2025 Vol.3
15-Minute Community Life Circle
Delineation and Comparison of Ideal and Actual Community Life Circles: A Case Study of Dangdai Community and Yimei Community in Beijing
Abstract: The concept of the Community Life Circle (CLC) is progressively emerging as a central element in territorial spatial planning. This study addresses the foundational issues pertinent to CLC planning, proposing a conceptual framework and delineation methodologies for Ideal Community Life Circles (ICLCs) and Actual Community Life Circles (ACLCs). Empirical research was conducted on two communities in Qinghe Street, Beijing: the Dangdai Community and the Yimei Community. Utilizing a crystal growth model based on geographic spatial data, we delineate the boundaries of ICLCs. In contrast, ACLCs are identified using GPS data reflecting residents' travel behaviors. The internal structure of urban community life circles is categorized into three hierarchical levels: Basic Life Circles, Elastic Life Circles, and Shared Life Circles. Our findings indicate that while ICLCs exhibit a "pancake-like" expansion pattern, ACLCs display a "point-axis" distribution structure, a characteristic also observed in Shared Life Circles. In conclusion, this research provides novel insights into the relationship between CLC delineation methods and residents' daily activities and behaviors, offering significant implications for future urban planning practices.
The Empowerment of Large Language Models in Community Life Circle Planning and Governance
Abstract: With the advancement of information and communication technology (ICT), the intelligence of community life circle planning and governance has increased. Yet, challenges persist in dynamically customizing services and enabling real-time resident interaction. The natural language understanding and knowledge integration capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs) present an opportunity to address these challenges. By integrating spatiotemporal knowledge graphs, geographically proximity-enhanced Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) methodology, and domain-specific LLMs, this study develops a community public facility information service platform. This platform enables smart assistants for local public service facilities, online neighborhood social platforms, and real-time evaluation and optimization of community life circle resources. Pilot results from university-type communities and ultra-high-density mixed communities in Shenzhen show that this system effectively improves the efficiency of community public service provision and strengthens resident interaction and governance participation. The study also envisions the dual applications of LLMs in life circle planning and governance, including top-down policy communication and planning feedback, as well as bottom-up demand prediction, public participation, project recommendations, and community service optimization, highlighting the potential value of new technologies like large models in this field.
Research on Guangzhou's Community Life Circle Planning under an Implementation-oriented Approach
Abstract: Community life circle planning has become a pivotal approach to advancing people-centered and high-quality urban development. Currently, it faces challenges such as poor integration with the statutory planning system, inadequate consideration of the heterogeneity and dynamic changes in community needs, and imperfect implementation pathways. Transitioning from conceptual exploration to comprehensive implementation has become a critical issue in developing community life circles. Guangzhou has been an early adopter of community life circle planning initiatives in China, progressively shifting from front-end planning schemes to integrated community solutions that encompass planning, action, implementation, and management. By systematically reviewing Guangzhou's innovative explorations on key issues such as community life circle delineation, service capacity assessment, critical element allocation, planning system integration, and implementation strategies, this paper proposes an implementation-oriented planning pathway for community life circles. The aim is to explore a long-term mechanism for building livable communities, offering insights and experiences for the high-quality development of Guangzhou and other cities.
The Evolution of Community Planning Based on the "15-Minute Community Life Circle" Concept: A Case Study of Shanghai
Abstract: As a primary instrument for implementing the "15-minute community life circle" concept at the grassroots level, community planning integrates spatial, temporal, and social governance dimensions to embed planning more deeply into daily life. Against the backdrop of urban regeneration goals in the stock-based development era, Shanghai has undertaken multi-phase community-level planning initiatives since 2016. By examining the motivations and contextual drivers behind the evolution of community planning—from micro-scale urban renewal and action-oriented plans to comprehensive planning—this study synthesizes the distinctive "Shanghai Model" of community planning. Key characteristics include its role as a comprehensive planning framework, multi-level integration with existing urban planning systems, demand-driven customization of content, a methodology emphasizing the coordination of spatial, temporal, and social dimensions, and a collaborative, multi-stakeholder process. Looking ahead, the study proposes future directions for enhancing community planning through the adaptive allocation of public resources at both macro and micro scales, offering insights for urban planning practices in other cities.
