ABSTRACT
Since the adoption of economic reform policy in 1978, several trends have been changing Chinese society, most significantly the rapid transition to an urbanized country. Not only is more than one-third of the country’s population now living in cities but the remaining population is also becoming increasingly dependent on cities and towns for its economic survival and livelihood. At the National People’s Congress in March 2001, the central government clearly affirmed the coming reality of China as an urban nation. This is further taken on by making urbanization an important national strategy in the Tenth FiveYear-Plan (2001-05). At the Sixteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in November 2002, the Party reiterated its resolution to build an all-around Xiaokang-literally a moderately well-off society-of which a higher level of urbanization is a major component.
