Page 79 - JCAU-7-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Spatial network analysis of hutongs

reveals a consensus that Beijing’s hutong system has hutongs enhances community functionality and improves
transformed into a more visually complex and chaotic residential living conditions. Moreover, their preservation
network, driven by urban expansion and demographic and adaptive reuse not only maintain the city’s historical
growth, as demonstrated in the studies by Deng (2005), Li character but also foster livable environments for residents,
(2009), and Wang (2020). reinforcing social connections and preserving the city’s

Despite its seemingly complex and often convoluted cultural identity.
layout, some research suggests that the hutong system For instance, a study by Liu et al. (2019) analyzed
demonstrates remarkable efficiency and utility in everyday the spatial form of hutongs by comparing two modern
use. For example, Chen and Cai (2008) methodically residential areas with two hutong areas of similar size. The
categorized and delineated the complexities of hutongs from study found that hutongs exhibit a flexible variety of road
a typological perspective, uncovering inherent linkages layouts and a clearly layered, networked road system. These
and spatial regularities that significantly enhance their characteristics emphasize their advantages in openness
navigability and utility. Similarly, Zhang’s (2011) survey- and shared use. Based on these findings, the study
based study on elderly residents in hutong areas found that proposed strategies for modern residential area planning,
only 11 percent of respondents reported transportation- including the implementation of tiered road systems,
related inconveniences in these environments, reflecting innovative road form designs, and residential environment
overall satisfaction with the area’s accessibility. Further, optimization. These strategies provide practical references
Zhang (2022) examined pedestrian preferences in Beijing’s for implementing open policies in residential areas.
historic cultural districts, such as Dongsi, Xianyukou, In contrast, Jiang et al. (2021) highlighted that modern
Nanluoguxiang, Shichahai, and Guozijian. The findings residential communities often adopt closed management
revealed that 37.66 percent of respondents prioritized systems. While these systems address safety concerns,
transportation convenience as the key reason for choosing they also fragment urban road networks and create
walking, underscoring the hutong’s transit-friendly design. monofunctional communities. Traditional lilong (里弄;
More recently, Wang et al. (2024) highlighted the hutong lilong) and hutong neighborhoods, however, demonstrate
system’s excellent accessibility, particularly in facilitating the advantages of open-block designs, fostering
mobility for elderly residents. neighborhood interactions and enabling seamless spatial
However, it is important to recognize that these transitions. Through an analysis of public open spaces
studies primarily employ qualitative methodologies and in Shanghai’s lilong and Beijing’s hutong, the study
lack sufficient quantitative data to substantiate their by Jiang et al. (2021) proposed strategies for modern
findings. While they collectively affirm the hutong system’s residential areas. These include controlling the scale of
multifaceted convenience, their focus is largely on the small residential units, developing multi-layered spatial
spatial and functional dynamics of contemporary urban structures, diversifying residential functions, and adopting
hutongs in Beijing, often neglecting the system’s original a “broadly open, selectively closed” management model.
configurations. In addition, these analyses overlook the While these studies provide valuable planning
dynamic interplay between the hutong system and the city’s suggestions, they primarily rely on qualitative analyses of
extensive road network, which is essential for enhancing hutong spatial layouts. The absence of quantitative data
traffic efficiency and convenience. limits a deeper understanding and accurate assessment of
This study argues that the hutong system demonstrates the organizational characteristics of these spaces. Therefore,
high efficiency and traffic convenience due to its spatial the formulation of specific policies and planning strategies
organizational relationship with the urban landmark road may lack the necessary scientific rigor.
network. This relationship facilitates dynamic interactions Building on this discourse, the present study utilizes
between the hutong system and the broader urban road reliable historical data from the Qianlong Jingcheng
network, enhancing individual mobility and overall traffic Quantu (乾隆京城全图; Emperor Qianlong’s Complete
efficiency. However, a significant gap in the literature Map of Beijing) and employs spatial network analysis to
remains—the absence of a comprehensive quantitative transform urban roadways into a structured network
analysis of this spatial-organizational relationship. of nodes and links. It quantitatively analyzes the spatial
In modern urban planning, the hutong system also connections between the hutong system and landmark
plays a unique role in promoting sustainable urban roads by measuring the accessibility of specific areas. By
development and integrated community management. Its integrating historical documentation with contemporary
intricate network offers valuable insights for optimizing analytical techniques, this study not only corroborates
urban traffic systems. The refined spatial organization of earlier research findings with empirical evidence but also

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4608