Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evolutionary Pattern and Effect of Administrative Division Adjustment During Urbanization of China: Empirical Analysis on Multiple Scales

  • Published:
Chinese Geographical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The adjustment of administrative divisions is one of the important factors guiding China’s urbanization, which has profound economic and social effects for regional development. In this paper, we comprehensively describe the process of the adjustment of administrative divisions at provincial and municipal levels in China and summarize the effects on the basic structure and patterns of the spatial development. We quantitatively assess the effects on fields such as urbanization and social economy through the use of multidimensional scaling. The results show that: 1) Upgrading county to municipality (or city-governed district) is the main way of adjusting the administrative divisions. It is also an important factor in the spatial differentiation of interprovincial urbanization. China’s population urbanization can be divided into four patterns including interprovincial migration, provincial migration, natural growth, and growth caused by the adjustment of administrative divisions, which is also the main reason for the increased Chinese urbanization rate at the provincial level. 2) Taking the city of Beijing as an example, we generalize five adjustment patterns made to administrative divisions: the set-up of sub-districts, the set-up of regional offices, the upgrading of townships to sub-districts, the upgrading of townships to towns, and the set-up of towns and the addition of new regional offices. We summarize the municipal urban spatial structure, including the sub-district office area in the central urban area, the regional office area in the new urban area, the mixed area of villages, towns, and sub-district offices in the suburb area, and the township area in the outer suburb area. 3) The adjustment of administrative divisions triggers a significant circulative accumulation effect, resulting in the spatial locking of population and industrial agglomeration. It affects the evolution of the urban spatial form and plays an important role in shaping the urban spatial structure to move to the characteristic of multicenter. In general, the adjustment of administrative divisions was an important factor affecting the inflated statistical level of urbanization and also an important driving force for the evolution of Chinese urban spatial organization structure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beijing Bureau of Statistics. 2001–2011. Beijing Statistical Yearbook. Beijing: China Statistics Press. (in Chinese)

  • Cai Fang, 2010. Report on China’s Population and Labor No. 11: Labor Market Challenges in the Post-crisis Era. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Collin J P, Léveillée J, Poitras C, 2002. New challenges and old solutions: metropolitan reorganization in Canadian and U.S. city-regions. Journal of Urban Affairs, 24(3): 317–332. doi: 10.1111/1467-9906.00129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng Yu, Liu Shenghe, Cai Jianming et al., 2014. Spatial pattern and its evolution of Chinese provincial population and empirical study. Acta Geographica Sinica, 69(10): 1473–1486. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan Jinzhao, 2004. A preliminary study on the stage and effect of the adjustment of the division of administrative areas of Zhejiang province in China since 1979. Economic Geography, 24(4): 449–453. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan Jinzhao, 2011. Some Problems on the Reform of Administrative Division in the Process of the Chinese Modern and Contemporary Programming Research. Hangzhou: Zhejiang University Press. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan Jinzhao, 2013. Administrative Division System and Urban and Rural Development as a Whole. Nanjing: Southeast University Press. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Feiock R C, 2009. Metropolitan governance and institutional collective action. Urban Affairs Review, 44(3): 356–377. doi: 10.1177/1078087408324000

