Hybrid modernity : the public park in late 20th century China This book provides a detailed historical and design analysis of the development of parks and modern landscape architecture in late 20th century China. It questions whether the fusion of international influences with the local Chinese design vocabulary in late 20th century China has created a distinctive approach to public park design that is novel. Hybrid Modernity proposes a new theory for examining the design of public parks built in post Mao China since the reforms and sets the various processes for Chinas late 20th century socio cultural context. Drawing on modernization theory research on Chinas modernity local and global cultural trends it illustrates through a range of case study analysis how hybrid modernity defines a new design genre and language for the spatial forms of parks that emerged in Chinas secondary cities. Featured case studies include the Living Water Park in Chengdu Sichuan province and West Lake Southern Scenic Area Master Plan in Hangzhou Zhejiang province. This book argues that these forms represent a new stage in Chinas history of landscape architecture. The work reveals that as a new profession landscape architecture has greatly contributed to Chinas massive urban experiment. This book is an ideal read for students enrolled in landscape architecture architecture fine arts and urban planning programs that are engaged in learning the arts and international design education