thomas Moore (Department of Geography and Planning, UoL)
The research aims to explore the differentiation strategy in planning education by analysis of indicators (defined crucial elements related to differentiation), mapping the domain of planning knowledge/skills/values according to planning industries on different levels and planning schools with different backgrounds respectively, and summary of the trends of the contemporary planning education and practice.
Publications and Conference Papers:
Journal Articles
JIANG, T. & CHEN, B. (2023), “Research on the Evolution and Comparison of Planning Education Accreditation in China and the UK “, City Planning Review, Vol. 02 No. 47, pp. 101-110.
蒋天洁 & 陈冰 (2023), “中英规划教育专业认证的演化和比较探析”, 城市规划, Vol. 02 No. 47, pp. 101-110.
Conference Papers
JIANG, T. & CHEN, B. (2022), “Reform of Planning Education based on the Supply and Demand of Planning Graduates in the Information Age”, in 2022 International Conference on Identification, Information, and Knowledge in the Internet of Things (IIKI), FULLERTON,CA,USA, pp.
JIANG, T. & CHEN, B. (2023) A Theoretical Framework of Systematic Pedagogical Design based on the Principle of Outcomes-based Education. International Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Structures. Suzhou, China.
JIANG, T., CHEN, B., MOORE, T. & STURZAKER, J. (2022) The Evolution of Urbanization and Planning Practice: A Comparative Study between England and China. 2022 International Symposium on Sustainable Urbanism and Architecture: Australia and China Perspectives on Urban Regeneration and Rural Revitalization. Sydney, Australia (Virtual) & Suzhou, China (Virtual).
蒋天洁 & 陈冰 (2021) 专业认证视角下的规划教育质量保障体系探析. 2021年全国高校本科教学质量评价研讨会. 大连, 大连工业大学.
蒋天洁 & 陈冰 (2022) 探析高等教育系统的构成要素及其关联. 2022 中国教学学术国际会议. 北京, 北京理工大学.
Beixi Sun
Email: Beixi.Sun22@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Ms Beixi Sun is a second-year PhD student at the University of Liverpool, based off-site at Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, China. Her research interests lie at the intersection of heritage studies, tourism studies, and memory studies. Her doctoral research investigates the issues and challenges associated with colonial heritage in post-colonial China. Prior to her PhD study, Beixi obtained her master’s degree in international cultural heritage management from Durham University.
Doctoral Research: To whom do we entrust the memories of our colonial past? – The dissonance of prison heritage in Qingdao and Dalian in postcolonial China
Heritage is a process of memory and construction, and this process is often selective and biased. The interpretation of heritage sites associated with colonial history are often treated as political events by governments. In some narratives of colonial heritage sites, particular aspects of the colonial past have been selectively highlighted to fulfill the political ideology or interests.
Colonial prisons in China, for example, are often used as a place for invoking the collective memories of China as a victim of imperialism, a base for patriotic education and a destination of ‘red tourism’—arousing Chinese nationalism and anti-Japan antagonism through tourism. However, there is also a need to curate it as a dark-tourism site, fulfilling the expectation and curiosity of young-generation thrill seekers and international visitors, performing the education and entertainment function of penal tourism, which has been long ignored in current heritage interpretation. Therefore, this research seeks to investigate the dissonance – conflicting views of different stakeholders — embodied in the colonial prisons in China and explore the socio-cultural and educational implications of this long-ignored dissonance.
Supervisor team: Dr. Yi-wen Wang, Professor Barry Godfery (UoL), Dr. Katherine Roscoe (UoL)
Hui Wang
Email: hui.wang2002@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Hui Wang’s research focuses on the cultural economy and urban development transformation in China’s inland regions. She holds a BA in Creative Culture Industry from Ocean University of China and an MSc in Sustainable Cities from King’s College London. Upon completing her master’s degree, she worked as a writer and editor for Urban China magazine and other creative agencies.
