Urban development of Lingang, Shanghai

The China Center for Urban Development (CCUD) is a public institution of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Since 1998, CCUD has provided guidance for 711 pilot cities under NDRC’s program to address major issues such as urbanization and urban development in China. In September 2012, Shanghai’s municipal government officially announced its intention to establish and implement special mechanisms and policies to encourage development of the port city of Lingang, a sub-city within Shanghai. On behalf of the municipality of Shanghai, CCUD is crafting strategies and action plans to help drive Lingang’s growth within the framework of urban development as prescribed in China’s 11th and 12th five-year plans. In light of this effort, CCUD requested a Capstone team to conduct comparative research between Lingang and other international cities to determine common trends and best practices of urban sustainability, infrastructure, and environmental protection. Based on their findings, the team recommended models that embrace sustainable and balanced interactions between industry, nature, and social well-being in Lingang.