Page 170 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Urban orientalism and informal urbanization

4.4. Application to Jinan

Jinan, the capital of Shandong province, China, serves
as a compelling case study for exploring these dynamics.
Figure 1 visually contextualizes Jinan’s location and
highlights areas of urban transformation pertinent to this
research. Jinan’s geographical placement has significantly
influenced its development patterns, especially as rapid
urbanization propels the city’s expansion (Li & Wu, 2019).
This expansion has led to the emergence of informal
settlements, which occupy significant portions of the
urban landscape but are often marginalized in official
urban planning narratives.
Figure 1 illustrates how the portrayal of Jinan as an
“Oriental” city impacts these areas, with internal and
external perceptions shaping urban policies governing Figure 1. Geographical map of Jinan, Shandong province, China. Source:
informal spaces. This orientalized framing influences Map by the authors (created using Designer software)
development priorities and resource allocation, impacting
residents’ everyday lives and raising questions about spatial
justice (Ye, 2017b). The map serves as a foundation for
analyzing these urban dynamics, revealing spatial patterns
that reflect socioeconomic challenges and offering a basis
for examining policy implications.
By synthesizing insights from cultural geography,
anthropology, and urban studies, this research delves
into the nuanced interactions between urban orientalism
and informal urbanization, contributing a layered
understanding of how these elements shape Jinan’s urban
environment. Figure 2 serves as a pivotal reference in this
context, visually situating Jinan while illustrating the spatial
distribution of urban expansion and informal settlements.
This geographic depiction emphasizes areas impacted
by rapid urban growth that are often excluded from Figure 2. Illustration of the geographical location of Jinan, Shandong
mainstream planning processes and remain vulnerable to province, China. Source: Illustration by the authors (created using
orientalist framing. Designer software)
Through this geographic lens, Figure 2 supports a
critique of how spatial policies are often shaped by cultural consistent expansion driven by internal migration and
perceptions rather than actual urban needs (Roy & Ong, urbanization patterns. The influx of rural migrants seeking
2011). This analysis underscores the need for inclusive employment has overwhelmed the city’s housing system,
urban planning practices that recognize and integrate intensifying pressures on infrastructure and services.
the socioeconomic diversity within informal settlements, Population statistics and informal settlement data
fostering a more equitable and comprehensive approach to are crucial indicators of Jinan’s urban development
urban governance in Jinan. and socioeconomic dynamics, as shown in Table 1.

5. Population statistics and urban informal The city comprises 10 districts, with a permanent
population of 13,627,968, including 6,847,808 males
settlement and 6,780,160 females. The registered population is
The population statistics and frequency of urban informal 12,129,642. District-wise population analysis provides
settlements in Jinan, Shandong province, China, are further insights into the demographic composition. Lixia
indicative of the city’s rapid urbanization and associated district accommodates 754,136 residents, while Shizhong
challenges. With a population exceeding 8 million, Jinan district has 713,581. Huaiyin district follows with 476,811
is one of China’s densely populated cities, experiencing inhabitants, and Tianqiao district with 688,415 individuals.

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 5 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3517