Doctoral Research: When Film Festivals Arrived in Small Cities: The Changing Geography of Chinese Film Production and Urban Development in Inland China
This thesis examines the development of the cultural economy and urban development transformation in China’s inland regions, with a focus on the recent proliferation of emerging film festivals events. The phenomenon of the inland becoming more ‘central’ for the film industry contradicts the existing theory that cultural industries are a product of post-industrial transformation. The study considers that understanding this dynamic needs an exploration of the diverse ways and forces shaping urban development in China, beyond the mainstream thesis of state entrepreneurialism that emphasis on the administrative role of state bureaucracy. The changing geography of Chinese film production and their role in inland cities suggest the importance of incorporating cultural economy into the narrative of urban processes. By expanding the research scope of the culture industry of Chinese cinema to spatial and social domains, this study argues that film festivals not only play a role in their own cultural and economic sectors, but also constitute driving forces for the development and transformation of inland Chinese cities.
Supervisor team: Shih-yang Kao (XJTLU), Mark Riley (UoL), and Yiwen Wang (XJTLU)
Publications and Conference Papers:
Wang, H. and Kao, S.Y. (2023) Cultural events and the city: The migration of FIRST International Film Festival from Beijing to Xining, China. City, Culture and Society, 32, 100506.
Wang, H. (2020) Double Exposure·Factory Rebirth, Site Project of Innovation Galaxy, Jing’an District. In: This Connection. Shanghai: Tongji University Press, 112–134.
Huo Da
Email: Da.huo18@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Huo Da is currently a PhD student focusing primarily on utilising landscape design to support healthy ageing-in-place. Prior to her doctoral studies, she earned a Master of Arts with merit from Newcastle University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Landscape and Design from Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology.
Doctoral Research: Healing landscape design that can support healthy ageing-in-place in China at the community level – a case study in Suzhou
This research-by-design study investigates whether and how healing landscapes can facilitate healthy ageing-in-place at the community level in Suzhou. In the process of retrofitting existing communities, landscape design is often neglected, leading to a lack in meeting the needs of older residents and supporting their outdoor activities. To address this gap, the interrelationship among landscape design features, older residents’ needs, and their behaviours is identified through a literature review, forming the conceptual framework for the subsequent research.
In the second phase of the study, case study communities in Suzhou are chosen to assess the effectiveness of the synthesised conceptual framework. This assessment is conducted through observations and interviews, facilitating cross-validation. Utilising plants selected from an established database, modular landscape designs are presented, in order to support older residents’ behaviours.
During the third phase of the research, an iterative process is undertaken to evaluate the design outcomes with older residents. Finally, design guidance on vegetation configuration is proposed to inform the design and redesign process of communities in Suzhou, aiming to promote healthy ageing-in-place.
Supervisor team: Dr Chen Bing (XJTLU, primary), Dr Chen Fei (UoL)
Peiao Tan
Email: peiao.tan12@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Peiao Tan is a current PhD in the Department of Urban Planning and Design. He was one of the undergraduate student at XJTLU. Peiao obtained MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies from London School of Economics and Erasmus Master in Economics from Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne — Paris School of Economics.
Doctoral Research: Reassessing county to district reform in China from a population urbanization perspective
CTD reform is one of the two types of amalgamation, annexation, which refers to one municipal with larger scale, more developed or strategically important mergers other municipals. On the other hand, it is also a reform about local political centralization that city government converts existing county (part of the county) into new urban district under its direct control with centralization of decision-making power. The dual characteristics of CTD reform make it valuable to the existing literatures. It contributes the empirical evidences of the impacts of municipal amalgamation in developing and autocratic country experiencing rapid urbanization and economic transition. This study provides new evidences to the debate about centralization and decentralization using a rare policy reform at local level.
Supervisor team: Profwssor Rui Wang, Professor Olivier Sykes (UOL)
Qinyu Zhang
Email: Qinyu.Zhang16@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Qinyu Zhang is a PhD student in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at XTLU. She obtained her MSc in Urban Analytics from the University of Glasgow. Her doctoral research focuses on the institutional arrangement of urban regeneration.
