Cities East and West, A Comparative Study: Innovation and Tradition

In June 1997, the Center for United States-China Arts Exchange completed an exchange project funded by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation: Cities East and West, A Comparative Study: Innovation and Tradition. It turned out to be the first exchange project of this nature and scope, and uncovered a trove of challenging urban issues of global concern. Chinese participants in the exchange expressed regret that this project had not been undertaken earlier. They felt certain that it would have influenced China's national planning policies during the most massive urban change in China's history over the past decade. 

The American participants, on the other hand, felt stimulated by the issues and strategies discussed, some of which they had never faced; while others offered insight on their own urban experience at home. The enthusiasm for continued efforts in this type of exchange was total in both countries. 
The goals of this project were: (a) Understanding ancient Chinese urban concepts as can still be perceived in selected cities, how these concepts influence Chinese contemporary planning, and how they might contribute to urban thinking in the West. (b) Examining current nationwide planning policy in China as exemplified by these cities, which represent three different stages of modernization, and evaluating how the modern American experiences can contribute to the present Chinese long-term urban strategy, covering the period of 1992-2010. (c) Considering if and how the current Chinese experience, as well as that of the 1950's, may serve as object lessons to current American urban thinking. 
Specific concerns include the following: historic preservation and restoration; redevelopment of old city areas; greenway and greenspace; zoning and density; water supply and waste management; traffic and pollution; urban ecology and quality of living; revitalization of arts and culture; local heritage and tourism; engagement of the public in urban strategy; and regional growth and coordination. 
Cities Visited. 

The American Team visited Yangzhou, Changzhou, and Changshu. These are contiguous historic urban centers of medium size along the Yangtze River between Shanghai and Nanjing with a written history of at least twenty-five centuries. The pre-visit conference was held in Beijing, where the team began its orientation with visits to major historic sites illustrating principles in ancient planning as well as Juer Hutong, the celebrated modern residential district based on an adaptation of the traditional Chinese courtyard concept. The post-visit conference was held in Shanghai, where the team also examined the new economic development district, Pudong. 

The Chinese Team visited the Twin Cities (St. Paul and Minneapolis), New York City (Manhattan only), Providence, Boston, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. The final conference was held in Washington, D.C. 

Conferences and Briefings

The Beijing conference was designed as an introduction to the site visits in China. It was attended by about 30 Chinese planners, architects, scholars and administrators. The Chinese presentations included such topics as "Traditional Urban Concepts in China" and "Traditional Concepts in Chinese Architecture." Four Americans made presentations on the status of their own fields of specialization in the U.S. today, namely, greenspace, livable communities, urban redevelopment, and historic preservation. 

The Shanghai conference was designed as an exit-debriefing session . It was attended by about 20 Chinese planners, architects, and professors. In addition to the summation of the American Team's impressions, followed by discussions, there were Chinese presentations on the history of urban development in Shanghai, and on the two best preserved ancient cities in China, Pingyao and Lijiang. Similar but more issue-oriented presentations and in-depth discussions also took place during the visit to the three cities. 

Chinese visitors to the United States were briefed extensively by major local organizations in each of the cities they visited. The Washington conference was hosted by The Woodrow Wilson Center, and cosponsored by such national organizations as the American Institute of Architects, the American Planning Association, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It consisted of a half-day roundtable discussion between the American and Chinese Teams, and a public forum attended by about 75 invited professionals.