Cultural Diversity in Chinese Urban Centers: A Public Management Approach
Abstract:
This study explores the management of cultural diversity in Chinese urban centers, focusing on the role of public management in promoting social cohesion. Using a combination of case studies, policy analysis, and statistical methods, the research examines the effectiveness of current policies in addressing migration and ethnic diversity in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. The study reveals that migration status significantly influences residents' perceptions of cultural diversity, with migrants generally viewing it more positively than locals. Despite policies aimed at fostering integration, challenges such as social exclusion, language barriers, and resistance to migration persist. The findings suggest that successful policies tend to focus on economic integration and community engagement, while social integration remains an area requiring further attention. The role of local governments, NGOs, and community organizations in promoting inclusivity and reducing social segregation is crucial, but efforts often remain fragmented. The study recommends the development of inclusive urban policies, strengthened community-driven programs, and educational campaigns to counteract negative stereotypes about migration. Furthermore, it advocates for closer collaboration between public institutions and community organizations to ensure that marginalized groups are supported both economically and socially. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on multicultural governance in China and offers practical policy suggestions for enhancing cultural integration in urban areas. Future studies could explore the long-term impact of multicultural policies, the role of technology in integration, and the experiences of specific migrant groups.
KeyWords:
Cultural diversity, Public management, Migration, Social cohesion, Urban integration, China.
References:
- Anser, M. K., Sajjad, F., Nassani, A. A., Al-Aiban, K. M., Zaman, K., & Haffar, M. (2025). Urban energy efficiency in China: Examining the role of renewable energy, smart Grids, and sustainable design through spatial and policy perspectives (1990–2022). Energy and Buildings, 339, 115791. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.115791
- Baffo, I., Leonardi, M., D’Alberti, V., & Petrillo, A. (2024). Optimizing public investments: A Sustainable Economic, Environmental, and Social Investment Multi-criteria Decision Model (SEESIM). Regional Science Policy & Practice, 16(11), 100140. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100140
- Cai, W., Qin, S., & Meng, X. (2025). China’s outward foreign direct investment, environmental protection, and green technology progress. International Review of Economics & Finance, 103, 104384. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2025.104384
- Cai, X., Xiang, H., & Akbari, F. (2025). Integrated sustainability perspective to interconnect circular economy, environmental development, and social status: designation of sustainable development spillovers. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 101, 102253. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seps.2025.102253
- Chen, G., & Xu, Q. (2025). The evolution of “Acquaintance Society” in urban China. International Review of Economics & Finance, 98, 103914. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2025.103914
- Chen, L., Liu, X., Sun, T., Ma, N., & Zhang, T. (2025). Compact urban morphology and the 15-minute city: Evidence from China. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 196, 104482. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2025.104482
- Chen, M., Lin, G., Zhou, W., & Chen, C. (2025). Deciphering the impact mechanisms of cultural ecosystem benefits in urban green spaces: a site-scale analysis integrating environmental perceived characteristics and usage patterns. Ecological Indicators, 178, 113829. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113829
- Chen, Y., Nijhuis, S., & van Dorst, M. (2024). Visitors’ perceptions of urban wilderness. A case study of Jiangyangfan Ecological Park in Hangzhou, China. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 95, 128319. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128319
- Cheng, I.-H. (2025). Envisioning professional capabilities of Taiwanese non-governmental organisations managing for sustainable development in international development collaborations. International Journal of Educational Development, 116, 103296. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2025.103296
- Dai, J., & Azhar, A. (2024). Collaborative governance in disaster management and sustainable development. Public Administration and Development, 45(2), 150-167. https://doi.org/10.1002/pad.2071
- Du, Y., Sun, L., Cui, W., & Wang, H. (2025). Ethnic green culture in leadership and corporate green investment: Evidence from China. Global Finance Journal, 67, 101133. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfj.2025.101133
