Case Study on Cultural Industry Empowerment in Urban Renewal: A Focus on Guangzhou, China

Abstract

In recent years, the strategic development and utilization of historical and cultural resources in historic urban areas to foster advanced cultural industries has become a pivotal approach for promoting urban renewal. However, there are significant differences between the urban development models of Western countries and the unique context of China, rendering it challenging to directly apply Western theories to explain China’s urban development. As one of the leading cities in both cultural industry growth and urban renewal in China, Guangzhou offers a valuable case for examining how cultural industries can effectively empower urban renewal. This paper aims to explore and analyze the mechanisms through which cultural industry development influences urban renewal in China, using Guangzhou as a case to illustrate the dynamic interactions between cultural industries and urban transformation. Furthermore, it proposes a contextualized model and strategy for the role of cultural industries in driving urban renewal, thereby providing evidence-based insights and practical recommendations for enhancing the contribution of cultural industries to urban development. This study suggests that Guangzhou should further advance this goal by strengthening policy support, promoting the digital cultural industry, strengthening infrastructure for cultural industry spaces, and developing distinctive cultural industry projects, thus facilitating sustainable and high-quality urban development.

1. Introduction

Cities inherently follow a lifecycle in their development. When specific districts can no longer meet the evolving demands of urban growth due to outdated location, function, or environment, urban renewal becomes inevitable. This process encompasses various aspects, including the improvement of the physical environment, the optimization of economic structures, and the promotion of social equity and justice, making urban renewal a highly multifaceted undertaking [1]. Currently, the strategic and sustainable development of historical and cultural resources in historic urban areas, including the “revitalization” of cultural heritage and the advancement of modern cultural industries, has become a critical approach for driving urban renewal [2]. However, China faces numerous challenges in urban renewal due to the prevalence of urban villages, aging industrial zones, and dilapidated neighborhoods, which are often characterized by outdated infrastructure and low land-use efficiency. Revitalizing these areas to infuse them with new life and vitality has become a pressing challenge for urban renewal efforts. In response to the rapid growth of the cultural industry, there is a growing need to undertake micro-renovation, renovation, or redevelopment of existing urban spaces, aligning with the new demands for urban transformation in China.

Since the late 1980s, attention to the spatial development and impact of culture and cultural industries has become a central topic in international urban studies. UNESCO defines the principal purpose of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) as the production or reproduction, promotion, distribution, commercialization of goods; services; and activities of a cultural, artistic, or heritage value. These industries encompass a variety of cultural domains: audio-visual and interactive media, literature and press, performing arts, visual arts and crafts, ICH, design, and creative services [3]. Florida argues that creativity and culture hold economic value and are closely linked to economic development. He emphasizes that cultivating a local cultural environment is crucial for attracting the creative class and fostering the growth of the cultural and creative economy [4]. David Harvey points out that culture serves as a strategy for “wealth creation”, with the preservation of historical culture and the adaptive reuse of historic districts and buildings constituting a significant economic force, industry, and source of wealth [5]. Scott argues that culture can strengthen the urban economy, while the economy, in turn, becomes the driving force behind cultural production and innovation [6]. Whitt argues that the cultural and arts industries have gradually become part of the urban growth machine [7]. Griffiths highlights the importance of cultural capital in urban development and revitalization, emphasizing that cities, through historical accumulation, have become centers of cultural production, consumption, and exchange. It is evident that the development of cultural industries plays a pivotal crucial role in the strategy of urban renewal and regeneration [8].

In developed countries, the development of cultural industries is closely linked to urban renewal [9]. In the United States, New York’s SoHo district is a typical example of how cultural industries drive urban renewal [10]. Similarly, Europe’s “culture-led regeneration” has revitalized many severely declining post-industrial cities, such as Glasgow and Liverpool in the UK, and the Ruhr region in Germany, injecting new life and vitality into them [11]. Cultural industries are now seen as an economic tool for creating more job opportunities, revitalizing the economy of old cities, and addressing a range of issues caused by economic structural transformation in the process of globalization [12]. Examples include repurposing old factories, warehouses, residential buildings, and transportation facilities into art galleries, museums, galleries, theaters, and tourist attractions, as well as constructing cultural centers, cultural squares, and other cultural facilities [13]. A typical example is the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, which was originally a shipyard, a container terminal, and a chemical furnace area. After being redesigned by American architect Frank Gehry, it was transformed into an art museum. Following its opening, the museum attracted a large number of visitors, bringing significant economic benefits to the region. Bilbao also transitioned from an obscure city to an important cultural hub in Europe [14].

Specifically, the spatial distribution of cultural industries often results in agglomeration due to competition and organizational characteristics. Industrial clustering is crucial for the development of innovation capabilities, and the primary factor influencing cultural industry agglomeration is the urban environment. The main approach to urban renewal driven by cultural industry development is the establishment of cultural industry districts in older urban areas, integrating functions such as cultural production and cultural services [15]. Frost-Kumpf argues that the primary goal of developing cultural industry districts is to revitalize specific urban areas, providing nighttime activities to extend the usage time of the area, making it safer and more attractive. These districts aim to provide the spaces and facilities needed for artistic activities and organizations, offer artistic events for residents and visitors, create employment and housing opportunities for artists, and foster a closer connection between art and community development [16]. Thus, cultural industry districts have brought new vitality to the declining economies of old urban areas and transformed their image and environment, playing a crucial role in urban renewal and leading to culture-led regeneration. In recent years, culture-led urban renewal has been successfully implemented in many cities. Many cities in Europe and North America have embraced the idea that the development of cultural industries can provide sustained momentum for urban renewal.

It can be seen that Western theories and cases emphasize that cultural industry is an economic means. By investing in artists, guiding the transformation of industrial areas, and driving the surrounding areas through large-scale projects, art drives changes in the local material environment and stimulates economic growth. China’s urban renewal, particularly in Guangzhou, is more based on local economic growth, which is the economic demand of local governments and has policy orientation [17]. More attention is given to the resources that industry can provide for cities. Due to differing national conditions, although both China and Western countries focus on industrial heritage in urban renewal, China places more emphasis on villages and urban villages, involving property rights issues in residential areas, and, thus, the government’s role is much stronger [18]. Additionally, the types of industrial heritage both regions focus on also differ. In the West, due to the earlier Industrial Revolution and more advanced development, industrial heritage is often related to large industrial zones. In contrast, industrial development in China is more recent, and urbanization has been slower. Most of the areas in need of renewal are villages. The scale of industrial heritage in China is smaller and more dispersed, with more individual factory buildings [19], which are also more affected by their surrounding environments. Moreover, due to the different national contexts, China’s industrial heritage not only includes factory buildings but also grain storage buildings. And the depth and breadth of research on cultural industries are also obviously insufficient in China. In recent years, China’s focus is mainly on the reuse of industrial heritage and the planning and development of cultural industrial parks and creative industrial parks [20], often paying disproportionate attention to the transformation and planning of material forms. At present, only cities such as Shanghai [21,22] and Beijing [23] emphasize the importance of culture to the driving force of urban renewal. However, many areas remain disconnected from culture and overlook the potential of art to enhance the lives of the people. Therefore, given the significant differences between the urban development model of Western countries and the actual situation in China, exploring the possibilities and adaptability of localized approaches in China is particularly important, as Western theories are often inadequate in regard to explaining Chinese urban development, and successful foreign case studies may not be directly applicable.

