China’s gated communities: symbols of privilege reflect a history of exclusivity

In ancient times, all roads may have led to Rome, but on the mainland today, it takes extra effort to get from one city to another, with avenues often blocked by security checkpoints, walls or fences.

As the personal wealth of the Chinese increases, so too has car ownership, rising from 58 million in 2011 to 124 million last year, according to the Ministry of Public Security. And the number is expected to grow as much as 16 per cent in the next five year.

This poses enormous challenges to urban planners, who are struggling to ease persistent traffic congestion. And now they have looked to gated communities for a solution.

They argue that these communities are not part of China’s architectural tradition. Rather than walls, fences, gates and guardhouses, residents seem to prefer the concept of small but connected neighbourhoods.

READ MORE: Not in my compound: Beijing’s middle class homeowners balk at idea of opening up gated communities

A good example is the hutong(public alleys) and connected quadrangle courtyard homes (compounds) in Beijing. Gated communities began to emerge in the 1950s after the Communist Party took power.