- Gai, S., Fu, J., Rong, X., & Dai, L. (2022). Users’ views on cultural ecosystem services of urban parks: An importance-performance analysis of a case in Beijing, China. Anthropocene, 37, 100323. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ancene.2022.100323
- Gascó-Hernández, M., De Coninck, B., & Cucciniello, M. (2023). Determinants of open innovation adoption in public organizations: A systematic review. Public Management Review, 45(6), 1123-1140. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2021.2003106
- González-Fernández, I., & Pérez-Moreno, L. C. (2025). Environmental, socio-cultural, and economic sustainability in care facilities: Evaluating the impact of person-centered building renovation in Aragon, Spain. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 112, 107822. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107822
- Grincheva, N. (2025). Towards creative and smart urban sustainability: Understanding smart cultural data intelligence (the case of Singapore). Cities, 166, 106216. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.106216
- He, J., & Tan, Y. (2025). Evolution logic of urban spatial growth governance and its enlightenment in China: From a perspective of spatial governance. Journal of Urban Management, 14(2), 590–606. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jum.2024.11.014
- Hedayati Marzbali, M., Hakeem, I. G., Ngo, T., Balu, R., Jena, M. K., Vuppaladadiyam, A., Sharma, A., Choudhury, N. R., Batstone, D. J., & Shah, K. (2024). A critical review on emerging industrial applications of chars from thermal treatment of biosolids. Journal of Environmental Management, 369, 122341. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122341
- Henderson, H., Sullivan, H., & Gleeson, B. (2025). Cultural pluralism and inclusive urban revitalisation: The experience of Dandenong, Melbourne. Progress in Planning, 194, 100943. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progress.2025.100943
- Hong, X., Li, S., Sun, W., & Ji, X. (2025). Assessment and spatial variation analysis of the collaborative development potential between underground public spaces and urban rail transit in China’s urban central areas. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 158, 106415. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2025.106415
- Hossain, S. (2025). Singapore Role in Advancing Global Low-Carbon Economy: A Joint Effort for Sustainability and Climate Commitments. American Journal of Business Science Philosophy (AJBSP), 2(1), 36–47. https://doi.org/10.70122/ajbsp.v2i1.25
- Hossain, S., & Hena, H. (2024). The study explores the correlation between cultural influence and community engagement in fostering social safety for tourists. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4789292/v1
- Hossain, S., Md Sab Bir Hossen, Sazzad Kadir Zim, & Imane El Hebabi. (2024). Cultural dynamics and consumer behavior: An in-depth analysis of Chinese preferences for western imported products. GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, 20(3), 158–167. https://doi.org/10.30574/gscarr.2024.20.3.0345
- Hu, S., Liu, J., Que, J., Li, Y., Su, X., Li, B., & Wang, G. (2025). Assessing urban rewilding potential: Plant diversity and public landscape perceptions in urban wildscapes of Harbin, China. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 112, 128958. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128958
- Huang, H., Shi, H., Li, X., & Wang, Y. (2025). Exploring the recreational micromobility in relation to historic urban areas and social media: Insights from machine learning approaches. Landscape and Urban Planning, 263, 105447. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105447
- Jiang, L., Lai, Y., Wu, Y., Wang, R., Tang, X., Li, X., Ma, D., & Guo, R. (2025). Public attitudes toward state-led urban village rehabilitation in Shenzhen, China. Habitat International, 160, 103404. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2025.103404
- Jiang, Z., Wu, H., Xu, Z., Shen, F., Jia, N., Huang, J., & Lin, A. (2025). Optimizing land use spatial patterns to balance urban development and resource-environmental constraints: A case study of China’s Central Plains Urban Agglomeration. Journal of Environmental Management, 380, 125173. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125173
- Krischke, J., Beckmann-Wübbelt, A., Glaser, R., Dey, S., & Saha, S. (2025). Relationship Between Urban Tree Diversity and Human Well-being: Implications for Urban Planning. Sustainable Cities and Society, 124, 106294. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2025.106294
- Li, B., Hu, R., & Yang, J. (2025). Does smart city construction affect urban renewal? Evidence from China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 496, 145110. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145110
- Li, Z., & Yao, S. (2024). Do languages matter? The impact of local dialect proficiency on multidimensional poverty alleviation among rural-to-urban migrants in China. Cities, 150, 105094. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.105094
