Excessive Urbanization and Rejuvenation in the Metropolitan City Center in Shanghai, China

Abstract

As the element agglomeration center, centerpiece of service industry development, center of economic flow, and cultural epicenter of metropolitan areas, has central Shanghai been excessively urbanized? Based on an empirical analysis of central Shanghai, the following results were obtained. First, no phenomenon of excessive urbanization exists; on the contrary, compared with global cities, gentrification in central Shanghai is far from over, reurbanization still has more potential, and reindustrialization is exigent. Furthermore, there is still a lack of knowledge, and the outward radiation of urban functions requires immediate enhancement. Second, the population density of central Shanghai as a whole is within a reasonable range; the government should moderately control the population density of the core area of central Shanghai rather than the scale of the population. Third, the targets of improving employment density, increasing the residential land supply, controlling business costs, and optimizing industrial distribution in central Shanghai should be taken into consideration. Lessons from international experience of urban renewal planning should be drawn upon to further improve quality and efficiency, create innovation, and upgrade the city center. Meanwhile, the government should pay attention to moderately expanding the scale of central Shanghai.