ABSTRACT
In Beijing’s western Shijingshan district a massive project is under way on the site of the Beijing Capital Iron and Steel factory.1 The Capital Recreation District (CRD) will be an ‘integrated services centre’. The CRD will include an animation production base, a digital entertainment and leisure centre, conference and exhibition facilities, finance and business facilities, as well as environmentally friendly living, blending traditional and contemporary design supplemented by education and training centres. The vision is ambitious and the scale of the project is massive by any international comparison. This is part of a larger plan to alleviate Beijing’s urban congestion while at the same time providing a sustainable development model for future generations. The key political idea underpinning the CRD is China’s transformation into an innovative nation (chuangxin xing guojia).
