China has a history of urbanization and cities that stretches back centuries. Throughout China’s long history, its cities developed their own architecture and urban planning principles. Different cities had different characteristics, but there were certain elements that remained constant. However, there were some elements that were not a part of traditional Chinese cities.

No High-Rise Buildings

Despite the rapid urbanization of China in recent decades, urban planning guidelines have restricted the use of high-rise buildings. In fact, traditional Chinese cities tended to have buildings that were no more than four stories high. This was due to a combination of cultural and religious reasons as well as the limited use of materials available for building. The culture of China has long been rooted in modesty and this was reflected in the way cities were built.

Limited Street Lighting

Another element that was not characteristic of traditional Chinese cities was the limited use of street lighting. Unlike European cities of the same era, street lighting was almost non-existent in traditional Chinese cities. This was due to the more rural nature of Chinese cities, as well as the limited use of technology. As a result, the streets of Chinese cities tended to be much darker than in other regions.

No Public Sewerage System

The lack of public sewerage systems was also uncommon in traditional Chinese cities. This was mainly due to the limited use of technology and materials, as well as a lack of understanding of how to build and maintain such systems. As a result, traditional Chinese cities tended to rely on septic tanks or cesspools to deal with waste water. This would often lead to issues with health and sanitation.

Conclusion

To conclude, these features were not a part of traditional Chinese cities. High-rise buildings, street lighting, and public sewerage systems were all absent in traditional Chinese cities. This was mainly due to a combination of cultural, religious, and technological constraints. As such, these characteristics made Chinese cities very different to those in other regions.