Page 179 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Urban orientalism and informal urbanization

applicability of its findings to other metropolitan areas Their experiences highlight the significance of addressing
with diverse historical, cultural, and socioeconomic factors informal dynamics through a framework that transcends
influencing urban orientalism and informal urbanization. orientalist divides and fosters inclusivity, equity, and
Furthermore, the lack of extensive and up-to-date data on sustainability. In light of these findings, it is crucial for
informal settlements and urban changes in Jinan may have policymakers, urban planners, and scholars to adopt a
influenced the thoroughness and precision of the spatial comprehensive approach to urban development in Jinan.
analysis and empirical results. Language barriers may have This comprehensive strategy entails critically examining
further constrained the study by limiting access to Chinese- orientalist narratives, fostering more accurate and diverse
language sources, reports, and interviews, resulting in the representations, and implementing strategies that address
omission of potentially valuable perspectives and data. the challenges of informal urbanization while advocating
The researchers’ personal experiences and preconceived for inclusive and sustainable urban futures.
notions may have influenced the interpretation of findings,
despite efforts to minimize bias through self-reflection and In conclusion, the study underscores the importance
triangulation of evidence. Temporal constraints also may of transcending orientalist notions and fostering
have hindered the ability to capture long-term trends in comprehensive, fair, and sustainable approaches to urban
urban orientalism and informal urbanization. Moreover, development in Jinan and other rapidly urbanizing
qualitative research methodologies may have been affected Chinese cities.
by sampling bias, potentially skewing the representation
of diverse perspectives. While the study offers valuable Acknowledgments
insights into urban dynamics, it does not provide specific We would like to thank the individuals or organizations
policy solutions to address the identified challenges who have provided invaluable assistance to this work.
effectively. Further research and active collaboration with
policymakers are needed to translate these findings into Funding
actionable strategies for promoting sustainable urban The authors acknowledge financial support from the Qilu
development in Jinan and other areas. Institute of Technology Project Funding (#QIT23TP029).
7. Conclusion Conflict of interest
The examination of urban orientalism and informal The authors declare they have no competing interests.
urbanization in Jinan, Shandong province, China,
highlights the intricate interplay of cultural perspectives, Author contributions
power dynamics, and socioeconomic factors in shaping
urban growth. This study provides a thorough analysis of Conceptualization: Feroze Nazia
scholarly literature and empirical data, uncovering several Data curation: Hao Ruining
noteworthy findings and their implications.
Formal analysis: Hao Ruining, Javed Muhammad Danish
Understanding Jinan requires recognizing the
significant influence of orientalism in Western discourse. Funding acquisition: Hao Ruining, Faisal Feroze, Javed
Achieving this understanding requires a detailed and Muhammad Danish
nuanced approach rather than reliance on romanticized or Methodology: Cheng Tongshun, Faisal Feroze, Hao Ruining
exaggerated portrayals of the city. Orientalist perspectives Investigation: Farooq Muhammad Sabil
often distort the realities of local communities and
reinforce preconceived notions, influencing policy Project administration: Farooq Muhammad Sabil
decisions and urban development plans in ways that hinder Software: Hao Ruining, Javed Muhammad Danish
the attainment of inclusive and sustainable outcomes.
Furthermore, the emergence of informal urbanization is a Supervision: Cheng Tongshun, Faisal Feroze
critical factor in shaping Jinan’s urban landscape, driven by Writing – original draft: Cheng Tongshun, Farooq
rapid urbanization and migration. The exponential growth Muhammad Sabil, Faisal Feroze
of informal settlements, usually known as “urban villages,”
presents intricate challenges for urban governance, social Writing – review & editing: All authors
equity, and sustainable development. The intersection of Ethics approval and consent to participate
orientalism and informal urbanization exacerbates existing
inequalities, particularly for marginalized populations This study received ethical approval from the relevant
such as migrant laborers and rural-to-urban migrants. ethical review committee (Approval ID: REQIT23TP234).

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 14 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3517