- Lin, L., Zhou, J., & Zhu, Y. (2025). Go with the flow: Residential mobility of internal migrants during intensive urban renewal in China. Cities, 162, 105953. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.105953
- Liu, Z., Sun, J., Yao, L., Zhang, Y., & Huai, J. (2025). Spatiotemporal dynamics of gross ecosystem product in Chinese cities: Pathways to sustainable urban development. Journal of Cleaner Production, 519, 146033. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.146033
- Dai, J., & Azhar, A. (2024). Collaborative governance in disaster management and sustainable development. Public Administration and Development, 45(2), 150-167. https://doi.org/10.1002/pad.2071
- Li, Y., Fan, Y., & Nie, L. (2025). Making governance agile: Exploring the role of artificial intelligence in China's local governance. Public Policy and Administration, 39(1), 45-59. https://doi.org/10.1177/09520767231188229
- Latupeirissa, J. J. P., Dewi, N. L. Y., Prayana, I. K. R., & Srikandi, M. B. (2024). Transforming public service delivery: A comprehensive review of digitization initiatives. Sustainability, 23(5), 1342-1364. https://doi.org/10.3390/su23051342
- Ma, J., & Fu, W. (2025). Ancestors call me home: Cultural distance and settlement intention of domestic migrant workers in China. Cities, 167, 106317. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.106317
- Ma, L., Christensen, T., & Zheng, Y. (2023). Government technological capacity and public–private partnerships regarding digital service delivery: Evidence from Chinese cities. Public Performance & Management Review, 47(2), 175-193. https://doi.org/10.1080/15309576.2023.2169834
- Madrigal-Martínez, S., Gielen, E., Miralles i García, J. L., & Parra-Rondinel, F. (2025). Enhancing land planning: A quantitative review of relationships between cultural ecosystem services and peri-urban areas. Cities, 156, 105519. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.105519
- Marty-Gastaldi, J., Lazaric, N., & Dérijard, B. (2025). Urban Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): A systematic review of governance, management and human impact. Ocean & Coastal Management, 269, 107811. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107811
- Mei, K., & Zhang, Z. (2025). Environmental regulation, green investment and corporate green governance: Evidence from China’s New Environmental Protection Law. Finance Research Letters, 76, 106979. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2025.106979
- Meo, M. S., Ben Zaied, Y., Afshan, S., & Anees, A. (2025). Capitalizing on sustainability: China’s green finance strategy for achieving environmentally resilient wastewater treatment. International Review of Economics & Finance, 101, 104173. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2025.104173
- Niwa, Y., Adachi, R., Suzuki, M., & Awaji, M. (2025). Managing for diverse Publics: An innovative approach to urban public space management using AHP in Toyota City, Japan. Journal of Urban Management. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jum.2025.04.009
- Nizamani, M. M., Qureshi, S., Tarashkar, M., Zhang, H.-L., Zhou, Q., & Lai, Z. (2025). Ethical AI: Human-centered approaches for adaptive and sustainable urban planning and policy. Land Use Policy, 157, 107650. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107650
- Ran, B., Wang, H., & Zhang, S. (2025). Exploring the combinatorial effects of collaborative factors leading to higher degrees of co-production. Public Administration, 103(1), 25-41. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.13043
- Rijal, S. (2023). The importance of community involvement in public management planning and decision-making processes. Administration and Management, 15(3), 85-101. https://doi.org/10.1186/s10102-023-00024-w
- Su, R., Ye, S., Yu, L., Wu, J., Kang, Y., & Chen, R. (2025). Social and ecological factors on the perception of cultural ecosystem services and disservices: Insights from Shanghai, China. Landscape and Urban Planning, 259, 105373. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105373
- Tan, C., Chen, W. Y., Su, Y., Fritsch, A., Canu, P., Cao, Y., Vazhayil, A. M., & Wantzen, K. M. (2024). Wild or neat? Personal traits affect public preference for wildness of urban lakeshores in France and China. Landscape and Urban Planning, 252, 105190. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105190
- Wan, J., Wu, X., Li, Y., Li, Z., Deng, K., Zeng, J., Fan, X., & Cao, Y. (2025). Driving factors and interactions of urban transportation carbon emissions: A case study of China. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 143, 104740. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2025.104740
- Wang, D., & Li, S. (2025). Social conflicts and their resolution paths in the commercialized renewal of old urban communities in China under the perspective of public value. Journal of Urban Management, 14(2), 402–417. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jum.2024.11.007
- Wang, N., Yi, J., Liang, F., Qian, J., Tu, W., Huang, S., Luo, P., & Du, Y. (2025). Unravelling urban dynamics: understanding urban structures in Chinese cities using large-scale human location data. Cities, 164, 106096. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.106096