2. Research Data, Methods and Processes

2.1. Research Data

All the data in this paper are derived from the relevant documents issued by the Guangzhou government concerning the cultural industry. These data were analyzed and organized for presentation in the text. The details are as follows:

• Data related to the digital cultural industry in Guangzhou, sourced from the Guangzhou digital cultural and creative industry development plan (2023–2028).
• Information on key enterprises and industrial parks in Guangzhou, sourced from the 2023 “Hundred Gardens Tour” Guangzhou Cultural Industry Park research results of the Guangzhou Cultural Industry Park Association.
• Data on Guangzhou’s cultural industry, sourced from the Guangzhou Blue Book: Guangzhou Cultural Industry Development Report (2024).
• Relevant case studies from Guangzhou, based on annual award-winning outstanding cases promulgated by the Guangzhou Municipal Government. For example, in 2024, the Guangbao Qianmojian and Panyu Xifang Courtyard cases were promulgated (award-winning case of “cultural tourism industry empowering urban renewal” in Guangzhou in 2024: https://www.gz.gov.cn/xw/zwlb/bmdt/swhgdlyj/content/post_9751748.html, accessed on 13 November 2024).

2.2. Research Methods

Case study method: This paper employs a case study approach, selecting representative cultural industrial parks in Guangzhou for in-depth analysis. The objective is to identify common characteristics of cultural industry-enabled urban renewal and summarize the experiences and challenges of such processes. By conducting comparative analyses of various cases, the study aims to provide valuable insights and guidance for future cultural industry-driven urban renewal initiatives.

Field research method: A field survey was conducted on cultural industry parks, historical and cultural districts, and other cultural industry-gathering areas in Guangzhou. The data were collected through investigation, photography, sketching, and interview. This approach allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the current situation, characteristics, and challenges of cultural industry-enabled urban renewal in Guangzhou, providing first-hand data on the actual effects and issues associated with these initiatives.

Spatial statistical analysis: Using GIS (Geographic Information System) spatial mapping and POI (Point of Interest) point data to analyze the distribution characteristics of cultural industrial parks, and by employing kernel density analysis, areas of the high-density cultural industry agglomeration and low-density dispersion are identified, shedding light on the spatial distribution patterns of cultural industries in urban landscapes.

2.3. Research Process

Given the substantial differences between the urban development model of Western countries and the actual context in China, urban renewal approaches vary significantly. As such, exploring the possibilities and adaptability of localized applications in China is crucial. The paper process is divided into the following four parts:

• Introduction to Guangzhou’s role: This paper summarizes the significance of Guangzhou’s cultural industry in the context of urban renewal and outlines the overall development of cultural enterprises in the city.
• Literature review and case analysis: This paper reviews the relevant literature and conducting an investigation and analysis of typical cases in Guangzhou. These are then compared with foreign case studies to analyze the primary methods of cultural industry-driven urban renewal.
• Identification of issues: This paper identifies the existing challenges in Guangzhou’s urban renewal processes, particularly those related to the cultural industry.
• Comprehensive analysis and recommendations: This paper synthesizes the findings and offers recommendations to accelerate the role of the cultural industry in empowering Guangzhou’s urban renewal in the new era. These insights are also intended to serve as a reference for other regions in China.

This paper not only finds out the differences between Chinese and Western theories and cases but also provides empirical evidence for further research. By specifically analyzing the urban renewal pathways of Guangzhou’s cultural industry, it extracts actionable models and successful experiences for further promoting the cultural industry’s role in urban renewal and high-quality urban development in China (Figure 1).

3. Case Overview

Guangzhou, recognized nationally for its historical and cultural significance, stands as a major center of industry and commerce in China. Its rich cultural heritage solidifies its position as a prominent cultural hub in the country. As one of China’s most economically developed cities, Guangzhou has experienced rapid growth in its cultural industries since the beginning of the 21st century. The cultural economy holds a significant position nationwide, and in recent years, the city has also been actively advancing urban renewal efforts [24]. Guangzhou is a nationally recognized historical and cultural city and a major center of industry and commerce in China, with a rich variety of cultural heritage, making it an important cultural hub in the country. As one of China’s most economically developed cities, Guangzhou has experienced rapid growth in its cultural industries since the beginning of the 21st century. The cultural economy holds a significant position nationwide, and in recent years, the city has also been actively advancing urban renewal efforts.

In Guangzhou, cultural enterprises are primarily concentrated in the four central districts. In terms of distribution density, these central districts have a significantly higher density of cultural enterprises compared to the outer urban areas (Figure 2). Among these districts, Yuexiu and Tianhe have the highest density of cultural enterprises, with 435 en/km² and 267en/km² (en/km²: enterprises per square kilometer), respectively, followed by Haizhu and Liwan, where over 100 cultural enterprises are located within an average one-kilometer radius. In contrast, outer districts such as Conghua, Huadu, and Zengcheng have much lower densities, with fewer than 10 cultural enterprises within the same distance. This disparity highlights the need for outer districts to further improve cultural industry infrastructure and optimize the industrial environment to foster the growth of cultural enterprises and encourage industry clustering effects.

This pattern is closely related to the central districts’ well-developed infrastructure, mature commercial environment, and rich historical and cultural heritage. A more significant factor is that, due to limited land resources in the central districts, many old industrial buildings have been transformed into cultural industry parks through urban renewal, further promoting the growth of cultural industries. Additionally, districts adjacent to the central area, such as Baiyun, Panyu, and Huangpu, are also experiencing a clustering of cultural industry parks, indicating that Guangzhou’s cultural industry is gradually expanding toward peripheral areas. In contrast, outer districts, like Huadu and Nansha, have relatively delayed development in cultural industry parks, with more sparse distribution. In the future, it will be essential to unlock the cultural industry development potential of these outer areas, transforming them into key regions for the outward expansion of cultural production and manufacturing, supported by policy guidance and infrastructure improvements (Figure 3).

4. How Guangzhou’s Cultural Industry Empowers Urban Renewal

Western theories emphasize the cultural industry as a means of urban renewal, often focusing on industrial heritage and its transformation. In contrast, China ’s urban renewal, especially in Guangzhou, is more concerned with addressing government economic needs and attracting the type of enterprises that align with government objectives. As a result, the renewal processes tend to differ. For instance, Guangzhou is actively leveraging the opportunity presented by industrial transformation, utilizing its rich cultural resources in conjunction with modern technologies, particularly digital innovations, to explore how the cultural industry can contribute to urban renewal. This approach aims to revitalize industries in old districts, former industrial zones, and urban villages. Key strategies include utilizing historical and cultural heritage for urban renewal, developing cultural industry parks to facilitate this process, implementing cultural industry projects, and expanding the cultural industry to drive further urban renewal. These initiatives not only foster the growth of the cultural industry but also provide sustained vitality for the regeneration of urban spaces and contribute to the city’s ongoing economic transformation.

4.1. Leveraging Historical and Cultural Heritage for Urban Renewal

There is a notable difference in how historical and cultural heritage is treated in the West compared to China. Western focus tends to be on industrial heritage, such as the transformation of Milan’s industrial zone [25] and Bilbao’s industrial zone [26]. In contrast, China emphasizes villages or urban villages. Guangzhou, as a key bearer of Lingnan culture, has a profound cultural heritage, with 26 historical and cultural districts and 817 sites of architectural and industrial heritage, ranking first in Guangdong Province. These historical and cultural heritages embody the city’s historical memories and cultural identity. However, due to years of neglect or prolonged vacancy, some of these heritages face issues, like deterioration and underutilization, failing to fully realize their potential social, cultural, and economic value. The involvement of the cultural industry has provided a significant opportunity for revitalizing these assets. A major focus of this process is the role of historical and cultural districts in driving urban renewal, particularly the transformation of urban villages.

