China's New Geography
Landscape Transformation Under Demographic, Economic and Technological Disruption
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 30. October 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
280 pages
978-1-032-71667-1 (ISBN)
Description
This book explores China's spatial future through 2060, a future which will be dramatically different from both the Opening Up period starting in 1979, when the rules of landscape building were rewritten, and the Factory of the World era following China's 2001 WTO accession. Drawing on decades of participation in China's spatial transformation, the authors explore the country's future landscape by analyzing the intersecting forces of demographic, societal, economic, policy, and technological change. They examine a rapidly changing context shaped by population decline, the pursuit of global technological leadership, and changing lifestyles and consumption patterns.
The book addresses pressing questions: How will China's hollowing out rural landscapes be transformed as new economic nodes emerge based on alternative energy production, digitally enabled agriculture, ecological restoration and amenity development? As urbanization peaks at 85% and China's urban population declines by at least 125 million between 2030 and 2060, how will the national urban system be reshaped? Which urban clusters will emerge as new "Silicon Valleys"? Which will be caught in negative rust belt cycles? And as urban outward expansion and physical development slows dramatically, how will technological change, shifting social expectations, and new mobility and production systems reshape China's built landscape? This will be a useful resource for designers, investors, developers and all those interested in better understanding China's emerging new geography and landscape, as well as students and academics across a range of disciplines, including Urban and Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture, Geography and Asian Studies.
The book addresses pressing questions: How will China's hollowing out rural landscapes be transformed as new economic nodes emerge based on alternative energy production, digitally enabled agriculture, ecological restoration and amenity development? As urbanization peaks at 85% and China's urban population declines by at least 125 million between 2030 and 2060, how will the national urban system be reshaped? Which urban clusters will emerge as new "Silicon Valleys"? Which will be caught in negative rust belt cycles? And as urban outward expansion and physical development slows dramatically, how will technological change, shifting social expectations, and new mobility and production systems reshape China's built landscape? This will be a useful resource for designers, investors, developers and all those interested in better understanding China's emerging new geography and landscape, as well as students and academics across a range of disciplines, including Urban and Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture, Geography and Asian Studies.
Reviews / Votes
"China has experienced rapid urbanization and changes in its urban and rural landscapes over the last few decades. This book analyzes key drivers of this change and explores likely land use patterns by 2060. Lucidly written, the book is highly accessible to those interested in China's future, including policy makers formulating national urbanization policy and strategy."Dr. Zhi Liu, Executive Director, Peking University-Lincoln Institute Center
"Dynamism and change have characterized China in the past half a century. Looking ahead to the next decades, this richly-informed volume considers the interconnected processes of demographic transition, technological advancement, and policy intervention to project the country's geographic trajectories. Its focus is ambitious and fine-grained at the same time, from pointing to the drastically shifting rural landscape in the interior regions to affirming the resilience of the urban core in cities. A must-read for anyone interested in geography and China studies."
Weiping Wu, Professor, Columbia University in the City of New York
"China's economic transformation has astonished the world. But it is not a 'miracle'. A miracle cannot be explained. This impressive book goes a long way towards explaining the sources of China's dramatic growth and associated poverty reduction. Its emphasis on the role of urbanization policy is a major contribution."
Peter Warr, John Crawford Professor of Agricultural Economics, Emeritus, Australian National University
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Academic, Postgraduate, and Undergraduate Advanced
Illustrations
65 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 15 s/w Zeichnungen, 16 s/w Tabellen, 80 s/w Abbildungen
16 Tables, black and white; 15 Line drawings, black and white; 65 Halftones, black and white; 80 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 246 mm
Width: 174 mm
Weight
453 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-032-71667-1 (9781032716671)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Douglas Webster | Jianming Cai | Larissa Muller
China's New Geography
Landscape Transformation Under Demographic, Economic and Technological Disruption
E-Book
approx. 10/2026
Routledge
€55.49
Not yet available
Douglas Webster | Jianming Cai | Larissa Muller
China's New Geography
Landscape Transformation Under Demographic, Economic and Technological Disruption
E-Book
approx. 10/2026
Routledge
€55.49
Not yet available
Douglas Webster | Jianming Cai | Larissa Muller
China's New Geography
Landscape Transformation Under Demographic, Economic and Technological Disruption
Book
approx. 10/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€230.62
Not yet published
Persons
Douglas Webster, Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University, a thought leader on understanding and shaping China's economic geography, has worked throughout China since 1990. He applies strategic thinking, from the city building to macro policy scale, to the world's historically most extensive spatial repatterning. He holds a PhD from UC Berkeley.
Jianming Cai, Professor Emeritus at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a pre-eminent scholar of Chinese regional development. Since the Opening Up, he has significantly influenced rural development and urban policy through his academic leadership, and high-level advice to Chinese and International organizations. He holds a PhD from the University of Hong Kong.
Larissa Muller has three decades of experience in Chinese spatial development as Senior Partner in Asiaurb and former Head of the University of Calgary Planning Program. She works on shaping spatial systems to support high-performing economies, with a focus on high-tech regions. She holds a doctorate from UC Berkeley.
Feifei Zhang is based at Northern Arizona University. Her research and consulting portfolio focuses on the effectiveness of green initiatives in China, from a built environment-ecological systems interaction perspective. A former Research Fellow in the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and EU Erasmus Mundus Scholar, she holds a PhD from Arizona State University.
Jianming Cai, Professor Emeritus at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a pre-eminent scholar of Chinese regional development. Since the Opening Up, he has significantly influenced rural development and urban policy through his academic leadership, and high-level advice to Chinese and International organizations. He holds a PhD from the University of Hong Kong.
Larissa Muller has three decades of experience in Chinese spatial development as Senior Partner in Asiaurb and former Head of the University of Calgary Planning Program. She works on shaping spatial systems to support high-performing economies, with a focus on high-tech regions. She holds a doctorate from UC Berkeley.
Feifei Zhang is based at Northern Arizona University. Her research and consulting portfolio focuses on the effectiveness of green initiatives in China, from a built environment-ecological systems interaction perspective. A former Research Fellow in the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and EU Erasmus Mundus Scholar, she holds a PhD from Arizona State University.
Content
1. China's Dynamic Landscape: Background 2. Drivers of China's New Geography 3. China's Shifting Demographic Geography: The Story Told by the 2010 & 2020 Censuses 4. China's Urban System: Increased Concentration and Specialization 5. The Emerging Urban Landscape: The City Region Scale 6. Rural China: Hollowing Out but Critical to China's Future Development 7. China's Uncertain Geographical Future