Natural Endowments and Planning Interventions: The Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Policy Drivers of Urban Park Distribution in Shenzhen

Research traditionally examines the spatial distribution of urban parks through the lens of spatial equity, overlooking the intricate interaction between the physical foundation of park construction and historical processes. Grounded in the theory of material geography, we investigate the mechanisms underlying the spatio-temporal evolution of urban parks in Shenzhen. We conduct topographical analysis and examine relevant historical policy texts to explore the ‘production of nature’ in China’s post-Mao urbanisation. We find that the distribution of urban parks in Shenzhen is not merely a result of social choice but a product of the interplay between material natural endowments—centred on topography—and urban spatial policies across historical stages. During rapid urbanisation, government-led spatial policies functionally reorganised and assigned symbolic meanings to diverse topographical features, such as plains, hills, and coastal areas, transforming them into urban parks that support capital accumulation and urban upgrading. The proposed ‘topography–policy’ synergistic framework transcends neutral spatial descriptions, revealing the nexus between the commodification of nature and urban governance. We clarify the rationale for the creation of contemporary urban green spaces in China and offer novel theoretical and empirical insights into sustainable urban transformation worldwide.