ABSTRACT
Since the opening up in 1979, China has had upsurges in its coastal regions and major metropolitan areas and continuous degradations of some inland urban settlements. This chapter examines two case cities in south-central and southern coastal China to assess how migration flows, resource allocations, market changes, and policy orientations formulate the population growth and decline in cities or towns of rapidly urbanizing China. It begins with a literature review of three theoretical models for conceptualizing urban growth and decline. Then, the chapter presents two distinctive case studies: each shows a unique trajectory in demographic change. Data released by the Bureau of Statistics of the national and local governments is used to analyze the demographic changes. Finally, in the discussion and conclusion, the findings to conceptualize urban growth and decline in China are interpreted.
