"New urbanization patterns first emerged in some coastal provinces. These were a product of China's reform and open-door processes, and are still in the process of further development and diffusion to other provinces in China. This book explores the causes, effects and implications of these new urbanization patterns through case studies in areas where the patterns are most developed."--BOOK JACKET.

This book traces the history of urbanization in China and discusses major problems and challenges the country is facing as it undergoes a profound social transformation. The author argues that as China tries to build not just more but also better cities, i.e., cities that are not only economically competitive but also people- and environment-friendly, it should adopt urbanization strategies and policies that promote integrated development for both rural and urban areas, and coordination among otherwise disparate objectives – such as industrialization, ecological modernization, informatization and cultural heritage preservation – nationwide and at various scales.

This book answers the call for New Urbanization, and proposes a “5+9+6” national spatial layout plan for the urbanization of the 770 major cities in China. This macro pattern is based on a few major metropolises at the center, and other cities supporting and benefitting from these metropolises to form a pyramid-like urban hierarchical system. The book also presents a comprehensive regionalization plan for China’s New Urbanization and strategic approaches to improving the quality of this New Urbanization. Currently, China is aggressively promoting a so-called New Urbanization, which has been regarded as one of the primary ways to build a moderately prosperous society, to address critical issues related to agriculture, rural regions and farmers, to expand domestic demand and promote industrial innovation, and to realize the China Dream. From a systematic perspective and using recently released urban data, the authors analyze the current status of New Urbanization in China and also investigate the various potential problems and obstacles to its concrete implementation. Based on the analyses and investigations, the authors propose strategic directions, paths and basic principles for China’s New Urbanization. In addition, they clearly identify the three different modes of New Urbanization, namely, the general mode, differentiated mode, and gradual mode. Today, many scholars argue that China’s urban regions are experiencing a highly unsustainable mode of development. Chinese cities are heavily burdened by the so-called “urban diseases,” which are characterized e.g. by congested traffic, polluted water and air, and a lack of open and green spaces. Traditional urbanization, which primarily focuses on economic development, must be fundamentally reformed. New Urbanization, which focuses on integrated economic development, social integration and space/environmental sustainability, or simply put, on the quality of urbanization, has been called for to provide a potential “cure” for these urban diseases. Due to the vastness of China’s population and its rapidly growing economic, political and cultural relationships with the rest of the world, the book demonstrates that the success of this New Urbanization is critical not only to the future of urban China, but also the future of urbanization worldwide. The book offers a valuable reference work for all researchers, graduate student and policy makers interested in China’s urban development.

This book explores the process of urbanization and the profound challenges to China’s urban governance. Economic productivity continues to rise, with increasingly uneven distribution of prosperity and accumulation of wealth. The emergence of individual autonomy including demands for more freedom and participation in the governing process has asked for a change of the traditional top-down control system. The vertical devolution between the central and local states and horizontal competition among local governments produced an uneasy political dynamics in Chinese cities. Many existing publications analyze the urban transformation in China but few focuses on the governance challenges. It is critical to investigate China’s urbanization, paying special attention to its challenges to urban governance. This edited volume fills this gap by organizing ten chapters of distinctive urban development and governance issues.

​This book examines the formation trajectory and development path of China’s newly formed urban areas, which was the result of an unprecedented massive urbanization process. The analysis is based on the case of Dezhou, Shandong Province. This book systematically introduces strategic studies, planning and design, development and construction, investments, policies and future development of new urban areas. The book broadly summarizes strategies used for new urban area development and the concrete methods implemented in place. In-depth analysis into the selected case areas also reveal some critical issues emerged from the Chinese practice in urbanization. In general, this book provides a useful reference for government leaders, urbanization researchers, city planners, city economic policy makers and researchers interested in related areas.

This new book from China specialists Paths International is aimed at both academics and students studying or interested in development studies, urban studies or Chinese studies. City and Citizen in Modern China: Towards A Scientific Approach to Urban Development offers a comprehensive evaluation of the development of China's key cities from the unique perspective of scientific development. The authors have included all Chinese urban conurbations from prefecture level upwards to ensure the results, observations and analysis is comprehensive and balanced. The authors (experts from the extremely prestigious Institute of Urban Development of China) have managed to draw a clear picture of the relationships between the city and its dwellers. China's cities have evolved and grown radically in recent years, this book examines these changes with a clear focus on the wellbeing of those who now reside in them.