ABSTRACT
The amazing housing boom in China’s countryside has been described again and again as one typical feature of rural urbanization in the PRC. This boom has different sources: First, at certain intervals peasant or rural households invest a considerable part of their income in the improvement of their housing conditions. As a rule, this means the construction of a new house beside the old one, as renovations usually play but a minor role. Second, local governments or development agencies are the building contractors for residential houses, for public buildings, and for the improvement of the local infrastructure. Finally, rural enterprises are also important developers for enterprise extensions and in some cases also for residential houses belonging to the enterprises. 1
