ABSTRACT
Rural market development is both a function of a place's location and its social and economic progress. Given the variations in socio-economic development, the rural market system differs from place to place. Skinner's two models of market structure and evolution in plains and mountainous areas suggest a simple correlation between three factors: topography, transport-productivity and market pattern. Preferential policies and central location have made Dongguan one of China's most attractive cities for foreign investment. In 2000, the total amount of foreign capital invested was USD $1.8 billion. Foreign investment has greatly bolstered Dongguan's industrial base in both urban and rural areas. Again, the influence of industrialisation on spatial variations in rural market patterns and development is another factor which Skinner's models do not anticipate. Deqing is at the initial stage of Wang's scheme. In addition to the periodic nature of rural markets, evidence of Deqing's primitive system is further derived from its rudimentary hierarchy.
