The Redevelopment of the Laowaitan

This chapter offers a detailed study of the Laowaitan redevelopment project. It first discusses the background of the project, such as Ningbo’s comprehensive downtown waterfront redevelopment scheme since 2000, and the inspiration from the Xiantiandi in Shanghai. The strategies of urban design and marketing for the Laowaitan by the redevelopment team, as well as the high-profile promotional campaigns organized by the Ningbo authority, are then examined in detail. The method of resident relocation is also discussed, coupled with the residents’ lived experiences narrated to illustrate the changes to their life due to the redevelopment project.