Along with rapid urbanization, most Chinese cities have experienced a modular pattern of development, resulting in both
well-modernized (new, developed) and relatively undeveloped
(old, developing) districts (Zhou, 1999). As shown in Fig. 1, Suzhou
has also followed this development pattern. The principal investi-
gators of this study divided the survey area into two districts
according to the levels of economic development and urbanization.
Northern Suzhou, including Xiangcheng and Gusu, is the city’s
ancient historical section and is defined as the old district. Other
areas of Suzhou, including Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), Huqiu,
Wuzhong and Wujiang, make up the new district. Despite being
managed by the same municipal government, generally the two
districts have different socioeconomic characteristics, life-styles
and consumption patterns, among other differences.