Understanding China’s Urbanization: The Great Demographic, Spatial, Economic, and Social Transformation

Written in collaboration among Li Zhang and Min Zhao (two Chinese academics) and Richard LeGates (a US academic), Understanding China’s Urbanization brings Chinese research and insight to a Western audience and makes valuable connections and comparisons. Through telling the story of China’s urbanization from 1978, the authors consolidate the latest material on Chinese urbanization while also offering their own alternative views. Yet this book is rich not only in empirical information, but also in theoretical discussions and policy recommendations, as the authors identify how policymakers throughout China may improve their urbanization decisions. This thorough book is valuable reading to academics in fields relating to planning and development, as well as to practitioners, be they government officials, development workers or professionals in the private sector. Furthermore, it is relevant not only to those interested in China but to other countries that can learn from China’s experience.

Following an introduction, Understanding China’s Urbanization comprises 10 chapters. Chapter 1, “Understanding China’s urbanization”, highlights the authors’ basic hypothesis and the four key attributes of urbanization that are subsequently the focus of the book. These are: demography, economics, space and society (page 13). It goes on to outline Chinese urbanization before discussing salient topics in urbanization studies. The chapter also identifies the authors’ research methodology, data sources and fieldwork.

Chapter 2, “Evolution, status, and reform of hukou”, reviews the hukou (household registration) system in China and its influence on regional urbanization. In particular it looks at reforms to the hukou system and their impact upon current and future urbanization.

Chapter 3, “Governments, administrative divisions, and urban policies”, “describes the current status of China’s administrative divisions and urban policies” and their evolution through time (page 89).

Noting that the spatial pattern of urbanization in China has been significantly affected by policy shifts, Chapter 4 reviews effects of regional policy changes upon regional urbanization.  Specifically, it analyses disparities across China’s three great regions (page 134). 

Chapter 5 moves from a regional to a global focus. It presents scholarship on globalization and discusses how it has affected China’s urbanization. It also considers the influence of foreign direct investment (FDI) in China (page 170).

“Population flows and semi-urbanization” is the title of Chapter 6. Here large-scale population flows following China’s opening up are described in relation to both the hukou system and globalization and how they inform the complex nature of China’s urbanization (page 188).

Chapter 7 describes in detail China’s large city clusters and megalopolises. It discusses their emergence, formation, role, and the flows between them.

In Chapter 8, the authors explore the role that towns play in China’s rural urbanization. In particular they look at towns’ characteristics and the predicaments of town development.

Preceding the book’s conclusion, Chapter 9 presents the authors’ theoretical framework for understanding China’s urbanization path with Chinese characteristics. They call it the “double dual transition model” (page 320). In addition, the chapter reflects on several other theories relevant to economic development and urbanization.

Chapter 10 concludes by discussing the new context and new challenges ahead for China, and in response a new policy orientation to achieve China’s second urbanization transition (from quantity to quality). Finally, it ends by considering the significance of globalization, FDI and development upon future urbanization in China, and promotes the double dual track transition.

Book note prepared by Hannah Keren Lee