Abstract:
Western literature shows evidence of a positive relationship between socio-spatial features of
neighbourhoods and social interaction. However, there is little research exploring this relationship
in the Chinese context, particularly between locals and migrants in peri-urban China where significant
housing is being created. This paper studies the socio-spatial features of neighbourhoods
in supporting social interaction between locals and migrants across different neighbourhood types
in the peri-urban areas in Guangzhou. In this research, data were collected using door-to-door
questionnaires and site surveys in 9 peri-urban neighbourhoods in Guangzhou. The nature and
strength of relationships between socio-spatial features of neighbourhoods and social interaction
were examined through statistical analysis. The results of this study suggest that the level of
maintenance and accessibility can help improve social interaction for locals and migrants living
together in villages, redeveloped villages, and commodity housing. Neighbourhood boundaries
and quality of neighbourhoods were found to be positively related to social interaction for locals
and migrants in redeveloped villages only. In addition, the perceived character of the neighbourhood
can positively impact social interaction for locals in villages only. This study demonstrates
that high-quality neighbourhoods can improve social interaction between migrants and
locals in peri-urban villages, commodity housing, and redeveloped villages in China. The study
provides a guide for neighbourhood designers, urban planners, and property managers in periurban
China regarding how to create a neighbourhood supporting social interaction between locals
and migrants in villages, redeveloped villages and commodity housing respectively.
