Research on Urban Design Methods for Beijing’s Old City Based
on Historic-Cultural Exploration and Urban Morphology:
A Case Study of Xuannan Caishikou District
Abstract：The preservation and inheritance of historic urban context constitutes a central issue in the urban design of Beijing’s
historic districts. This study takes the Xuannan Caishikou district as an empirical case to explore urban design
methodologies for contextual preservation and regeneration, based on historic-cultural exploration and urban
morphological analysis. The research begins with systematic historic document analysis and field investigations
to reconstruct the district’s spatial evolution and identify its cultural characteristics, while diagnosing key spatial
challenges. A multi-scale analytical framework encompassing “city-district-neighborhood” levels is developed to decode
critical spatial elements that carry historic context, examining macro-scale urban patterns, meso-scale morphological
configurations, and micro-scale urban fabric. Guided by the dual principles of “permanence and adaptation”, the
study proposes three strategic approaches for contextual preservation: (1) reinforcing the holistic urban structure
through district network development, (2) reorganizing spatial configurations based on historic-cultural assets, and (3)
revitalizing the area through integrated alleyway and functional space design. This research provides actionable design
methods that reconcile heritage preservation with urban development, offering valuable reference for the regeneration
of comparable historic urban areas.
