Since 1980s, the renewal of western cities has turned from the outdated construction method of large-scale reconstruction towards small-scale gradual urban transformation based on neighborhood reformation. One after another, western cities have entered the age of urban reformation that focuses on humanity. Meanwhile, following the Reform and Opening Policy and socialist market economy, the revitalization of Chinese cities has just opened the curtains of reformation based on large-scale spatial transformation. The strong will of the government to bring ‘change every year and major change every three years’ and the motivation of land development joined forces to propel the dismantling of numerous lanes and alleys. They were replaced by homogeneous jungles of high-rises. The historical landscape and unique characteristics of the old towns have almost been completely eliminated. Under the expulsive effect of the land leasing and development mode, many low-income original lane inhabitants were forced out of the downtown area into the suburban resettlement neighborhoods.