Shenzhen’s 15-minute city initiative: A model for high-quality urban development

The concept of a 15-minute city is intended to improve city liveability by ensuring that residents have access to basic services within a short distance of their homes, reducing traffic congestion, promoting sustainability, and improving social inequality. This study examines the development of a 15-minute city (15mC) in Shenzhen, one of China’s most rapidly urbanising cities, and explores the difficulties it faces. Using road networks and POI (Point of Interest) data from 2014 to 2024, we conducted spatial analyses using a GIS mapping technique to evaluate spatial–temporal changes in 15-minute city accessibility. This research identifies areas with limited walkability or insufficient access to key services by analysing trends in services, including transport, healthcare, education, and workplaces. We examined 15mC trends at the sub-city level in the Nanshan and Bao’an districts. We also incorporated data on new infrastructure development to demonstrate how road expansion contributed to the growth of 15mC areas. In addition, our analysis includes comparisons between 10-minute, 15-minute, and 30-minute city areas, highlighting the relevance of the X-minute city theory. The findings have significant implications for the future design of a 15-minute city in Shenzhen and can be extrapolated to inform urban planning strategies in similar developing cities.