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Making a new district using eight principles. Chenggong, a new town near Kunming, China

Aerial perspective of Chenggong


Author(s): Zhigao Wang, Zhuojian Peng, Jiangyan Wang, Peter Calthorpe


Abstract / Introduction (download full article at the bottom)

Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, has been the focus of tremendous urban expansion over the past decade. To accommodate this growth, four new planned towns will be constructed. These new towns and Kunming will be inter-connected by a robust transit network consisting of several bus rapid transit (BRT) lines and two Metro lines.
Chenggong, the largest of the four planned new towns, will become the new provincial capital. The site for this new town, located 15 km southwest of Downtown Kunming, has an area of 160 square kilometers which extends east to west from the foothills of Liangwang mountain range to the banks of the picturesque Dianchi Lake. Within this area there are several cultural sites of local and regional importance as well major natural landmarks (see Figure 1), such as Kuige Tower, Dianchi Lake and Longtan Mountain. The area has a strong local tradition of horticulture, and the Dounan Flower Market in Chenggong is reputed to be Asia’s largest wholesale flower market.
In recognition of the ecological wealth of the region, the development of the new town was intended to promote a low carbon footprint by achieving an overall jobs/housing balance and the provision of rich transit opportunities.
The program for Chenggong New Town calls for the creation of an education focused center which would include nine universities and colleges, a major new center for education, as well as research and related centers. It will establish Chenggong as a knowledge base for the entire region. In addition to a comprehensive mix of academic and research facilities, the 1,500 hectare education center program includes residences for approximately 20,000 teachers, a total student population of 150,000 and houses for displaced villagers.

An indication of the importance of Chenggong is its planned high speed rail hub at Kunyu Rail Station which will ultimately serve an estimated 200,000 passengers each day. Its three high speed rail lines will connect Kunming to Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangxi. It is estimated that by 2020, the annual number of passengers would reach 31.2 million and by 2030, 44 million. There are also proposals to extend the rail network across the border to South East Asia.


Publication: ISOCARP Review 11, pp. 156-171
Year: 2015
Editors: Shi Nan, Jim Reilly, Fran Klass
Coordinator: Lucian Perici
Graphic Designer: Ricardo Moura
ISBN 978-94-90354-42-8

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