Typical examples of historical and cultural districts empowering urban renewal in Guangzhou include Beijing Road, Yongqing Square, Pantang Wuyue Village, and New Hepu Historical and Cultural District. These districts have been revitalized through cultural project integration, cultural tourism collaboration, architectural and street restoration, and the exhibition of intangible cultural heritage [27]. It has facilitated the deep integration of traditional culture with urban renewal, enriching the vibrancy of old districts but also preserving, promoting, and transmitting traditional culture. Consequently, Guangzhou’s urban cultural identity has been fully showcased, injecting vitality into the local economy. The benefits extend beyond the districts themselves, positively impacting the surrounding areas and even the entire city [28] (

Table 1. Mechanism of enabling urban renewal of Guangzhou historical and cultural blocks.

	Yongqing Square	Pantang Wuyue Village	New Hepu Historical and Cultural District
Area characteristic	Located in the core area of Liwan. It is a historical and cultural block integrating Xiguan customs and arcade buildings.	Located next to Liwan Lake in Liwan. It is the only village in the old urban area of Guangzhou that completely retains the rural pattern of the Qing Dynasty.	Located in Yuexiu. It is the largest existing low-rise courtyard style modern building complex of the combination of China and the West in Guangzhou [27].
Renew the concept	Pay attention to the inheritance of civilization and cultural continuity so that the city can create memories and people can remember their homesickness.	Improve municipal infrastructure; improve the supporting functions of life; and moderately introduce cultural, creative, and commercial vitality.	Protection and utilization should go hand in hand: improve the community environment, promote organic renewal, and stimulate the vitality of the block.
Original characteristics of block	Born in 1931, the block is the oldest, most complete, and longest arcade block in Guangzhou. In 2000, the Guangzhou government checked the dilapidated houses and determined that this area was the largest dilapidated-house area in Guangzhou.	The village has a history of nearly a thousand years, with ancestral halls, ancient trees, and other historical relics. With the development of the city, the residents of Wuyouzhi Street have formed a small commercial street by taking advantage of the advantages of their own shops in front of their own homes.	The block is one of the birthplaces of the early revolutionary activities of the Communist Party of China. It is a sample of new, large-scale, high-end residential areas in the eastern suburbs of Guangzhou in modern times and a precious example of Western religious architecture.
Renewal method	The first phase is full renewal. The second and third phases are micro-renovation.	Micro-renovation: Traditional urban renewal often involves large-scale demolition and reconstruction, consuming significant time and resources. In contrast, micro-renovation focuses on small areas, emphasizing the preservation of existing buildings and cultural characteristics. It aims to enhance the overall quality of a region through localized transformations. This model minimizes resource waste and environmental damage, while better preserving and passing on the city’s history and culture. Additionally, it offers greater flexibility, allowing for personalized updates based on the needs of different areas, thus better meeting the diverse demands of residents. Furthermore, micro-renovation has a relatively short cycle, with faster development and renewal speeds, making it more adaptable to rapidly changing urban environments and promoting stable urban development.	Micro-renovation
Renewal Content	Intangible Cultural Heritage: (1) Revitalizing traditional cultural festivals, such as lion dances, Cantonese opera, and other folk activities. (2) Creating intangible cultural heritage clusters. For example, developing new cultural business models, such as “Intangible Cultural Heritage + Commercial” and “Intangible Cultural Heritage + Creative Industries”, and establishing master studios that integrate functions such as display, sales, experience, inheritance, and training. (3) Digitally empowering the cultural industry. Creating immersive cultural tourism experiences through VR/AR interactive technologies that enable the transformation between virtual and real-world scenarios. Tangible cultural heritage: (1) Building restoration by implementing various restoration methods, including original restoration, facade renovations, demolition and reconstruction, and completely new construction. (2) Incorporating Lingnan traditional architectural elements, such as Manchurian windows, Qing brick houses, and folding doors.	(1) Government expropriation of property for public cultural spaces. In this village, 40% of the houses were expropriated and transformed into public amenities, cultural studios, art-themed accommodations, and other functions, integrating cultural industries into the existing residential spaces. (2) Categorized Renovation Based on Building Conditions. Historical buildings are restored, while houses with significant traditional architectural value undergo protective renovations. For properties with more extensive modifications or additions, renovations or facade adjustments are carried out in line with the overall preservation of the traditional aesthetic. (3) Participatory design, incorporating resident input. Residents’ opinions, historical data, and cultural heritage characteristics are collected and used as the basis for the renovation plans.	(1) Building a protection system for historical districts. Establish a protection system for historical districts by delineating their boundaries, defining the levels of traditional streets and alleys, and categorizing heritage for preservation. (2) Creating artistic experience pathways. Use historical buildings as platforms to develop thematic pathways, such as art galleries, art restaurants, art workshops, and wedding photography locations. (3) Establishing a comprehensive planning standard of “digital research—planning control—design guidelines”. Create a database of identity IDs for each building, forming a “genetic database” for urban design. This will provide detailed guidance for the renovation and enhancement of district buildings and surrounding spaces, ensuring meticulous preservation and high-quality utilization.
Content of cultural industry format	Cultural experience museums, art museums, former residences of celebrities, bookstores, intangible cultural heritage stores, cafes, cultural and creative products, etc.	Art activity experience hall, art training, coffee shop, home stay, and art studio.	Art training, photography institutions, art restaurants, art galleries, history museums, art workshops, and cultural and creative products.
Renewal mode	Led by the government, undertaken by enterprises and participated by residents.	Government-led, the introduction of community planners, universities, experts, and residents to participate.	Government-led and residents’ participation.
Picture

).

4.2. Cultural Industry Parks: Catalysts for Urban Renewal

In terms of cultural industry types, the West tends to emphasize individual buildings, such as museums, which play a pivotal role in the revival of industrial areas [26]. For example, the Guggenheim Museum, Beatriz Plaza, and Silke N have spurred the economic improvement of surrounding cities. In contrast, China places greater importance on the collective effect of groups of buildings, such as the establishment of various industrial parks to boost the local economy, and the establishment of cultural industrial parks is one means of doing so. Additionally, because Guangzhou was originally composed of villages, each village had its own industrial distribution, leading to the scattered nature of industrial buildings. An example is Yangcheng Creative Park, where individual factories and buildings are dispersed across various administrative districts of the city. Therefore, the renovation of industrial heritage in China is not like that in the West, where entire connected areas are renovated. Instead, it is more influenced by the surrounding environment due to the dispersed nature of these buildings.

Guangzhou has planned and developed a large number of cultural industry parks (including cultural and creative industry parks, and creative industry parks). The development strategy combines both “micro-renovation” and “new construction”, effectively revitalizing old spaces, while also meeting the land use demands of emerging cultural industries [29]. This strategy achieves an organic integration of cultural heritage preservation and industrial upgrading. Old factories and buildings are primarily renovated through micro-renovation, preserving their historical and cultural features, while providing modern office and creative spaces for cultural enterprises. Newly built cultural industry parks offer robust spatial support for rapid development of emerging industries, such as the cultural production equipment manufacturing industry.

Table 2. Excellent examples of high-quality development of Guangzhou Cultural Industry Park in 2023.

Name	BIG Haizhu Bay Art Park	Guangzhou Xifang Courtyard Cultural and Creative Park	Aofei Cultural and Creative Center
Belonging region	Haizhu	Panyu	Huangpu
Renewal mode	Micro-renovation	Micro-renovation	Newbuild
Stimulation concept	It is transformed from the warehouse of the red brick structure factory. By retaining the historical appearance, the internal space structure and function are optimized, and the red brick and street graffiti art and avant-garde art installation are mixed, so that the old warehouse of the old factory can be “reborn”.	It is transformed from the comprehensive processing plant of state-owned agricultural and sideline products and is updated in a micro-renovation way of “repairing the old as the old”. It respects history, culture, and ecology, and it protects the urban ecological environment and historical and cultural features.	Taking the cultural and creative industry as the positioning, through digital, scene-based, and innovative construction, we will create an industrial community atmosphere full of humanistic and artistic atmosphere.
Operating content	Art office, incubation center, trend business, road-show tour, art landscape, trend movement.	Creative office, humanities and commercial streets, cultural activities and fairs, tourism and cultural experience, and art exhibitions and exchanges.	The digital creative cultural industry incubation base, IP operation and authorization, industry–university–research platform, and industrial service system are jointly built.
Picture

is representative of a typical case.

