Reviewing Duoluojie: The creative student-led urban transformations in China

Abstract

This article explores Duoluojie around Chinese university campuses, which are informal adaptations of streets to serve the needs of university students and promote creative economies. From reviewing the meaning of ‘being a university student’ in the Chinese context and how this has transformed in the past decades, we seek the origins and emerging literature of Duoluojie. Duoluojie in this article is considered as a creative approach to regenerating urban spaces with grassroots interventions from university students and local communities. It is rooted in but also beyond the street-vending economy. Duoluojie, as a unique phenomenon, serves as a vital connection between the university and the city, bridging the gap between campus life and the external urban environment. Reviewing two Duoluojie regarding failures and successes, we wish to open up the discourse on its future in relation to current debates and theories on urban regeneration and place branding.