Author(s):
DU Shanshan* - Beijing Union University
ZHANG Jingqiu - Beijing Union University
Cai Jianming - igsnrr
Abstract:
With increasing demand in tourism, China's recreational agro-parks in metropolitan regions are experiencing fast growth and becoming a hot issue for attention. Of much concerning for their optimal development, a most important task is to develop a good methodology to identify their topologies so that each type of them can have its own specific strategies for development. Based on intensive literature review and extensive field works in Beijing, this paper therefore proposes a "2-6-5" classification method of agro-parks. The classification establishes on the TWO bases of causes of formation and the state of existence, and covers SIX kinds of division of recreational agro-parks, which including business entities, geographical patterns and functions, stages of development, the size and the industrial structure. Upon considering these Six Classification methods, the paper divides recreational agro-parks into FIVE main types, which are, self-picking-up gardens, community-supported farms, comprehensive leisure farms, agricultural science and technology parks and agro-themed public parks. And then, by selecting typical case of each type in Beijing, including YU Xiang Yuan Self-Picking-up Garden, Little Donkey Community-supported Farm, Xiedao Comprehensive Leisure Farm, Beijing International Urban Agriculture Science & Technology Park and Beijing World Garden of Flowers, this paper analyzes the development approaches of these parks in terms of their evolution history, characteristics, organizational changes and the future trend. It is expected that this paper could provide a good basis for strategic decision making on the development of recreational agro-parks in metropolitan regions in general and in Beijing municipality in particular.