This paper analyzes the spatial distribution and evolution of typical micro-renovation and newly built cultural industry parks based on the “100 Parks Tour” of Guangzhou’s Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism, which selected 102 representative cultural industry parks in Guangzhou (2024). As illustrated in Figure 4, newly built cultural industry parks were initially concentrated in the central urban areas of Guangzhou but have gradually expanded to the peripheral regions since 2010. By utilizing land resources in the outer districts, these parks meet the development needs of cultural manufacturing and emerging cultural technology industries, while avoiding the over-concentration of cultural resources and economic activities in the city center.

Since 2000, the number of micro-renovation cultural industry parks in the central districts has gradually increased. These parks focus on enhancing functionality based on existing infrastructure and a mature business environment, while emphasizing the preservation and revitalization of the historical and cultural characteristics of the area. This approach strengthens the cultural industry agglomeration effect in the central urban areas.

Recent research indicates rapid growth in Guangzhou’s digital economy. In 2023, the core industries of Guangzhou’s digital economy saw an 8.6% year-on-year increase in added value, accounting for 12.8% of the city’s GDP. The rapid expansion of the digital economy has optimized the spatial layout of Guangzhou’s digital cultural industry, further strengthening the integration of cultural industries with urban renewal.

An analysis of the spatial distribution characteristics of Guangzhou’s digital cultural industry reveals a trend of central concentration, with gradual expansion toward the peripheral urban districts. Digital cultural enterprises are now present in all districts (Figure 5), with Tianhe District serving as the central hub for the digital cultural industry development, attracting a large concentration of digital cultural enterprises. Currently, Tianhe’s digital cultural industry has ranked first in overall strength in the city for 10 consecutive years, with its gaming industry accounting for about 40% of the national market share, making it one of Tianhe’s economic pillar industries.

Meanwhile, peripheral districts like Huangpu, Panyu, and Baiyun have become new hubs for digital cultural businesses, absorbing industrial spillover from Tianhe. For example, Baiyun District’s “Guangzhou Design City”, a typical urban renewal project located in Huangbian Village, has seen a nearly 1300-fold growth in output value over the past decade, becoming a pilot model for internationalized urban districts and driving the economic development in the city.

This paper selects five typical examples of cultural industry parks located in peripheral districts with varying distribution areas and construction times, including Xicheng·Zhihui PARK, Baige Tan Art Center, Xingli Animation Creative Park, 1978 Cultural Creative Park, and the Greater Bay Area Digital Entertainment and Cultural Industry Park. These parks exhibit unique characteristics, as shown in

Table 3. Typical cases of peripheral districts.

Case	Operating Content	Development Concept	Picture
Xicheng·Zhihui PARK	Fashion clothing industry, live e-commerce industry	It creates a digital demonstration area of Baiyun fashion industry, invites shoes and clothing; live e-commerce, cultural, and creative enterprises to settle in; and builds a cross-border e-commerce industry ecosystem.
Baige Tan Art Center	Cultural and artistic exhibitions, cultural popularization and education, cultural landmarks, cultural services	It integrates Guangdong Art Museum, Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, and Guangdong Literature Museum and uses multimedia projection technology combined with sculpture art scene to create immersive exhibition space.
Xingli Animation Creative Park	Animation, games and derivatives R&D, enterprise cultivation	It integrates the R&D, production, and trading of animation, games, VR culture, and derivative products; and it is one of the main bases for the R&D and trading of domestic animation and entertainment.
1978 Cultural Creative Park	Cultural and entertainment experience, creative office areas, film towns, museums, and art galleries	The gathering area dominated by the film industry creates a nationally renowned film characteristic town and a leading benchmark for the cultural entrepreneurship industry.
Greater Bay Area Digital Entertainment and Cultural Industry Park	E-sports industry, cultural and technological industry	Centering on animation games, high-tech artificial intelligence, meta-universe, and digital economy industry orientation, the first game industry entrepreneurship and innovation park in the Greater Bay Area will be built.

and Figure 6. By comparing the kernel density distribution of surrounding amenities, such as dining services, shopping services, transportation infrastructure, scientific and cultural facilities, business and residential areas, and life services [30], we observe the impact of these parks on urban renewal follows a certain pattern, especially in terms of temporal and spatial effects (Figure 7).

Notably, the infrastructure around parks like Xingli Animation Creative Park, Greater Bay Area Digital Entertainment and Cultural Industry Park, and 1978 Cultural Creative Park improved significantly between 2013 and 2023. In contrast, the infrastructure around these parks was relatively underdeveloped. However, by 2023, the infrastructure kernel density in these areas had significantly improved, especially in regard to dining service, shopping service, business and residential areas, and life service. This change indicates that the construction of cultural industry parks has not only stimulated regional economic vitality but also greatly enhanced the quality of surrounding infrastructure and life services, promoting overall regional development. This has led to a more rational urban spatial layout and advanced urban renewal in the peripheral districts.

In contrast, the kernel density changes in surrounding infrastructure for Xicheng·Zhihui PARK and Baige Tan Art Center between 2013 and 2023 are less pronounced. This may be because these parks, as newly constructed developments in the past two years, have not yet fully realized comprehensive improvements in the short term, reflecting a delayed effect of cultural industry parks on urban renewal. For instance, although Xicheng·Zhihui PARK began to promote the development of dining and shopping services after its completion in 2021, the surrounding transportation and cultural services have not fully caught up due to the short time frame. Similarly, the Baige Tan Art Center, being newly built, still has relatively low infrastructure density, and urban renewal is still in its initial stages. Therefore, it can be concluded that the full impact of digital cultural industry parks on urban renewal requires a longer period of accumulation before its comprehensive effects can be realized.

In summary, the construction of cultural industry parks in peripheral districts has driven the improvement of surrounding facilities and the development of the city, achieving the spatial effects of urban renewal. It is important to recognize that the full impact of these parks on urban renewal takes time to materialize.

4.3. Key Cultural Enterprises Driving Urban Renewal in Guangzhou

In terms of the purpose of the cultural industry, the Western models tend to emphasize the investment in artists and artistic endeavors that drive urban renewal with examples, such as El Colectivo Las Agencias, Riereta.net, Cultural Raval, etc. [31]. In contrast, China’s focus is more economic, with a particular emphasis on driving economic revitalization through key enterprises. In Guangzhou, key cultural enterprises play a leading role in promoting the development of the cultural industry and urban renewal. These enterprises possess strong financial power and resource integration capabilities, attracting other small- and medium-sized enterprises and fostering rapid aggregation and growth.

