Organizing Urban Space under Rapid Urbanization: changing urban governance in China

Principal Investigator:
Shen, Jianfa

Co-investigator(s):
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Summary:
The adjustment or realignment of city boundaries has been a common phenomenon in rapidly changing China. For example, Guangzhou has recently annexed two previously county-level cities, Huadu and Panyu, as its urban districts enabling the city government of Guangzhou to control the new airport and the mouth of Pearl River. These changes will have profound impact on the national, regional and urban development. However, little information is available with regards to the procedures, regulations and processes for such organization and re-organization of city boundaries in the mainland China.

This project will examine the changing criteria, procedures and processes of city designation and boundary adjustment in post-reform China. The findings of the project will be valuable for a through understanding of the changing urban governance and urban space organization.