This book examines the nature and internal dynamics of China’s urban construction land (UCL) development, drawing insights from the recently developed theory of regional political ecology. Based on the author’s original research, it identifies two different types of UCL development in China, namely top-down, formal development in the legal and regulated domain, and spontaneous and informal, bottom-up development in the semi-legal, poorly regulated gray domain. Presenting a systematic analysis and comparison, it reveals a scale and speed of informal land development no less significant than that of formal land development, although informal land development tends to be scattered, pervasive, difficult to track, and largely overlooked in research and policy formation. Contrary to the popular perception of the peasantry as passive victims of land development, this book uncovers an intriguing dynamic in which the peasantry has played an increasingly (pro)active role in developing their rural land for urban uses in informal markets. Further, based on an investigation of UCL development in Beijing and Shenzhen, it shows an interesting trajectory in which the uneven growth and utilization of UCL are contingent upon the various developmental milieus in different places. China’s land institutions, based on an urban–rural dual land system, are not conducive to the ultimate goal of saving and efficiently utilizing land. Accordingly, an urban–rural integrated land market and management system is highly advisable. The theoretical and empirical enquiry presented challenges the perceived notion of China’s UCL development as the outcome of market demand and state supply. Further, it argues for an inclusive treatment of the informality that has characterized urbanization in many developing countries, and for a reassessment of the role played by the peasantry in land-based urbanization.

This dissertation, "Understanding the Development of China's Urban Construction Land: the State, Market, and Peasantry in Action" by Tao, Liu, 劉濤, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: China's phenomenal urbanization in recent decades has been characterized by not only a rapid growth of its urban population but also a massive expansion and development of its Urban Construction Land (hereafter UCL). The existing literature on China's urbanization is preoccupied by concerns over the growth of the urban population and rural-urban migration. Little work has been done to document and explain the growth dynamics of China's UCL. This thesis makes an original and significant effort to fill the gap existing in the studies of China's urbanization. Development of China's UCL is described in the existing literature as a combined outcome of the increasing market demand of the urban economy and the popular land-centered strategy practiced by the local states. With few exceptions, the peasantry as original land owners were either neglected or treated as passive victims in the process of UCL development. Drawing insights from the recently developed theory of regional political ecology, this thesis examines the nature and internal dynamics of China's UCL development. My original research has identified two different types of UCL development in China, namely formal development in the legal and regulated domain top down and informal development in the semi-legal, poorly regulated, and grey domain spontaneously bottom-up. My systematic analysis and comparison have found a scale and speed of informal land development no less significant than that of formal land development although informal land development tends to be scattered, pervasive, difficult to track, and usually overlooked in research and policy formation. Contrary to the popular perception of the peasantry as passive victims of land development, this thesis has revealed an intriguing dynamic in which the peasantry has played an increasingly (pro)active in developing their rural land for urban uses in informal markets. My further investigation of UCL development in Beijing and Shenzhen has uncovered an interesting trajectory in which the uneven growth and utilization of UCL are contingent upon the different developmental milieus existing in different places. UCL in Shenzhen is characterized by high rapidity, efficiency, a stronger land market, better-organized peasantry, and relatively weak state intervention. By contrast, the development of UCL in Beijing under strong state controls with poorly organized peasantry is dominated by the formal track with low efficiency. Ironically, the central state's policy objective of efficient land utilization has failed in Beijing where central land policies were well implemented but has been better achieved in Shenzhen where UCL is developed with limited intervention of central policies. China's land institutions based on an urban-rural dual land system are contradictory to the ultimate goal of land saving and efficient utilization. An urban-rural integrated land market and management system is thus highly recommended. The theoretical and empirical enquiry in this thesis challenges the perceived notion of China's UCL development as the outcome of market demand and state supply. My study of UCL development in China has called for an inclusive treatment of the informality that has characterized urbanization of many developing countries and a reassessment of the role played by the peasantry in land-based urbanization. Subjects: Urbanization - Chi