For example, Yangcheng Creative Industry Park, which relies on the Yangcheng Evening News Group, has attracted up to 140 digital music, online streaming, and other related companies to the park through media and publishing projects. It has incubated nine publicly listed companies [32]. In 2023, the park achieved significant success in cultivating the internet culture industry. As a typical example of micro-renovation in Guangzhou’s central urban area, Yangcheng Creative Industry Park clearly demonstrates how key cultural enterprises can lead the development of the cultural industry. The experience of this park shows that key cultural enterprises not only drive enterprise agglomeration but also inject new vitality into urban renewal, becoming a significant force in driving the economic transformation and cultural development of Guangzhou’s central districts. The development of Yangcheng Creative Industry Park can be divided into three stages:

• Initial Stage (1999–2006)

During this period, Yangcheng Creative Industry Park began its industrial transformation, although the specific direction of the industry had not yet been defined. The Yangcheng Evening News Group, with the support of the Guangzhou municipal government, acquired state-owned land from the former Guangzhou Chemical Fiber Factory, marking the inception of park [33]. Through a series of acquisitions, the park’s land area increased from an initial 13,800 square meters to 190,000 square meters. To maximize land utilization, the group established a State-of-the-Art printing center base in 2001 [34]. However, during this phase, the park mainly focused on basic utilization of old factory buildings. There was no clear selection of cultural projects or a systematic industrial plan. The park’s business model, which was primarily based on leasing, generated initial economic returns but did not fully harness the potential of the cultural industry.

2.

Development Stage (2007–2011)

In alignment with Guangzhou’s urban renewal policies, the Yangcheng Evening News Group actively proposed the renovation of the old warehouses and factory buildings of the former Guangzhou Chemical Fiber Factory in 2007 [34]. During the renovation process, the group adopted a design concept that repurposed traditional industrial buildings into spaces for cultural industry. The slogan is “old factory buildings, new industries”. Following the renovation, the park clearly defined its focus on the newspaper industry and attracted businesses related to cultural media, cultural design, information technology, and architectural design. However, despite the clear operational direction for cultural projects, there was limited interaction among the tenant companies, as they were not closely connected to the newspaper industry’s cultural initiatives. This lack of interaction hindered the development of an industrial cluster.

3.

Third Stage (2012–present)

Since 2012, Yangcheng Creative Industry Park has adopted a “media-run park” model, adopting the strategy of “one park, multiple zones and diversified development” (

Table 4. Cases study of one park, multiple zones.

Name	Renewal Mode	Development Concept	Picture
Yangcheng Tongchuang foreign exchange	Micro-renovation	The design concept is to create a “breathing building” and provide high-quality office space. It is currently the first mobile Internet eco-industrial complex in Guangzhou.
Yangcheng Creative Industry Park Shaluo Park	Micro-renovation	The park leads the development of a new medical and health service model with the direction of “precision, digitization, intelligence and integration”. And it is committed to building a support platform, such as a scientific and technological innovation platform, and a public-service cloud platform.
Yangcheng Evening News Original Fashion Brand Design Incubation Center	Micro-renovation	With the theme of original fashion brand design, it is a cultural and creative complex integrating fashion release, copyright transaction, and fashion research.
Xinghai Art Industrial Park	Micro-renovation	The park is committed to creating a natural music-creation incubator, configuring a series of supporting studios, such as music production rooms and music classes.

). The park has expanded into the new internet and cultural industries, driving a dual development of cultural creativity and the digital economy. Several old factories in multiple districts of Guangzhou have been transformed into sub-parks of Yangcheng Creative Industry Park, contributing to urban renewal. Currently, the park has evolved into a comprehensive platform, facilitating enterprise collaborations and industry chain synergies, leading to the aggregation of various emerging industries.

In conclusion, Yangcheng Creative Industry Park has successfully transformed from an old industrial area into a modern cultural industry park. This transformation was achieved through multi-dimensional strategies, such as resource integration, functional replacement, industry chain improvement, diversification, innovation-driven development, and industrial upgrading. These efforts have not only enhanced the park’s competitiveness and agglomeration effects but have also played a crucial role in the development of Guangzhou’s cultural industry. Moreover, the park has become a typical example of how cultural projects can drive urban renewal, demonstrating the potential for cultural industries to act as catalysts for urban regeneration.

4.4. The Role of Digital Cultural Industry in Shaping Urban Renewal

In the context of urban development, China places significant emphasis on the influence of government policy. Currently, the country is prioritizing the growth of digital economy, which has consequently spurred the continues expansion of the digital cultural industry. This expansion plays a crucial role in driving urban renewal. In 2023, Guangzhou exhibited significant characteristics of new cultural business models. All 16 subcategories of these new business formats achieved a year-on-year revenue growth of 16.1%. These industries now account for 27.7% of the city’s businesses and contribute 45.5% of the total revenue, positioning them as a key driver of growth in the city’s cultural industries. Alongside the rapid economic expansion and the growing number of businesses, the demand for urban space by the digital cultural industry has been increasing. This industrial growth has prompted the city to optimize its functions and reshape urban spaces to support further clustering and innovation within the cultural industry. The Guangzhou gaming industry serves as a prime example: the spatial distribution and functional evolution brought about by the industry’s development have had a significant impact on the city’s overall planning and development (Figure 8).

The first-generation gaming industry cluster in Guangzhou is located along Keyun Road. The area is characterized by four major urban villages (Yuancun Village, Tangxia Village, Shangshe Village, and Cencun Village) that are connected by Keyun Road. These villages offer a low-cost living environment that has attracted numerous game industries. The relatively affordable monthly rent in these areas has made it the birthplace of Guangzhou’s gaming industry. Prominent gaming companies, such as Netease and Sanqi Mutual Entertainment, are centered in this region, alongside a significant number of smaller gaming firms dispersed throughout the surrounding urban villages.

In the early stage, game enterprises were primarily located in village collective commercial office buildings. Over time, improvements in the governance system of these urban villages, along with enhanced administrative capabilities, facilitated the creation of a clean and orderly operating environment. This environment has been crucial for the realization of urban renewal within the cultural industries, as exemplified by Tangxia Village (

Table 5. Guangzhou game industry enables urban renewal.

Regional characteristic	Tangxia Village is an administrative street in Tianhe District of Guangzhou City, with typical characteristics of urban villages. It is surrounded by cities and streets and evolves from a natural village to an urban village, which is a product of the process of urbanization.
The development advantages of cultural industry	Industrial advantages: Relying on the advantages of the whole industrial chain of Tianhe District Keyun Road, a number of game companies have settled in. Location advantage: Tianhe District is the economic center of Guangzhou, which can make full use of the resources and market advantages of the Greater Bay Area. Enterprise development advantages: low rent in urban villages, reducing the cost of starting a business.
Renewal mode	Urban village to cultural industrial park. Through government guidance, market operation, co-construction, and sharing, we will promote the upgrading and transformation of village-level industrial parks, focus on improving the quality of the surrounding environment, improve the basic supporting facilities of the park, promote the gathering of high-quality talents, and release the new vitality of industrial space.
Renewal content	Micro-renovation of old factories, such as textile mills, mold factories, and warehousing in the village. Through the overall lease of the village’s collective property, upgrading, construction, and operation are carried out, and the core industrial park is built with digital creativity as the guiding direction. The use of the characteristics of the original building micro transformation, to create a web celebrity photography block. The “block culture” is integrated into the business space to become an open space, supporting staff restaurants, conference rooms, road-show centers, etc., to meet the needs of the park’s enterprises. The village through the facade renovation, the introduction of supporting services and other micro-renovation methods to improve the village environment.
Achieving result	In 2020, a total of 29 projects with a total of 796,200 square meters were completed, with 23 incubators above the municipal level, and 11 maker spaces were registered. And a total of 12 were identified as national and provincial incubation carriers. The total revenue of more than CNY 1 billion has increased from zero to six. More than 1000 innovative enterprises have been gathered, which has realized the revitalization of the village’s collective stock of inefficient land and promoted industrial transformation and upgrading. The industrial parks in the region include ocean-going new third board enterprise incubation and cultivation base, Shengda electronic information innovation park, Tangxia·Zhihui PARK, Tianying creative park, and so on.
Before renewal
After renewal

).