Doctoral Research: Incentive-based Regeneration of Traditional Blocks in China: FAR Incentives for Quality and Equity
Urban regeneration is in a critical moment to explore a new mechanism with both high quality and effective implementation. The priority over asset exchange value should shift to use value via quality and functional optimisation inclusive to different urban users and syncretic to history and modernity. This research aims to examine influential factors and barriers for low-cost and enforceable planning incentives for regeneration of traditional blocks and puts forward institutional rearrangements and technological advancement contributing to the balance of quality and equity in Chinese context. It employs theories and approaches of institutional analysis and transaction costs, based on comparative studies of international and domestic cases with visualization on complex relations and cause-effects by cognitive mapping, it conceptualizes the suitability, efficacy and limitations of FAR incentives, and institutions for effective motivation, viability evaluation and quality management.
Supervisor team: Dr Yunqing Xu (UPD, XJTLU), Dr Alex Lord (Department of Geography and Planning, UoL), Dr Sheng Zhong
Xiaotong Guo
Email: Xiaotong.guo23@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
I obtained my MA in Arts Management from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. I am currently a PhD student in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. My doctoral research investigates the changing, dynamic relationship between theatre art festivals and rural regeneration in China.
Doctoral Research: Culture-led Rural Revitalisation in China: A Case Study of Chinese Rural Theatre Festivals
The proposed research project will use qualitative research methods to examine contemporary (theatre) festivals in rural China. Using three rural theatre festivals as a case study, the study aims to determine how festivals in rural China influence and are influenced by local revitalisation. Additionally, the study aims to develop an implementable model to guide culture-led local revitalisation practices for multiple festival stakeholders such as cultural policy makers, rural communities, festival organisations, artists, etc.
Supervisor team: Shih-Yang Kao, Yiwen Wang, Mark Riley (UoL)
Yuanyi Zou
Email: Yuanyi.Zou19@xjtlu.edu.cn
Yuanyi graduated from Nanjing Forestry University with a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Rural Planning. He further pursued his academic journey by attaining a Master of Science degree from XJTLU. With a focus on Healthy Urban Environment elements, his passion for research intensified during his PhD studies. He delved into understanding healthy behaviors, particularly dietary habits, and their consequential health impacts.
Doctoral Research: Exploring the Impact of Online-to-Offline Take-out Food Consumption on Overweight, Obesity, and Subjective Well-being of Urban Adults in China: Dual Perspectives of Traditional Food Environment and Digital Food Environment
As China’s megacities approach the culmination of their urbanization trajectory, the ascent of online-to-offline (O2O) take-out food consumption is profoundly reshaping the lifestyle patterns and dietary practices of urban dwellers. While extensive research has elucidated the associations between general dietary behaviors—such as fast-food consumption, takeaway food consumption, or out-of-home eating—and heightened risks to physical health, including overweight and obesity, as well as adverse mental well-being outcomes, scant attention has been directed towards discerning the specific health ramifications of O2O take-out food. Moreover, there remains a dearth of understanding regarding how the urban food environment, especially the nascent digital food environment, influences O2O take-out food consumption behaviors. This study endeavors to fill the research gaps by comprehensively delineate the diverse array of characteristics underpinning O2O take-out food consumption behaviors and scrutinize the ramifications of take-out food consumption on the prevalence of overweight and obesity, as well as the manifestation of adverse subjective well-being among urban denizens. Besides, this study will also endeavor to scrutinize the influence exerted by distinct types of urban food environments on O2O take-out food consumption behaviors.
Supervisor team: Dr Lin Lin, Professor Thomas Fischer (UoL), Professor Jane Hao
Publications and Conference Papers:
Lin Ji
Email: Lin.Ji20@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Prior to Lin Ji’s Ph.D. study, she obtained a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Sheffield, and she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Landscape from Suzhou University of Science and Technology. Her research interests in community participation.
