Urban entrepreneurialism and sustainable development: a comparative analysis of Chinese eco-developments Linjun Xie1 2, Ali Cheshmehzangi1*, May Tan-Mullins3, Andrew Flynn4, Tim Heath5 1Department oF Architecture and Built Environment, The University oF Nottingham Ningbo China, China 2Department oF Geography, Durham University, UK 3School oF International Studies, The University oF Nottingham Ningbo China, China 4School oF Geography and Planning, CardiFF University, UK 5Department oF Architecture and Built Environment, University oF Nottingham, UK *Corresponding Author:
[email protected] Abstract Focusing upon the strategic entrepreneurial planning of local government, this paper presents a critical analysis oF the variability oF Chinese urban sustainable development projects. In recent years, state entrepreneurialism and notions oF (urban) sustainability have become ever more closely intertwined. As a result, there has been a proliFeration of eco-/low-carbon and other similar sustainability-themed urban initiatives that have helped local states to achieve a Favorable position in city competitions. Nevertheless, existing studies are still Far From answering why Chinese urban sustainable projects are planned and implemented with divergent emphases and diFFerent development trajectories. Through case studies oF three Flagship Chinese sustainable projects with distinct development modes, namely the real-estate-centric Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City (SSTEC), the environmental-construction-led Chongming Eco-Islands (CEIs),