Urban Governance and Street Vendors in China: A Critical Review of Literature and Case Study in Changsha

Abstract

Street vendors in urban public spaces are often seen as a negative element in the Chinese context because they may cause congestion on the sidewalk. Furthermore, in official discourse, the unregulated and disorderly image of street vending is conflicting with the rapidly developing image China has projected to the world in recent years. This paper is a descriptive study focusing on the experiences of street vendors in China. The paper reviews a large body of published literature, noting that street vendor activity has been excluded from city goals because of national urban beautification campaigns. Interviews with street vendors reveal how they confront urban authorities in the face of such oppression. Finally, the paper argues that urban authorities should adopt a more inclusive approach to street vendors.