China’s Urbanization Models

In this Chapter, China’s urbanization model is explored. First, it presents a detailed survey of the four classic urbanization models such as synchronal urbanization, over-urbanization, under-urbanization, and counter-urbanization. Then it proposes that China’s urbanization model need to been re-generalized by considering the uniqueness of China’s urbanization process. Particularly, it introduced two theories from Friedmann and from Zhang that can be used for understanding China’s urbanization models. Then, by following the framework of Friedmann’s urbanization type I, section two presents the numerical expansion of cities in China and how it has shaped the landscape as a result of non-agriculturalization. And section three explains the well-known Wenzhou model. Section four turns to Friedmann’s urbanization type II and describes how urbanization quality has been well improved in parallel with globalization. In the last section, the new south Jiangsu model as the new response to globalization, digitalization and eco-civilization is explained with more details on the underlying driving forces and mechanisms.