Doctoral Research: Sustaining Urban Commons: An Institutional Approach to Securing the Longevity of Community Gardens in the Yangtze Delta
The study focuses on the management issues of community gardens in China, from the perspective of collaborative governance of urban common. After an intensive literature review, this study will firstly identify the stakeholders and actors of representative community gardens in three cities of the Yangtze Delta, followed by a document analysis of the statutory and legal norms and regulations that define the property rights, responsibilities, and obligations of different stakeholder and actors and perceived ownership, rights and obligations of participants. The core part of the study is to identify the barriers, both formal and informal that prevent the transition of community gardens from a placemaking niche to a regime with clear definitions of rights, responsibilities and obligations that regulate and enable sustainable, inclusive, and collaborative governance of community gardens. This study will enrich both collaborative planning theory and its practical application at the micro-neighbourhood level.
Supervisor team: Dr Ying Chang, Dr Juhyun Lee, Dr Thomas Moore (UoL)
Siyu Chen
Email: Siyu.Chen1903@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Siyu Chen is a PhD candidate of XJTLU and research topic is age-friendly urban health niche modelling. He achieved his master degree of urban design in the University of Melbourne with best outstanding academic award and BA (Hons) in Urban Planning and Design from XJTLU with first class. He is also a research assistant of NSFC Project of Taihu new town elderly-friendly community research.
Doctoral Research: Explore influences of small-scale public open space of resettlement neighbourhood environment on landless elderly residents’ health-related behaviours in China —a Health Niche Model Approach
This research aims to explore the interrelationship between small-scale public open space within resettlement neighbourhoods and health-related behaviours of the landless elderly in China. Extensive previous researches have shown the complex relationship between neighbourhood environment, behaviours, and health outcomes, but the role of public open space within the resettlement neighbourhood has been largely overlooked. Most landless farmers, especially the elderly, have a strong sense of place attachment to their farmland and homestead. After losing farmland and relocating to the resettlement neighbourhood in the city, many elderly farmers may experience adaptation issues in terms of unhealthy lifestyle, stress and broken social ties. Those ‘soft edge’ space between buildings and roads is indeed the most intimate space for the elderly, as an extension from home place to public space, particularly for displaced farmers who used to live in the countryside. Based on the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, the objective evaluation of small-scale public space of resettlement neighbourhood, observational behaviours, and self-report perceived environment will be collected and analysed. It is expected to be found from this research that the interrelationship among SNPOS (small-scale neighbourhood public open space), PE (Perception of environment), HRB (health-related behaviours) within the resettlement neighbourhood and enriching the concept of health niche model (Sarkar et al., 2014) at meso-macro level.
Supervisor team: Dr Ying Chang, Dr Bing Chen, Dr Fei Chen (UoL), Professor Dunning Richard (UoL)
Publications and Conference Papers:
Chen, S., Chang, Y., & Benton, J.S. (2021). AB038. Neighbourhood health niche and well-being related behaviour change after coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Journal of Public Health and Emergency.
Xiaohan Yu
Email: Xiaohan.Yu19@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Xiaohan obtained her BA degree in Civic Design from the University of Liverpool (UoL) and BEng in Urban Planning and Design, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). She received her MSc degree in Urban Planning at the Department of Urban Planning and Design, XJTLU. Her research interests cover transportation and land use planning. She has also involved as a research assistant in several research projects related to housing market, urban spatial planning, transportation, and air quality.
Doctoral Research: Accessibility, Congestion, and Air Pollution in Location Choice: An Empirical Study in Suzhou, China
In economic geography, accessibility is an essential factor for effectively boosting the economy. Empirical studies show that businesses and companies are tend to agglomerate in areas that benefit from accessibility to maximize productivity and increase economic advantages in the densest areas of cities. However, some studies have shown a trade-off between benefits brought by accessibility and negative effects caused by air pollution and congestion. The benefit of accessibility can be reduced through negative external costs generated by air pollution and congestion. The influence of this trade-off could be varied depending on locations, and/or submarkets.
