Enclave Urbanism in China: Attitudes Towards Gated Communities in Guangzhou

Under the conditions of differentiated local governance emerging in urban China, enclave spaces have become fundamental features of the spatial structure of Chinese cities. With an interest in the rationale and consequences of intra-urban boundaries, this study investigates residents' attitudes towards gated living in private commodity-housing estates, using surveys and interviews conducted with residents living both inside and outside three such estates in Guangzhou. Results show a strong desire for separating "insiders" from "outsiders." Insiders justify the practice of gating with the interrelated arguments of heightened security, sense of belonging, symbolic functions, and the production of a good living environment. Even residents outside the estates show a considerable acceptance of gates and walls, which challenges the widely accepted view that gating exacerbates local social tensions.