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Is the Chinese "superblock" the same thing as a Soviet "microdistrict?

If so, the article is off the mark, the whole idea of the concept is a less car-centric life. You're supposed to commute to work by public transport and walk inside your "superblock" during leisure time.

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And it failed spectacularly in mid-90s-early-2000s.

Every flat surface is parked over with cars, often for weeks, decomposing on kids playgrounds. All activities happen in the center of the city or in big malls anyway.

Those exist in China as well (all fairly old), but are different from what the article is talking about, which are more like gated communities.

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