In Focus

Not just “Better City, Better Life”

Creating a sustainable urban legacy beyond World Expo 2010 in Shanghai

Not just “Better City, Better Life”

Yawei Chen
Assistant Professor in Urban Development Management, Department of Management in the Built Environment, Faculty of Architecture in the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology

In recent years, creating an urban legacy has gradually become the focus of event-led development or regeneration in cities. World Expo 2010 Shanghai, held under the theme “Better city, Better life” was organised to emphasise the concept of “city of harmony” and to promote the sustainable development of the city. The event itself is considered one of the most successful World Expos, attracting more than 200 international participants and more than 73 million visitors. But to what extent has Shanghai achieved its sustainable urban legacy?

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