Research On Leisure City Development In China Based On City Leisure Index

With the rapid development of social productivity and the ongoing advancement of science and technology, human life experiences fundamental changes in the 21 century. From the perspective of space, it is a century of cities. City development becomes more concentrated and transforms people's life, productivity and value. From the perspective of life, it is a century of leisure which pursues more freedom. Objectively there are conflicts between concentration and freedom, therefore new development in cities is required. Leisure must be the important function of modern cities and an indicator of economic development, social harmony and comprehensive development of human beings.Industrialization makes industries more obvious in production and economy, and urbanization makes cities lose their leisure functions, which bring in a series of deterioration or lost on environment, society, ethics and value, affect the sustainability of human beings and cities, though accompanied by high speed economic development. Leisure is the basic function of a city. The weakening of leisure function in a city is the result of myopia of city managers. After the thunder storm of urbanization, we have to face with the strong destructive power and introspect what development is for? Skyscrapers, highways, squares and lawns that city managers are proud of are only superficial pursuit and evidence of the weak mentality of a wean nation. "People oriented" in mouth often turns into "people hostility" in action anywhere and anytime. Therefore, strengthening leisure functions and development of leisure cities is not only the requirement of improving the living quality of a city, but also the revolution on the concept of city governance.Through the discussion on the interrelated but distinct concepts of "Leisure City" and "City Leisure", the research adopts systematic theory and models to study how the leisure system improves the leisure functions in a city by establishing the structure and model of city leisure system. Through theoretical analysis of leisure cities, a hierarchic evaluation method constitutes the city leisure evaluation index based on the qualitative description of leisure cities. By using statistical tools to compare the leisure index and sub-index of the 39 municipalities directly under the Central Government, provincial capitals and cities specifically designated in the state, a set of classified evaluation prototypes and development models of leisure cities is proposed to guide the establishment and development of leisure cities in China.Through the analysis of the development of city leisure and leisure city in China and abroad, based on the theories of human needs, city economy and sustainable development, the research proposes that leisure city concerns sustainable development of cities with quality life of people.Firstly the research analyzes the relation between the leisure need of human and city development, after summarizing that human needs determine the emergence, development and perfection of city functions, the relationship between leisure and city is revealed as that city is the major place for human activities, space for people gathered for modern leisure demand, and that leisure economy promotes the leisure functionality of cities which set leisure as basic function. Chapter one sets the preliminary condition and logic foundation for the whole research.By scientifically explaining the relevant concepts of city leisure, the research analyzes the city leisure system from the point views of systematic city development, and systematically proposed the concept and content of city leisure system for the first time. Through the analysis on the characteristics of city leisure system from the point view of people's needs, the research elaborates the subjects, landscape, space, industry, public service and management of the city leisure system, then depicts the function and key points of the system. Chapter two sets up the fundamental framework of the city leisure system and lies the foundation for the establishment of an evaluation system for city leisure index.Through the theoretical analysis of the connotation and characteristics of leisure city and other forms of cities, the study drafts the fundamental criteria of leisure city constructions-livable, humanitarian, unique and harmonious. Furthermore, leisure cities are classified in line with the standards of modern cities, and the construction of leisure cities is endowed the meaning of making city better and more attractive. In chapter three the systematic theoretical elaboration on city leisure and leisure city is the key point and highlight of this research.Research on city leisure evaluation system is the necessary topic for the scientific development of leisure cities. After analysis on the connotation of city leisure, the research formally defines the City Leisure Index (CLI)for the first time. The CLI is a quantitative indicator of the development and potential of the city leisure system and a relative barometer to measure the comprehensive capability, consumption and environmental potential of city leisure after transforming and classification of the five sub-system of the city leisure system. Guided by the character and principles of city leisure evaluation, the research brings forward the construct of leisure city evaluation system with four layers-target layer, system layer, field layer and indicator layer.The dissertation explores the contents of development evaluation of leisure cities, using hierarchical analysis method, illegibility evaluation and clustering analysis to weight the factors of the evaluation system, and establish the general evaluation model of leisure city development based on the city leisure index, after excluding the main content analysis. The evaluation system and the general evaluation model of leisure cities in chapter four are guidelines for leisure city development and strategic initiatives.Leisure city development shows the quality of city and people's lives. To ensure the objectives of construction and functionality of leisure cities, the research analyzes the evaluation results of the leisure city index from different point of view by data-mining the 39 cities index, then ranks them.Through comparative analysis on relevant sub-index and main field score, by using clustering and quadrant methods, the research constructs the model of classification and evaluation in Chinese leisure city. According to the general scores, Chinese cities are classified to different types and models. Finally, the research reviews and analyzes the construction and development of leisure cities in China, then takes Beijing as a case for study, by comparatively exploring the problems in the process of leisure city construction to identify various key issues in germination, construction and development of different cities, then proposes policy outlines for governments to guide relevant issues so as to create the harmonious leisure cities of leisure environment and sustainability where people can live freely and comfortably. Chapter five is the empirical study part and the combination of qualitative and quantitative research where theory meets practices. Based on the theory of past researchers, literature review laid the foundation for this research. The study combines the theoretical analysis and hypothesis, qualitative and quantitative methods, induction and deduction, theory and practices, creates the framework of types and models of leisure city development in China backed by the perfection of the leisure functions in cities.