The second-generation gaming cluster is centered in Tianhe Smart City (Figure 9). A government-developed digital park that has become a vital platform for the large-scale development of the gaming industry. The park hosts major enterprises, such as NetEase’s headquarters, and has attracted numerous upstream and downstream partners, forming a complete ecosystem for the gaming industry. Unlike Keyun Road, Tianhe Smart City marks the shift in Guangzhou’s gaming industry from a concentration of individual enterprises to a diversified industrial chain.

Tianhe Smart City focuses on the development of modern industrial clusters with a strong emphasis on a new generation of information technology. The park includes ten industrial zones, such as big data industrial parks and geographic information industrial parks, forming a “one core, multi-park” industrial space layout. The growing demand for high-quality office spaces, innovative technological infrastructure and supportive living facilities. This has significantly driven the transformation and upgrading of urban renewal in this area.

The third-generation gaming industry cluster is located within the Pazhou Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy Pilot Zone. (Figure 10) The primary goal of this zone is to develop headquarters and cultural industry park clusters that focus on digital cultural creativity [35]. This area emerged from the demolition and reconstruction of Pazhou Village in the urban village. The total land area of the transformation spans 757,600 square meters, and it employs a comprehensive approach to the redevelopment of the old village.

The Pazhou West area is designed to attract leading gaming projects, encouraging their transition to high-end and branded development. On the other hand, the Pazhou East area features cultural industry parks that complement the West area’s emphasis on internet innovation, offering a new platform for integration technological innovation with the cultural industry.

Overall, the development of Guangzhou’s digital cultural industries has evolved from the first-generation cluster along Keyun Road to the second-generation cluster in Tianhe Smart City and then the third-generation cluster in the Pazhou Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy Pilot Zone. New industrial clusters continue to form, driving the upgrading of urban functions, the reshaping of spaces and the transformation of industries. This ongoing evolution has accelerated urban renewal and played a significant role in Guangzhou’s emergence as a modern city where culture and technological innovation are highly integrated.

5. Challenges in Empowering Urban Renewal Through Guangzhou’s Cultural Industry

5.1. The Homogenization of Cultural Industrial Parks in Urban Renewal

Although Guangzhou’s cultural industrial parks have experienced significant development, the urban renewal process has given rise to a notable issue: the homogenization of architectural styles. This phenomenon primarily results from the one-sided implementation of the “restore to its original form” policy during renovation efforts. The preservation and repurposing of old industrial buildings, such as factories and warehouses, often lead to visual and spatial similarities across various parks. Consequently, the renovations frequently feature comparable exterior restorations and the incorporation of similar cultural elements, thus diminishing the uniqueness of each park. A key factor contributing to this homogenization is the uniformity in design methods, the lack of distinctive local characteristics, and an overreliance on Western design styles. As a result, the renovated parks tend to exhibit a lack of architectural diversity, with designs that fail to reflect the unique cultural and historical context of the region (

Table 6. Cases of the homogenization of cultural industrial park styles.

Case	Guangzhou Xifang House	Changsha Super Wen He You	Jiangmen Jianghuiwuqi Creative Industry Park
Picture
Deficiency	In the design of the cultural industrial park, although the historical appearance of the building is maintained, the culture is displayed through the local characteristic signs to form a landmark with a web celebrity. However, this practice is largely copied in different cities. It easily leads to the problem of homogenization in form and makes it difficult to highlight the cultural characteristics of different places. Moreover, the fragmented and superficial expression of the signboards makes it difficult to show the story and history behind the culture.
Case	02PARK Maker Park	Yangcheng Creative Industry Park	Old wharf cultural creative park
Picture
Deficiency	The use of graffiti as a means of expression of creative elements in cultural industrial parks is widely employed, with the intention of displaying artistic features through color and graphics. However, graffiti works in many parks in Guangzhou lack a clear theme. These works are often biased toward abstract and formal design, ignoring the original industrial characteristics. In addition, the content of such graffiti has not been deeply integrated into the local cultural elements of Guangzhou, making the local characteristics insufficient and the cultural display superficial. And it is difficult to make a profound cultural imprint.
Case	OMG Web celebrity live street	Tianhe Tangxia Wisdom Park	T28OK Oak Yard
Picture
Deficiency	Some cultural industrial parks in Guangzhou blindly follow the trend in construction, overreliance on Western art-style imitation, while ignoring the excavation and innovation of local culture, resulting in the lack of local characteristics, as well as new ideas in the architectural style, format layout, and other aspects of the park, forming a phenomenon of “one side of thousands of parks”. It leads to the dilution of local cultural identity, as young people and tourists may be more attracted by Western cultural elements, while ignoring the unique value and charm of local culture. The development goal of the cultural industrial park is to promote the “national tide” and regional cultural characteristics. The excessive introduction of Western art may affect the recognition of the local IP.

).

5.2. The Dilemma of Non-Cultural Enterprises in Cultural Industry Cluster

While many of Guangzhou’s cultural industrial parks have preserved historical charm and showcase rich cultural characteristics, some parks face a significant issue: a mismatch between the industries present within the parks, with certain enterprises not even belonging to the cultural industry. A case in point is the Guangbao Qianmojian Suanzhi Cultural and Creative Industrial Park. This project adopts the micro-renovation approach, repurposing the old building of Guangzhou Daily and establishing a Guangzhou Daily Exhibition Hall within the park. However, a survey revealed that a majority of enterprises in the park are not involved in the cultural industry but are instead eyeglasses companies. This situation is largely due to the park’s location, which is surrounded by large-scale glasses wholesale markets. As a result, the commercial environment in the park has become dominated by glasses trade. The main purpose for these glasses companies to enter the park is to better dock international trade, the use of the park’s office conditions to promote the sale of glasses.

The eyeglasses companies entering the park are primarily interested in utilizing its office spaces for international trade purposes, rather than engaging in cultural creativity. Many of these business owners have a limited understanding of the cultural industry, with their focus still rooted in traditional commercial trade. This has contributed to a weak cultural atmosphere in the park, which contradicts its intended positioning as a hub for cultural industries. More concerning is the fact that some cultural enterprises in the park feel the lack of a strong cultural environment due to the high concentration of glasses companies. This hampers the formation of a cultural industry cluster and diminishes the park’s potential for fostering creative synergies.

This situation illustrates the challenge of integrating traditional business operations, particularly in stable urban environments, into cultural industrial parks. The influx of non-cultural enterprises into these parks creates a phenomenon of “selling dog meat with sheep head”, where the actual business activities do not align with the park’s original cultural focus.

5.3. Rising Rents: Economic Barriers to Cultural Industry Growth

Although urban renewal has enhanced the infrastructure and environment of cultural industrial parks, it has also led to significant increases in rent, in turn, limiting the ability of smaller cultural enterprises to thrive. A prime example is TIT Creative Park, which was transformed from the old factory area and boasts a prime geographical location that has attracted major enterprises such as WeChat. However, the rent of the park has been as high as 200 CNY/m²/month, far exceeding the 60 CNY/m²/month in the surrounding areas.

This sharp increase in rent contradicts the original goal of cultural industrial parks, which was to provide affordable office spaces for startups and small-to-medium-sized cultural enterprises. Smaller companies, particularly those looking to collaborate with larger enterprises like WeChat, are unable to afford the higher rent and thus miss out on valuable opportunities. Consequently, the park is shifting away from its initial purpose of nurturing the growth of smaller cultural enterprises, and the development of high-quality industry clusters is hindered.

