ABSTRACT

Retailing always has been a prominent element of urban morphology. As a city evolves and expands, so does its retail sector. Historically, the spatial pattern of urban retail growth has experienced a centrifugal shift of activity from central city locations outward to more peripheral areas. Typically, the forces that are associated with this shift include the suburbanization of population, increasing personal mobility, greater disposable income, changes in transportation technologies, and favorable government land use policies (Hartshorn 1980; Simmons et al. 1998; Yeates and Garner 1976). Since the economic reform began in 1978, Chinese cities have experienced

enormous transformation. Many including Beijing and Shanghai are also striving to becomeworld cities.AlthoughneitherHall (1966) nor Friedmann (1986) include retailing as a defining characteristic of a world city, all world cities have a robust and sophisticated retail sector, as is evident in New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong. As Yeates (1998) points out, while retail activities occupy only a small proportion of the developed urban land, they play several important roles, including the generation of large amounts of employment while serving as the centers of consumption. The level of retail development also reflects the standard of living in the host cities, especially the world cities. Even more important, the main commercial districts shape the city’s image and provide the city’s face to the world. For 30 years before 1978, retail in Chinese cities was a simple yet rigid

distribution system. The entire retail system was either state-owned or collectively owned, with the department store being the predominant retail format. Private business ownership was banned and retail chains were non existent. Since the economic reform, the retail sector has undergone profound changes: business ownership has diversified considerably, international retailers have been allowed into the city, and various contemporary retail formats have been introduced. In essence, the sector has moved away from a centrally planned system towards a market-oriented retail economy. Along with this shift there has been significant restructuring of retail capital and production of new consumption spaces.