- Wang, S., Truffer, B., & Bai, X. (2025). Pathways towards successful urban community waste management: Insight from 26 experiments in China. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 57, 101032. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2025.101032
- Wang, W., Zhang, P., & He, T. (2025). Climate investment and financing, economic growth target constraints and urban green development efficiency. Journal of Environmental Management, 382, 125369. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125369
- Wang, X., Du, Y., Yi, J., Qian, jiale, Wang, N., Huang, S., & Tu, W. (2025). Research on the urban public perception of different rainfall types in China. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 122, 105447. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105447
- Wardeh, M., & Marques, R. C. (2025). Transportation in refugee camps: A path towards sustainable development and inclusive communities. City, Culture and Society, 42, 100649. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccs.2025.100649
- Wu, D., Ding, H., & Cheng, Y. (2025). Green technology investment in competitive supply Chains: Exploring technology spillovers and altruistic preferences under carbon tax policy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 517, 145871. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145871
- Xiang, L., Feng, C., Liu, Y., & Wang, Y. (2025). Space and culture acculturation: Exploring urban regeneration in historic conservation areas, Yangmeizhu Street in Beijing, China. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 14(5), 1274–1290. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2025.03.009
- Xu, Q., Xiong, R. M., Zhao, M., & Wang, H. (2025). The structure, function, and quality of the social convoy for improvements in depressive symptoms in urban and rural China: A 3-year longitudinal cohort study. International Psychogeriatrics, 37(1), 100004. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpsyc.2024.100004
- Yang, J., Luo, Q., Li, Y., Huang, C., Xu, Y., Ou, K., & Lu, S. (2025). Unveiling the urban-rural discrepancy: A comprehensive analysis of reading and writing development among Chinese elementary school students. Learning and Instruction, 98, 102145. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2025.102145
- Yi, K., Yang, W., Zhang, X., Zhang, Z., Gao, B., Ji, G., & Zhang, Z. (2025). Public’s multi-dimensional response to different acoustic types of birdsong in urban parks based on auditory: A case study of Kunming, China. Applied Acoustics, 240, 110898. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2025.110898
- Zhang, M., & Xiao, Z. (2023). Platform-mediated live musical performance in China: New social practices and urban cultural spaces. Geoforum, 140, 103723. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2023.103723
- Zhang, R., & Zhu, G. (2025). Source prevention or end-of-pipe treatment? Green public procurement and corporate environmental investment strategies. Journal of Environmental Management, 379, 124880. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124880
- Zhang, Y., He, Q., & Wang, J. (2025). Understanding multi-scale educational and hukou segregation in urban China: A multilevel modeling approach. Applied Geography, 174, 103482. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2024.103482
- Zhou, X., & Xu, B. (2025). The SWOT analysis of China’s strategy for addressing marine plastic pollution in the context of global plastic treaty negotiations. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117653
- Zhu, L., Xie, Z., Liu, Y., Yang, L., Tan, J., Cheng, W., Cai, Z., Du, Q., & Zhang, S. (2025). Spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors of urban form resilience under flood hazard disturbance: A case study of 137 cities in the southeast monsoon influence zone of China. Science of The Total Environment, 990, 179889. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179889
- Zhu, M.-H., Li, Q., Yuan, J.-L., Padullés Cubino, J., Johnson, J. B., Cui, J.-P., Nizamani, M. M., Zhu, Z.-X., & Wang, H.-F. (2025). The influence of greening management and landscape patterns on plant diversity in urban green spaces in Danzhou, China. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 104, 128651. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128651
- Zhu, J., Gianoli, A., Noori, N., de Jong, M., & Edelenbos, J. (2024). How different can smart cities be? A typology of smart cities in China. Cities, 45(7), 112-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.103453
- Zhang, J., & Mora, L. (2023). Nothing but symbolic: Chinese new authoritarianism, smart government, and the challenge of multi-level governance. Government Information Quarterly, 41(4), 120-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2023.101002
- Zhang, X., Lu, X., Huang, C., Liu, W., & Wang, G. (2024). The impact of social capital on migrants' social integration: Evidence from China. Sustainability, 16(8), 2121-2134. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16082121