LIUYUN XIAOQU; GUANGZHOU, CHINA
Located in the city’s central commercial area, Liuyun Xiaoqu is a dense, mixed-use neighborhood with mid-rise buildings set into small blocks, constraining the amount of street space available. Because the street space is so limited, most of it is dedicated to pedestrians, and motor vehicles are prohibited from entering. Parking provision is very limited and controlled at the perimeter.
Initially, Liuyun Xiaoqu was a gated, single-use residential block, typical of the housing estates built in the late 1980s. Since 2000, when the tenants in the buildings gained the titles to their apartments, the owners started converting their premises to commercial uses, at first for local shops and later for designer clothes and cafés. The ground floor conversions began in 2003, starting near Tianhe Plaza, and eventually expanded until nearly all the ground floors was converted to commercial use, turning the area into an open, mixed-use neighborhood. Leading up to the 2010 Asia Games, which were held in close proximity to the neighborhood, the municipality improved the utilities and infrastructure, invested in the pedestrian areas and landscaping, and added some architectural ornamentation.
The district is well-served by nearby BRT and Metro rail stations, which makes it an accessible destination regionally and connects residents and visitors to the larger transit network.

Liuyun Xiaoqu; Guangzhou, China