Social Capital and Regeneration in Historical Areas: Case Study of Jianguo Men Market, Xi’an, China

In recent years, China has increasingly adopted more inclusive and participatory approaches to urban regeneration, prompted by constrained government funding and the limitations of traditional top-down models. Although existing literature largely characterises urban regeneration in cities such as Xi’an as predominantly top-down, this study explores a potentially exceptional case that demonstrates elements of a more community-initiated and collaborative model. Focusing on the regeneration of Jianguo Men Market, the research identifies two key phases: one emerging from grassroots self-help efforts during the socialist reform era, and the other reflecting recent micro-regeneration strategies that promote broader participation. Rather than presenting the case as a fully bottom-up model in the Western sense, this case is conceptualised as a hybrid model, in which bottom-up initiatives are interwoven with institutional, governmental, and private sector engagement. Adopting a qualitative case study methodology, the research draws on in-depth semi- structured interviews, participant observation, photography, and archival analysis to investigate how social capital conceptualised through networks, trust, and participation shapes the regeneration process in this distinctive context. Special attention is given to the role of guanxi in fostering trust, mobilising resources, securing policy support, and enabling cross- sector collaboration. The study contributes to theoretical debates by reconfiguring Western concepts of social capital within a Chinese socio-cultural framework. It proposing a "Social Capital in Regeneration Performance Model," offering both analytical insights and practical recommendations for leveraging various forms of social capital within China’s evolving urban governance landscape.