Abstract: Chinese economic activities in Africa have gained increased visibility  in  parallel  to  the  recent  acceleration  of  Sino-African  rela-tions.  This  paper,  which  is  framed  from  a  geographical  perspective that  is  often  absent  or  neglected  in  studies  covering  China–Africa, focuses  on  the  spatial  forms  and  dynamics.  It  depicts  the  way  in which  two  contrasting  Chinese  economic  entities  –  a  state-owned company  in  Chad  and  privately  owned  commercial  malls  in  Johan-nesburg,  South  Africa  –  engage  with  their  respective  host  environ-ments. While drawing on concepts of “liminality” as well as “hetero-topias”, I argue that the modalities of the Chinese footprint are char-acterised both by closure and interaction, creating a dynamic tension that  produces  its  own  set  of  unique  practices.  This  ambivalence  be-tween enclave and active linkages with host societies is not only per-ceivable from a spatial point of view, but also emerges with regard to economic strategies. In the midst of a transitional period, along with a launching and a consolidating phase, the Chinese economic entities in both  case  studies  show  signs  of  change  in  terms  of  behaviour  and territorial foothold.  
„ Manuscript received 22 April 2013; accepted 29 May 2014
Keywords: Chad, South Africa, enclave, graft, resource space, hybrid- isation, oil, mall, Chinese actors