Under the Veil of Density: A Study of Urban Fragmentation in China

Abstract

Against the backdrop of China's rapid economic growth and accelerated urbanization, Chinese cities present a spatial condition characterized by dense development on the surface yet fragmented internal structures. This study proposes the concept of "urban fragmentation" to distinguish it from Western "urban sprawl," encompassing multi-dimensional disintegration in urban functions, spatial structures, and visual morphology. By selecting Luohu District and Futian District in Shenzhen, Yanjiao Town in Hebei Province, and Brooklyn in New York City, USA as case studies, a combination of comparative visual analysis and spatial analysis is adopted to conduct research from aspects such as block structure, street connectivity, and functional composition. The results show that urban fragmentation in Chinese cities is not manifested as low-density expansion, but as symptoms including the rupture of urban texture, sparse street networks, unbalanced spatial scales, single functional zoning, and poor walkability. Its formation is the result of the combined effects of institutional, economic, planning, and cultural factors. This study aims to reveal the imbalance of spatial order beneath the appearance of high density, providing theoretical references for urban governance and spatial policies in China, and promoting the development of cities towards a more livable and cohesive direction.