Suburban development

Although UB -- as in I heart Ulaan Baatar -- has some interesting big buildingHowever the more interesting urban planning insights came from a visit to one of the newer outer suburbs, to see the way fringe settlement and urban drift is managed.





Basically any adult is entitled to a 400 square metre block of unused land on the fringes that has not been previously claimed, and can plonk their ger (yurt) and then build a more permanent home on the block while finding employment in the area.




The government provides water -- although not reticulated -- electricity and schooling and medical care. So when the winter is really bad, as happened last year, some nomadic families can settle, either permanently or just for the winter months, around the cities. Since these families are really very capable, used to the doing everything for themselves, this land grant means that they can manage things in the city fairly well.




In the family we visited, the grandmother was active in a cooperative involved in market gardening, as well as production of hats and clothing as well as stitching felted rugs.







- Posted from Yang Shuo, China