Rural spatial restructuring in suburbs under capital intervention: Spatial construction based on nature

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and consumerization are leading to significant transformation and spatial restructuring in the rural areas of China's suburbs. Promoting the commodification of rural nature with capital has become an important strategy for rural spatial restructuring. However, the research on how capital reshapes rural space from the perspective of rural nature is still insufficient. Based on the theoretical perspective of nature commodification, this study constructs a framework to analyze the relationship between rural nature and rural spatial restructuring. Taking Nanping Meditation Town in Guangzhou as a typical case, it discusses the process and mechanism of rural spatial restructuring in suburbs relying on the commodification of rural nature with capital’s intervention. The results show that: (1) Driven by China’s process of counter-urbanization and consumerism, capital constructs rural nature in suburbs by giving meaning to it. Diversified capitals promote the multi-functionalization, networking, and commodification of material, social, and cultural spaces in the countryside through the process of redistribution of urban and rural resources. At the same time, along with the spatial games of pluralistic subjects, the material, social, and cultural spaces further interact with each other and constantly undergo reconstruction. (2) The commodification of rural nature is an external response and a crucial strategy of rural spatial restructuring. It offers a new approach to enhance the value of the countryside. Rural nature is commodified through resources integration and value excavation, product planning and design, brand promotion and marketing under the influence of various capital entities. This process holds significant theoretical and practical importance for the endogenous development and revitalization of rural areas.