Volume 3 · Issue 8 (2026)
DOI number:
10.66521/2938-9933-2026082402
Transforming Gusu: Models, Pathways, and Strategies for Suzhou-Specific Urban Renewal
Leilei Sun, Qian Kong*, Kailun Zheng, Xingyi Gu
Gold Mantis School of Architecture, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China
Corresponding Author: Qian Kong
Abstract: As global urbanization shifts toward intensive stock-based regeneration, urban renewal drives urban functional restructuring, historical context inheritance and high-quality development. Existing literature overemphasizes fragmented design techniques and macro policy reading, lacking systematic research on classified implementation paths and long-term mechanisms for high-density historic cities constrained by complex property rights, strict heritage protection rules and financing limits. This paper takes pilot renewal city Suzhou as the research object, establishes a three-tier analytical framework of model induction, path classification and strategy formulation, and conducts multiple-case analysis on historic districts, old public buildings, disused industrial sites and aging communities to interpret their financing and governance modes. The results identify a government-financial-market collaborative governance model supported by the “1+N+X” policy system and diverse financing tools, alongside four spatial renewal modes: micro-intervention with cultural, commercial and tourism feedback, asset-light integrated activation, policy dividend release, and multi-party co-governance. To address deep-stage renewal obstacles such as insufficient social capital participation and high property right integration costs, the study proposes a set of practical tools including infrastructure REITs, future revenue pledge financing, renewal special loans, “Urban Renewal Plus” comprehensive development, three-dimensional property right confirmation and risk compensation pools. The findings provide empirical support and transferable governance experience for the intensive stock renewal of historic cities worldwide.
Keywords: Suzhou; Urban Renewal; Historic City Conservation; Renewal Paths
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