How have the development and redevelopment of China’s cities since the early 1950s transformed the settlements and fortunes of a fifth of the world’s population? Rapid urbanization since the 1980s has changed the nation from a rural society to an urban one, marking it as one of the most significant transformations in history. As a country with severe land scarcity, land resources are intensively contested for during urbanization under the new regime of marketization. This book focuses on the impact of the institution of land rights that have transitioned from private ownership to socialist state ownership, and subsequently to public land leasing in the urban domain, and to collective ownership in rural areas. In the context of defining the relationship between the state and the market, the gradualist transition of land rights gives rise to intriguing processes of place-making. The elaboration of these processes will engage several revealing conceptual notions: land as a means of production, land commodification, ambiguous land rights, incomplete land rights, trading land use rights for land development rights, institutional uncertainty, land rent seeking and dissipating, local developmental state, danwei-enterprises, and more. The newly created landed interests are embedded intricately within the urban spatial structure. This book would especially be of interest to scholars interested in developmental economics, urban planning, geography, public policies, public management, and sociology, and also practitioners focusing on development and planning.

Now an established global force, China has experienced a sustained period of staggering economic growth since policy reform in the 1970s. Chinese urbanisation is the most significant example of economic, environmental and social change both within China and globally. In recent years, central government has made a concerted effort to encourage city governments to realign their priorities and achieve a balance between economic efficiency, social justice and environmental protection. Chinese Urban Transformation: A Tale of Six Cities is a fascinating exploration of the dramatic development Chinese cities have undergone. Tracing this transformation through a comprehensive analysis of social and economic change in six cities, it unravels the complex relationship between policy, outlook and role that urban development plays in China’s view of itself, including the tensions resulting from rapid social and economic change.

Radically reoriented under market reform, Chinese cities present both the landscapes of the First and Third World, and are increasingly playing a critical role in the country’s economic development. Yet, radical marketization co-exists with the ever-presence of state control. Exploring the interaction of China’s market development, state regulation and the resulting transformation and creation of new urban spaces, this innovative, key book provides the first integrated treatment of China’s urban development in the dynamic market transition. Focusing on land and housing development, the authors, all renowned authorities in this field, show how the market has been ‘created’ under post-reform urban conditions, and examine ‘the state in action’, highlighting how changing urban governance towards local entrepreneurial state facilitates market formation. A significant, original contribution, they highlight the key actors and their institutional contexts. China has been very successful in using urban land development as an economic growth engine, and here the authors investigate complex interactions between the market and state in creating this new urbanism. Taking a unique perspective, they marshal original ideas and empirical work based on field studies and collaborative work with colleagues in China.

This volume introduces and discusses the achievements and mechanisms of urban planning and construction in China from multiple professional perspectives, covering practices and processes ranging from ancient times to the present day. The book has 14 chapters, each addressing a specific Chinese urban planning and construction topic with examples and applications in various cities and regions, and each providing an all-around analysis of Chinese urban development issues at different scales, including government administrations, planning progresses, urban investments, social impacts and construction models. The book provides a comprehensive overview of urban planning and construction in China, especially its successful experiences in the historical period and modern era, which will greatly benefit scholars and readers who are interested in China, as well as urban planners, architects and historians. The book is organized into 4 main parts. Part 1 focuses on "historical wisdom" to summarize ancient Chinese efforts to cope with nature and the environment. It interprets the unique wisdom of ancient Chinese cities related to regional design, water conservancy system, and urban districts. Part 2 presents the “transformation" of urban planning in China by learning from both the traditional value and western experiences based on several cases, such as the spatial development of Beijing and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei capital region, the preservation of Qingdao city, the urban community development and regeneration in Chongqing city. Part 3 explores the "green and eco-city" by looking towards the future, illustrating Chinese practices and efforts to build more sustainable cities, such as green and low-carbon city construction in Wuhan, healthy city planning and eco-cities construction in China. Part 4 prospects the “modern miracles” brought forth by technological innovation and economic growth, and introduces the newest planning trends in China, such as the E-commerce Taobao villages in China and the innovation districts in Beijing. It also explains the driving force of the "growth machine" of Suzhou city.