Regarding Suzhou as the study area, this research aims to investigate the effects of accessibility, air pollution and congestion on the housing price from spatial dimension at both city level and district level. The study intends to contribute to understanding of the spatial implication of urban transportation infrastructure provision and policy in China, and more generally to new urban transportation policy discussion at both national and global level.
Supervisor team: Dr Hyung-chul Chung, Dr Anna Sophie Sturup, Professor Alex Lord (UoL)
Publications and Conference Papers:
Lin, S., Chen, C.-L., Yu, X., Chung, H., & Vickerman, R. (2024). A holistic motility understanding of the social phenomena underlying inter-city high-speed rail commuting: Evidence from China’s Yangtze River Delta. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 15. doi:10.1016/j.cstp.2023.101131
Liyang Chen
Email: liyang.chen23@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Liyang Chen is a PhD student whose research mainly focuses on rural planning and its placemaking process. Meanwhile he is also a lecturer in Guilin University of Technology, teaching landscape design and planning studio II and III. Liyang has several years of practical experience, he previously worked as a Design Director in Lab D+H, and before that he was designer at Coen Partners and Halvorson Design in the United States. Liyang holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Washington.
Doctoral Research: How rural sustainability can be achieve through the lens of placemaking?
This research project aims to investigate placemaking’s potential as a sustainable rural development framework. By examining the interplay between placemaking and rural sustainability, the study explores how rural communities can shape their environment, fostering a sense of place, cultural identity, and economic viability.
Supervisor team: Dr Lin Lin (UPD, XJTLU), Dr Stephen Jay (Department of Geography and Planning, UoL), Dr Shih-yang Kao (UPD, XJTLU)
Publications and Conference Papers:
Wenquan Gan
Email: Wenquan.Gan20@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Wenquan Gan is an urban designer and planner currently conducting his PhD research at the School of Environmental Science, University of Liverpool. He received a B.A. in Public Arts from the Central Academy of Fine Arts and an M.A. in Urban Design from Cardiff University. His research interests include ageing-friendly communities, sustainable urban regeneration, ecological urbanism and urban analytics based on multiple urban data.
Doctoral Research: Renovating the Existing Old Residential Neighbourhoods to Improve Older Adults’ Well-being and Support ‘Healthy Ageing-in-place’: A case study of Suzhou, China
Wenquan Gan’s PhD research aims to explore the renovating design strategies to improve the ageing-friendly standards of existing old residential neighbourhoods and support older adults’ healthy ageing-in-place. This research adopts a multi-strategy method to undertake this pursuit, encompassing desktop research and rigorous field investigations. The foundational underpinning of this research is drawn from the concept of environmental psychology. The field investigations are executed through a methodologies triad encompassing GPS tracking, structured observation, and semi-structured interviews. The findings harvested from these empirical inquiries substantiate the pivotal role of outdoor activities in amplifying the well-being of older adults while concurrently affirming the pivotal significance of the built environment as a facilitator of these activities. In alignment with the conceptual framework, environments imbued with characteristics in consonance with the paradigm of healthy ageing proffer a conducive milieu for diverse activities catering to the multifaceted needs of older adults. In a community context, the pivotal role of neighbourhood resident committees, community public spaces, and urban parks in nurturing social networks and social participation among the elderly becomes patently evident. Indeed, older adults prioritise social interaction as a dire need that exerts a salient influence on their well-being. Finally, a cross-comparison and analysis of the responses of older adults in different types of residential neighbourhoods were conducted to gain insight into the cognitive differences of older adults on environmental preferences. These individualised preferences are the bedrock for formulating design strategies for regenerating ageing residential neighbourhoods. It is envisioned that applying these guidelines will be instrumental in constructing genuinely friendly cities for aging individuals.
Supervisor team: Bing Chen (XJTLU), Manuela Madeddu (UoL), Katia Attuyer (External)
Publications and Conference Papers:
Zhaoqin Shi
Email: Zhaoqin.shi16@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Zhaoqin is a PhD candidate at UPD. He completed a master’s degree in Sustainable Urbanism at University College London and a BA in Urban Regeneration and Planning at XJTLU/UoL. His research interests include rural planning and land property rights.
