TOD model of urban imagination
Introduction
During the time I lived in Newcastle, England, I noticed that the area near the train station is always the busiest area in the city: people, business, transportation and public space naturally gather together. This is actually a typical TOD (Transportation-Oriented Development) model – driving the organization of the city through rail transit hubs.
TOD is not a new word. It has long been mature in Japan and Europe, and now China is also vigorously promoting this model. Taking Qianhai, Shenzhen as an example, TOD is becoming the main idea for building new urban centers. But ideals are full, but reality cannot always keep up.
China Case: Qianhai, Shenzhen
Figure 1. Concept rendering of Shenzhen Qianhai underground TOD system.
Source: Zhihu Column, 2023.
Figure 2. Urban design rendering of the Meilinguan TOD redevelopment project.
Source: Zhihu Column, 2023.
Shenzhen Qianhai has dense subways and high development intensity, and the stations are closely integrated with office and commercial complexes. It represents the TOD expe
riment at the speed of China: the new urban area is quickly formed through rail hubs. However, it also faces typical problems:
– Unfriendly to walking, the ground space is fragmented;
– Public life is sparse and the functions are homogenized;
– Lack of daily fireworks, and the service objects are biased towards office people.
TOD here is more like a “development model” rather than a “lifestyle”.
European Case: Rotterdam Central Station
In contrast, the TOD in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, pays more attention to the human scale. The train station is seamlessly connected to the urban space, and the public square, bicycle system and slow-moving paths form a continuous network. TOD not only brings traffic efficiency, but also improves the daily livability of the city.
Thinking about TOD
China’s TOD model is rapidly evolving, but its future depends on shifting from simply “building stations” to truly “building life.” This means strengthening slow-mobility systems like walking and cycling, controlling development density to avoid overwhelming urban spaces, improving the quality of spatial experience, and achieving genuine station-city integration. TOD should not just be about railways and high-rise buildings — it must be a people-oriented approach to reimagining how cities grow, connect, and live
reference
- Qianhai Authority of Shenzhen. TOD: Shaping a New Urban Pattern for Shenzhen [online]. Available at: https://qh.sz.gov.cn/sygnan/qhzx/dtzx/content/post_10983777.html [Accessed 22 Mar. 2025].
- Southcn.com. (2024). Qianhai’s “Metro+” Urban Renewal Pilot Project Launched [online]. Available at: https://pc.nfnews.com/11831/5849516.html [Accessed 22 Mar. 2025].
- Shenzhen News. (2025). Qianhai Builds a High-Level Modern Comprehensive Transportation System [online]. Available at: https://www.sznews.com/news/content/mb/2025-01/11/content_31433983.html [Accessed 22 Mar. 2025].
- Zhihu Column. (2023). Why Is Shenzhen Suitable for TOD? [online]. Available at: https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/631580039 [Accessed 22 Mar. 2025].