Study on the Spatial-temporal Structure of Community Life Circle from the Perspective of Residents' Daily Activities
Abstract: Research on the spatial-temporal structure of community life circles from the perspective of the space-time behavior approach could provide the scientific basis for urban renewal and community life circle optimization. Existing research focuses on the morphological and functional characterization of community life circles, and insufficient attentions are paid to the space-time dynamics and complexity of residents' everyday activities. From the perspective of time-geography, this study takes the Dangdai-Yimei community life circles in the inner suburbs of Beijing as a case study and probes into four categories: inside the neighborhood, the basic community life circle, the shared community life circle, and the extended life circle. It analyzes the spatial-temporal structure and influencing factors of the out-of-home non-work activities of residents in the community life circles from the perspectives of activity rhythm, space-time hotpots, and activity sequences. The study finds that there are clear differences in the spatial and temporal needs of residents for various types of non-work activities outside the home in different types of community life circles. The neighborhood is important for the elderly to take up leisure and social activities and for younger people to care for their children, while the basic community life circle carries more household, childcare, and food activities, and the shared community life circle further carries the diversified activity needs of residents, especially long-time leisure and social activities. On weekdays, residents are more active within the basic community life circle in the morning, while their activities are more concentrated in the neighborhood in the afternoon. In contrast, this pattern is reversed on weekends. In addition, residents' space-time arrangement of activities in different layers of the community life circle at different times exhibits clear differentiation in both activity types and socioeconomic groups.
Evaluation and Optimization of Convenience in Community Life Circles Based on Walk Score: A Case Study of Chaoyang District, Beijing
Abstract: In the Beijing Urban Master Plan (2016-2035), Beijing sets the goal of "striving to become a world-class harmonious and livable capital", emphasizing the provision of more equitable and balanced public services in future urban planning. As a new focus of urban planning, the convenience of life circles serves as a critical indicator and core factor for evaluating livable cities. This study takes the Chaoyang District of Beijing as the research scope, constructs a convenience evaluation method based on the Walk Score, and conducts a comprehensive assessment and analysis of the living convenience of various residential communities and their life circles in Chaoyang District. The aim is to identify the layout characteristics of public service facilities in the district. On this basis, three optimization suggestions are proposed: creating multi-level characteristic commercial districts, adding transportation stations to improve facility accessibility, and constructing an "online + offline" composite scene facility spatial form. These recommendations provide a strong basis and methodological support for Beijing to improve living supporting facilities, enhance community life quality, and achieve high-quality development.
Spatial Structure Measurement and Classification of Multi-level Urban Life Circle from the Perspective of Space Time Behavior Analysis: A Case Study of Beijing
Abstract: Utilizing spatiotemporal big data, this study conducts empirical research on multi-level urban life circles in Beijing from the perspective of the urban life circle theory. Combining quantitative methods such as community detection, kernel density estimation, and multi-algorithm clustering, boundaries of community life circles, commuting life circles, and extended life circles in Beijing are analyzed respectively. A "community - stay point - path" network generated from residents' activities is mapped, which reveals spatiotemporal patterns of various daily travels of community life circles. Applying the K-Medoids clustering algorithm on Hausdorff distance between travel distance - probability curves of commuting and non-work trips separately, community life circles are classified into several distinct categories, upon which in-depth case studies are carried out. Results demonstrate that Beijing's life circles have five patterns: balanced, commute-dependent, life-dependent, corridor-oriented, and special pattern. Differences primarily exist in the spatial relativity of employment and activity life circles to places of residence and urban centers, showing significant concentric and polycentric spatial distribution. The study not only provides empirical insights into the spatial logic of urban life circles but also offers data-driven references for urban planning and governance practices.