Doctoral Research: The Impact of Imperfect Land Property Rights on Rural Development: A Case Study of Rural China
Insufficient property rights hinder economic development in developing countries. Despite global efforts to implement land titling programs, the expected economic benefits often fall short due to discrepancies between actual and legal property rights. This research focuses on rural China, exploring the impact of special land property rights arising from non-formal property rights systems post-reform on rural development. Understanding this interplay can enhance property rights theory, offering valuable insights for policymaking, both within China and globally, to foster sustainable economic growth in developing nations.
Supervisor team: Xuefeng Wang, Yiwen Wang, David Shaw (UoL)
Kunlun Ren
Email: Kunlun.ren20@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Kunlun Ren is a PhD student in architecture. Prior to his PhD study, he completed a master’s degree in architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and a bachelor’s degree in architecture at Shandong Jianzhu University.
Doctoral Research: Design Research on University Campus Environment to Promote Students’ Mental Health
This research aims to analyze ways in which the university campus design can affect students’ mental health and provide a design guideline that can support future renovation of existing campus and new campus design to promote students’ mental health. Based on the literature review and case studies, students’ perception needs and activity patterns relating to mental health will be identified. The corresponding campus design approaches will be explored.
Supervisor team: Dr Bing Chen (XJTLU), Dr Junjie Xi (UoL), Dr Manuela Madeddu (UoL)
Publications and Conference Papers:
陈冰，任昆仑，钞秋玲. 融合与流变：我国高校学习空间演化模式探讨——以西交利物浦大学为例[J]. 建筑学报, 2023,651(2): 79-85
Yang An
Email: Yang.An19@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Prior to PhD study, Yang completed a master’s degree in Housing and City Planning at University College London (UCL) and a BA in Environment and Planning at XJTLU/UoL. Her research intersts are in housing development, conceptualising liveable developments, changing motivations and interactions among stakeholders.
Doctoral Research: For A Better Quality of Life in China: Planning Incentivisation in Housing Development
Housing, taking the largest share of urban land use, is central to the shaping of attractive living environment. Yet the financialisaton of the China’s housing system has turned housing from a social good towards an investment vehicle, intensifying problems such as vacant spaces, car-oriented development and air pollution, urban sprawl with inadequate infrastructure and social divides. Re-emphasising functional instead of investment becomes central to China’s pursuit of quality development attributes of housing given problems related to housing over-speculation. Planning incentivisation has emerged as a proactive mechanism to shape desired forms of development while minimising their negative public impacts through leveraging developers’ resources and motivations. Thus, this research aims to examine how planning intervention incentivises housing development towards improving quality of life and identify mechanisms that reshape the public-private relations and interactions in China’s urbanisation.
Supervisor team: Dr Yunqing Xu, Dr Olivier Sykes (UoL), Dr Sheng Zhong
Zijun Guo
Email: iam317@foxmail.com
I hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Design from the University of New South Wales, Australia, specializing in spatial design and interior architecture. Recognized for Academic Excellence (top 5%), my research interests lie in urban design, where I explore the intersection of urban planning and public health.
Doctoral Research: An analysis of blue and green spaces across Suzhou and its association with subjective well-being and recreational activities
The global trend of increasing urbanization brings health risks such as pollution and stress, impacting mental well-being. Urban areas can benefit from natural elements, promoting health through improved air quality and physical activity. In China, urban planning emphasizes health and well-being, with limited research on green spaces’ impact. A study in Suzhou examines how blue and green spaces affect well-being and recreation, using regression models to analyze their influence on physical activity. By understanding the relationship between green spaces, health behaviors, and well-being, this research aims to promote healthy lifestyles and enhance residents’ well-being urban areas.
Supervisor team: Dr Jinglu Song (XJTLU), Professor Thomas Fischer (UoL), Dr Hyungchul Cheung (XJTLU), Dr Xuefeng Wang (XJTLU)