A historical review on theories related to the development and change of Chinese cities

Abstract

Urbanization and city development in China have been unique. As a result, the concepts and theories developed in China related to the nature and structure of Chinese cities are quite different from those popular in urban geography that are based on Western experiences. The present paper is a historical review of these key concepts and theories regarding China’s cities. It is divided chronologically into three parts: (1) feudal China; (2) China in 1949-1978; and (3) China after the implementation of the opening up and reform policy was started in 1978. The concepts and theories that have emerged in the three periods form an important foundation for understanding and guiding future urbanization and city development in China, and will contribute to comparative urban studies.

論述中國自周朝以來的城市概念和理論, 指出中國城市性質和城市結構的自有特點及其與西方發展經驗為基礎的城市概念和理論不同。將中國漫長的演變歷史分為封建時代、中華人民共和國建立至1978年和1978年以后的改革開放3個時期。3個時期所形成的城市概念和理論, 都有中國特色, 是中國城市及城市化向前發展的重要的理解和指導基礎。