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Supported by questionnaires and interviews, we present a case study of urban transformations in Nanluoguxiang, Beijing at the neighbourhood level. Nanluoguxiang demonstrates key characteristics of self-organisation in its transformation. The case also illustrates that self-organisation sometimes runs counter to socially desired outcomes, which reminds us of the need to be aware of such a development, of the possibility of intervention and of the desirability of bearing in mind spatial planning perspectives. The Nanluoguxiang case also shows that self-organisation and intentional behaviour are not necessarily mutually exclusive. However, the coexistence of both processes does depend on the intentions of the institutions responsible for local developments and the conditions set by them. Keywords: Nanluoguxiang, planning, self-organisation, urban transformation, Introduction Urban systems are typically complex. Although we can plan for desired urban changes to become a reality in some circumstances, quite often it is not us but the urban [...]