For investors in these parks, the need to recover the costs of urban renewal often leads to strategies such as raising rent and evicting non-compliant tenants. While significant investments are made to improve infrastructure and the environment within the park, these efforts can come with unintended consequences. To achieve profitability, investors often adopt strategies such as increasing rent and clearing non-compliant enterprises. However, this approach carries potential risks. Specifically, after raising rent and clearing certain enterprises, there is often a delay in attracting new tenants, resulting in increased vacancy rates. This, in turn, negatively affects the park’s overall operation and return on investment.

For example, in the case of Guangzhou Junfang Creative Park, most of the initial tenants were clothing companies using the space for warehouses. However, with the renewal of the park, the warehouse functions no longer met the standards required for cultural industrial parks, forcing these companies to vacate. Although the updated rent level of 60 CNY/m²/month is relatively reasonable, most of the office spaces exceed 200 square meters due to the park’s transformation from the old factory building. For small- and medium-sized cultural enterprises, the large office spaces pose a significant challenge. Although the unit rent price is low, the larger areas result in a disproportionate rent burden, effectively raising the threshold for entry. This limits the ability of small- and medium-sized enterprises to settle in the park, resulting in increased vacancies and exacerbating the park’s operational challenges. This situation places the park in a “dilemma”, hindering the healthy development of its cultural industrial park.

Furthermore, the renewal and transformation of cultural industrial parks usually involve changes in ownership. When new investors take over, they typically seek to cover the costs of renewal by increasing rents. This creates a situation where enterprises, especially those with existing lease agreements, face the pressure of rising costs despite having contracts with previous investors. Many businesses that cannot adapt to the higher rent are forced to relocate. The frequent turnover of tenants disrupts the long-term development plans of cultural enterprises, leading to instability in the operating environment and diminishing the competitiveness of the park.

5.4. The Impact of Irregular Spatial Planning on Cultural Industry Development

Urban renewal, particularly the transformation of old factories and neighborhoods, often faces challenges related to spatial utilization, which can limit the functionality and adaptability of cultural industrial parks. A notable example is the Yang Xiecheng Fashion Workshop, where the transformation of the old beverage factory has preserved the large-span industrial style. But the available space does not align well with the needs of modern cultural enterprises. Most of the office space in the park exceeds 300 square meters, which is not suitable for smaller creative enterprises or studios.

Furthermore, while the large-scale open layouts may appear to be spacious, they fail to meet the privacy and sound insulation requirements of certain cultural enterprises, such as live broadcast studios. These businesses are forced to create makeshift partitions using curtains, highlighting the inconvenience of space in meeting contemporary needs (Figure 11a).

In Guangzhou Junfang Creative Park, the overemphasis on architectural form during the restoration process has led to neglect in upgrading functionality (Figure 11b). Although the historical appearance of the factory building was preserved, issues such as insufficient floor height, narrow space, and poor lighting and ventilation have hindered the park’s ability to accommodate the diverse needs of modern cultural industries. Reconstructing these buildings according to the original architectural space layout often fails to meet the requirements of businesses involved in creative and cultural industries.

Moreover, urban renewal has exacerbated the problem of integrating cultural parks with surrounding residential areas. For instance, in the Guangzhou Xieshuang Innovation Workshop, the lower floors serve as creative office area, while the upper floors remain residential. This proximity creates conflicts between commercial activities and residents’ lives, making it difficult to achieve a balance between the two functions (Figure 11c). Similarly, in the Yongqingfang historical block, the blending of intangible cultural heritage displays with the daily residential life negatively impacts both the cultural experience of visitors and the expansion of the cultural industry (Figure 11d).

These examples illustrate how an overemphasis on preserving historical architectural forms, without paying adequate attention to functional upgrades, can fail to meet the demands of modern urban development. The result is a mismatch between the needs of the cultural industries and the infrastructure provided, further complicating the urban re5.5. Property and Fire Safety Issues Hindering Cultural Industry Growth

The development of cultural industries, characterized by innovative business models and diverse operational needs, requires flexible spatial layouts and clearly property ownership. However, the renovation of old factories in Guangzhou faces several historical challenges, including complex land use rights, unclear property ownership and complicated registration procedures. These issues impede the establishment and growth of cultural industrial parks. Moreover, the ownership structure of historical cultural districts is often convoluted, complicating coordination efforts. In some cases, historical buildings cannot even be registered due to incomplete documentation, unpaid taxes, or the dissolution of the original developers, further obstructing the integration of cultural industries into the urban renewal process.

In addition to property-related challenges, fire safety remains a critical issue for cultural industries. The diverse and innovative nature of cultural activities, such as the use of new materials, exhibition equipment, digital art installations and multi-functional creative spaces introduces novel fire hazards. Given the multifunctionality of cultural parks, which often host a variety of activities, the demand for robust safety standards is high. However, many parks fail to meet modern fire safety requirements due to inadequate fire safety equipment and the absence of fire stations within the park premises. These deficiencies not only jeopardize the safety of park operations but also discourage the establishment and expansion of innovative enterprises within these cultural hubs.

6. Inspiration from Guangzhou’s Cultural Industry Empowerment for Urban Renewal

6.1. Strengthening Policy Support for Cultural Industry Integration in Urban Renewal

Cultural enterprises are diverse, comprising many small and micro-sized businesses, new ventures, and startups, some of which possess strong public service characteristics. Urban renewal, on the other hand, is a complex process involving a wide range of factors, substantial investment, strong policy support, and high market and social risks [36]. Therefore, to effectively leverage the potential of the cultural industry and guide the optimization and upgrading of urban renewal, robust policy support is crucial.

First, there is a need to strengthen coordination among relevant government departments and establish a collaborative development mechanism between cultural industries and urban renewal [37]. This could be achieved by enhancing communication and cooperation among government agencies, enterprises, social organizations, and communities, all of which would collectively drive the empowerment of cultural industries in urban renewal. In the planning and renovation of old industrial areas, historical neighborhoods, and urban villages, it is essential to fully consider the development needs of different types of cultural industries. Sufficient space should be reserved for the development of cultural industries, providing spatial security for the growth of specialized cultural industry clusters [38]. Additionally, preparing specific planning guidelines that focus on empowering urban renewal through cultural industries would be advantageous. These guidelines would help implement policy directives and clarify the critical role of cultural industry development in urban renewal, while ensuring that the approach is tailored to the local context of Guangzhou [39].

Second, the planning and design of cultural industry projects in urban renewal should be strengthened. Relevant policy goals should be incorporated into the planning, with particular attention given to various types of cultural industry projects, such as cultural parks, historical cultural districts, and cultural tourism initiatives. To this end, planning and design guidelines should be developed to specify project requirements, construction standards, and operational management norms. Such measures will foster a seamless integration of cultural industry development with urban renewal, showcasing the vitality of the cultural economy while enhancing the city’s image and environment.

Third, optimizing support policies is crucial. The existing funding in Guangzhou should be integrated and optimized, with the government playing a pivotal role in supporting the cultural industry within urban renewal through targeted financial assistance. Tax incentives should be introduced to encourage the growth of small and micro cultural enterprises [40]. A dedicated fund for cultural industries and urban renewal could be established to increase investment in the industry [37]. Moreover, active efforts should be made to secure policy and financial support from the national government, thus enabling the creation of large platforms. Additionally, policy-driven financial support should be strengthened, with encouragement for banks to provide credit for cultural industry projects in urban renewal. This would help reduce financing costs and foster a conducive environment for growth. Furthermore, offering land-use incentives could further reduce operational costs for businesses.

Fourth, a differentiated support strategy should be implemented. For small- and medium-sized cultural enterprises, repurposing existing old factories and warehouses to activate underutilized industrial buildings is key to stimulating economic vitality in older districts. For large “leading” enterprises, urban renewal should focus on the construction of new commercial office buildings and the development of integrated headquarters or R&D bases, enhancing the competitiveness and brand influence of Guangzhou’s cultural enterprises [41]. Simultaneously, these leading enterprises should be encouraged to attract upstream and downstream businesses, thus fostering the completion and extension of industry chains and creating a robust industrial synergy.

