Page 166 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese

Architecture and Urbanism

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Urban orientalism and informal urbanization in

Jinan, Shandong, China

Farooq Muhammad Sabil * , Feroze Nazia 2 , Cheng Tongshun 2 ,
1
Hao Ruining 1 , Faisal Feroze 3 , and Javed Muhammad Danish 4
1 School of Business, Qilu Institute of Technology, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
2 Department of Political Science, The Zhou Enlai School of Government in Nankai University,
Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
3 Department of Business Administration, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
4 School of Law, The Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic
of China

Abstract

This study examines urban orientalism in Jinan, Shandong, China, focusing on
*Corresponding author: its intersection with informal urban spaces. Urban orientalism, a concept rooted
Farooq Muhammad Sabil
(sabil.farooq123@qlit.edu.cn) in Edward Said’s seminal work, describes the tendency of Western observers to
romanticize and portray non-Western cities as exotic. Jinan, undergoing rapid
Citation: Sabil, F.M., Nazia, expansion, reflects a complex relationship between urban orientalism and informal
F., Tongshun, C., Ruining, H.,
Feroze, F., & Danish, J.M. (2025). settlements, influencing both the city’s physical landscape and social dynamics.
Urban orientalism and informal The research explores how perceptions of Jinan’s “Oriental” identity shape policies,
urbanization in Jinan, Shandong, urban development strategies, and the lived experiences of its residents. Through
China. Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism, 7(3): a multidisciplinary approach integrating urban studies, cultural geography, and
3517. anthropology, this study analyzes the spatial distribution of informal settlements,
https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3517 their evolution over time, and the socioeconomic factors contributing to their
Received: April 28, 2024 persistence. In addition, it considers how local and global urban imaginaries shape
1st revised: May 31, 2024 views on informality and inform policy decisions impacting urban development.
Drawing on empirical data from fieldwork, interviews, and archival research,
2nd revised: August 12, 2024 this study aims to deepen understanding of urban orientalism as a multifaceted
3rd revised: October 9, 2024 phenomenon with tangible implications for urban governance and spatial equity.
Accepted: October 9, 2024 Addressing these biases through more inclusive urban planning strategies is crucial
for fostering equity and acknowledging diverse urban experiences.
Published online: December 4,
2024
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). Keywords: Urban orientalism; Informal urbanization; Jinan; China; Urban perception;
This is an open-access article Spatial dynamics
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution-
Non-Commercial 4.0 International
(CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits all
non-commercial use, distribution, 1. Introduction
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is Jinan, the capital of Shandong province in eastern China, holds great historical and
properly cited. cultural importance and is sometimes referred to as the “City of Springs” due to its
Publisher’s Note: AccScience famous artesian wells. This rapidly expanding urban hub has undergone substantial
Publishing remains neutral with economic and infrastructural development, evolving from a traditional city into a
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional modern metropolis. This shift has been characterized by the implementation of formal
affiliations. urban planning strategies alongside the rapid emergence of informal settlements. Jinan’s

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3517