ABSTRACT
China is undergoing a number of simultaneous changes. It is in transition to a market economy and an urbanized and industrialized society. It is rapidly expanding communications within the country and with the rest of the world. Its age structure and patterns of ill-health are also changing. The rapid economic growth has been uneven and this has led to new patterns of social segmentation. This chapter introduces the reader to this dynamic reality and sets the stage for the detailed discussion of the experiences of Nantong and Zibo, two medium-sized cities.