Fifth, the government should provide subsidies for the arts. Drawing inspiration from the experience of the Bilbao government, funding for the arts should be increased, including the establishment of art funds and support for private business initiatives. This would facilitate the flow of financial resources into the art industry and support the emergence of new artists. Additionally, attention should be given to the cultivation of artistic talents through the support of museums and art schools. Full funding of the studio, material subsidies, exhibition space, and access to library in the city’s older areas should be provided, thereby promoting the development of urban art [42]. Furthermore, strengthening connections with the international art community is essential. Local artists should be connected to major art fairs, providing them with a broader exposure and helping to position the city as an internationally influential art center.

6.2. Accelerating New Business Models in the Digital Cultural Industry

First, the digital cultural industry should be prioritized in the urban renewal process [36]. This industry is one of the most dynamic and promising fields, with considerable market potential. By encouraging and supporting the transformation of existing spaces for new uses, urban renewal can provide high-quality spatial platforms conducive to the development of the digital cultural industry, thus unlocking its full potential. In line with urban renewal, efforts should be made to focus on promoting the establishment of digital cultural industry clusters, attracting leading cultural enterprises to set up operations in Guangzhou.

Second, digital cultural industries should be leveraged to reinvigorate urban vitality. Historical cultural districts in the city can integrate digital technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), to creatively restructure their functions, thereby creating multifunctional urban spaces that engage both local residents and visitors. This innovation would, in turn, enhance the city’s tourism economy. Strengthening the digitalization of cultural content, particularly focusing on Guangzhou’s historical urban narratives and intellectual property (IP), can bring traditional culture to the public in fresh and innovative forms [43]. Effectively telling the “Guangzhou story” through these digital means will help create immersive experiences in historical cultural districts, architectural heritage sites, and intangible cultural heritage activities, thereby amplifying Guangzhou’s cultural brand influence and advancing its position in the global cultural industry.

6.3. Promoting the Development of Cultural Industry Spaces for Urban Renewal

First, it is essential to address the technical challenges associated with the use of old buildings and to construct spaces that reflect the distinctive characteristics of the cultural industry. By transforming old factories, neighborhoods, and villages, underutilized land and inefficient industrial sites can be revitalized. The goal is to enhance space utilization through targeted renovations that align with the specific needs of the cultural industry, ensuring that spaces retain their historical features while meeting the development requirements of modern cultural enterprises.

Second, it is necessary to upgrade and improve the surrounding infrastructure and hardware facilities of cultural industry parks. In planning and constructing cultural industry for these parks, efforts should focus on optimizing the overall layout to maximize the clustering effect, thereby enhancing accessibility and convenience. The functional relationship between the industrial park and surrounding communities should be adjusted and optimized. Introducing supporting services and amenities will help attract businesses and talent. Key improvements should include the public transportation network and optimization of transport nodes within the park, enhancing commuting convenience [44]. Additionally, the development of smart parking lots and a shared transportation system within the park could provide efficient travel experience for both businesses and visitors. Internally, internal infrastructure, modernizing facilities, and creating flexible spaces to meet diverse needs will further enhance the park’s appeal and cultural influence, thereby driving the comprehensive development of the cultural industry.

6.4. Encouraging Distinctive Cultural Industry Projects in Urban Renewal

Urban renewal efforts should focus on constructing iconic cultural buildings to create world-class cultural industry projects with international influence [45]. Successful examples from globally renowned projects, such as the Guggenheim Museum, can serve as references. By integrating cultural projects with the surrounding areas, they can attract upstream and downstream businesses and service providers, forming distinctive cultural industry clusters and driving the interconnected development of various industries.

Moreover, urban renewal should focus on the creation of distinctive cultural districts to promote the growth of the cultural industry [46]. Through revitalizing key cultural landmarks in historic districts and opening up cultural tourism routes, urban renewal can invigorate cultural heritage while promoting tourism. In response to the rise of the digital economy and live-streaming industry, traditional professional wholesale streets should be encouraged to transform into live-streaming hubs, enriching their cultural content and expanding their cultural leisure and entertainment functions.

Additionally, increasing the intensity of cultural activities is crucial. Drawing inspiration from Sheffield’s successful urban transformation through its film festival, which has become one of the world’s leading documentary film festivals, Guangzhou could initiate similar cultural events [47]. These events not only bring innovation to the art, film, and television industries but also elevate the city’s cultural reputation and rejuvenate old buildings through governmental revitalization efforts [48].

7. Conclusions

Any attempt to update historical urban districts or old buildings must carefully consider their context and environment, striking a balance between economic development and preservation of the city’s historical and cultural heritage. The development of the cultural industry offers a fresh perspective and direction for urban renewal. It not only facilitates the effective use of existing spaces but also contributes to the preservation of historical culture and enhances the city’s cultural image.

Guangzhou, China, serves as an exemplary case of this approach. This paper is structured around four key research approaches: First, by outlining the significance of Guangzhou’s cultural industries in urban renewal, we trace the development of cultural enterprises in the city. Second, through a review of relevant literature and case studies of typical examples in Guangzhou, we analyze the main models, practices, and lessons learned from how cultural industries can empower urban renewal. Third, the paper discusses the current challenges faced by Guangzhou’s cultural industry in contributing to urban renewal. Finally, a comprehensive study is presented, offering policy recommendations for accelerating the integration of cultural industries into Guangzhou’s urban renewal in the new era. This study is set against the backdrop of new productive forces, the deep integration of urban renewal and the cultural industry, the synergy between culture and tourism, digital transformation, and high-quality urban development. This paper, drawing on interdisciplinary theories from human geography, industrial economics, and urban and rural planning, among other things, systematically investigates the trends, models, mechanisms, impacts, and strategies of empowering urban renewal through cultural industries. This paper combines both macro-level historical analysis and micro-level case studies with innovative research content.

At the theoretical level, this paper enriches the field of study by systematically examining the mechanisms and models of cultural industries empowering urban renewal. Compared with Western theories and cases, we find out the differences and provide an empirical basis for further research. The difference between the two is that the West regards the cultural industry as an economic means to invest in artists, guide the transformation of industrial areas, and drive the surrounding areas with large projects. It is artistic to drive the change in local material environment and economic growth. China’s urban renewal, especially in Guangzhou, is more based on local economic growth. It is the economic demand of local governments and has policy orientation. We recommend paying more attention to the resources that the industry can provide to the city. The area is more inclined to residential areas, villages, and so on. However, it is less connected with culture and ignores the artistry that it can bring to the people.

On the practical side, based on the difference between China and the West, this paper analyzes the specific pathways through which Guangzhou’s cultural industry has empowered urban renewal. The paper extracts actionable indigenization models and successful experiences, offering valuable lessons for other cities’ urban renewal practices and promoting the collaborative development of culture and cities. The government can realize the continuous promotion of urban renewal by guiding the activation of cultural-related historical heritage of urban villages, the establishment of industrial parks, and the development of key enterprises and policy-oriented industries. Furthermore, the research presents recommendations for optimizing cultural industry policies and urban renewal strategies, providing scientific evidence to assist policymakers and helping to enhance the cultural atmosphere of cities. It is suggested that Guangzhou should further promote the cultural industry to enable urban renewal and promote high-quality urban development by strengthening policy support, vigorously developing digital cultural industry, strengthening the construction of cultural industry space carrier, and developing characteristic cultural industry projects. And it can improve the quality of life for residents, promote cultural heritage, and increase a city’s cultural soft power and attractiveness.