Chinese Suburbs Gone American

Part of Beijing and Shanghai are modeling suburbs after American tract homes.

1 minute read

May 3, 2005, 6:00 AM PDT

By Brenda Meyer

A different kind of U.S. invasion has hit mainland China. "During the past several years, numerous gated subdivisions have sprung up outside mainland China's two largest cities, Beijing and Shanghai; and the trend is spreading to other cities, such as Tianjin and Shenzhen.

What is most remarkable is that most of them, visually and architecturally, look as if they belong in San Jose or Orange County. They are directly modeled on the tract homes that have defined American suburban growth in the past 30 years."

Thanks to Brenda Meyer

FULL STORY: China's chichi suburbs

Monday, May 2, 2005 in The San Francisco Chronicle

Architecture United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.