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu G, Liu H. 2012. A comparative analysis of the economic development pattern in the eastern, central and western regions of China. Statistical Theory and Practice, 8: 11–14.(in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin Geng, Ke Yawen, 2008. Impact of administrative division adjustment on urbanization in Guangdong province. Geography and Geo-Information Science, 24(4): 50–56. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Junde, Wang Yuming, 2000. Institution and Innovation: the Development of Urban System and the New Form. Nanjing: Southeast University Press. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Junde, 2003. Consideration on the reformation of city-type units in China under new era. Chinese Public Administration, (7): 48–54. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Junde, Jin Runcheng, Zhou Keyu, 2007. Chinese Political Geography. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Xiang, Wang Maojun, Cai Jiabin et al., 2013. An analysis on the spatial structure of non-native permanent population of Beijing metropolitan area in 2000–2010. Urban Development Studies, 20(10): 86–93. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Yungang, Jin Jie, 2014. Effect of city administrative division adjustment on urbanization: a case study of Zhongshan city. Progress in Geography, 33(8): 1047–1057. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Ran, Wong T C, 2018. Urban village redevelopment in Beijing: the state-dominated formalization of informal housing. Cities, 72: 160–172. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2017.08.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu Dadao, Yao Shimou, 2007. A scientific thought about urbanization progress in China. Human Geography, 22(4): 1–5, 26. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo Xiaolong, Shen Jianfa, 2006. Urban growth between cities: the case of Jiangyin economic development zone in Jingjiang. Acta Geographica Sinica, 61(4): 435–445. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo Xiaolong, Yin Jie, Tian Dong, 2010. Administrative boundary re-organization in Nanjing metropolitan region. Geographical Research, 29(10): 1746–1756. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo Zhendong, 2005. China’s administrative region division reform and mechanism. City Planning Review, 29(8): 29–35. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo Zhendong, 2007. Decentralization and fragmentation: development stages and trend of metropolitan area in China. City Planning Review, 31(11): 64–70, 85. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma Qingyu, 1990. Analysis on the characteristics of provincial population urbanization and their relation factors. Geographical Research, 9(1): 1–9. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pu Shanxin, 2006a. Reforming the system of urban-rural administration to promote the healthy development of urbanization. City Planning Review, 30(7): 16–21. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pu Shanxin, 2006b. The Study of Reform of Administrative Division in China. Beijing: The Commercial Press. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian Y Y, Weingast B R, 1997. Federalism as a commitment to preserving market incentives. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 11(4): 83–92. doi: 10.1257/jep.11.4.83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu Shimin, 2012. Research on administrative division adjustment mode in the process of Chinese urbanization. China Urban Economy, (3): 6–8. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi Yulong, 2014. Urbanization effect research of town system change and administrative adjustment. Macroeconomics, (2): 3–9. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi Yishao, Xu Yanfei, 2011. Impact of adjustment of administrative divisions upon the changes of housing prices——the case of Nanhui district merged into Pudong new area. Economic Geography, 31(9): 1452–1457, 1482. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Si Y F, 2014. The development of outward FDI regulation and the internationalization of Chinese firms. Journal of Contemporary China, 23(89): 804–821. doi: 10.1080/10670564.2014.882535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sixth national population census leading group office of Beijing. 2012. The Tabulation on the 2010 Population Census of the Beijing Municipality. Beijing: China Statistics Press.(in Chinese)

  • Sun Tieshan, Wang Lanlan, Li Guoping, 2012. Distributions of population and employment and evolution of spatial structures in the Beijing metropolitan area. Acta Geographica Sinica, 67(6): 829–840. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • The census bureau of the state council, Department of population, society and science and technology, national bureau of statistics. 2001. Major figures on 2000 population. Beijing: China Statistics Publishing House.(in Chinese)

  • The Census Bureau of the State Council, Department of Population and Employment Statistics, National Bureau of Statistics, 2012. Tabulation on the 2010 Population Census of the People’s Republic of China. Beijing: China Statistics Publishing House.(in Chinese)

  • The Census Bureau of the State Council, Department of Population and Employment Statistics, National Bureau of Statistics, 2012. Tabulation on the 2010 Population Census of the People Republic of China by Township. Beijing: China Statistics Press. (in Chinese)

  • Vojnovic I, 2000. The transitional impacts of municipal consolidations. Journal of Urban Affairs, 22(4): 385–417. doi: 10.1111/0735-2166.00063

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Fang, 1993. Analysis of population growth composition during the third and fouth population census in China. Population Research, (4): 11–18. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Fang, 2008. Thoughts on the road to urbanization in future China. Journal of Nanjing College for Population Programme Management, 24(1): 57–60. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Fang, 2011. Impact of urban designation criteria and criteria for statistically defining urban population on urbanization development in China. Population & Development, 17(2): 82–87. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Kaiyong, Chen Tian, 2011. The experience reference of administrative division adjustment in abroad and the apocalypses for China. World Regional Studies, 20(2): 57–64. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Wei, Wu Zhiqiang, Deng Xueyuan, 2006. The system analysis of population urbanization evolution, urban and rural transformation in China. In: Planning for 50 Years: Proceeding of 2006 Annual Meeting of China’s Urban Planning. Guangzhou: Urban Planning Society of China, 9–17. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Xianbin, Nie Haifeng, 2010. Administrative divisions’ adjustment and economic growth. Management World, (4): 42–53. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Yuming, 2002. The Chinese urbanization and institutional innovation for the administrative divisions in urban areas. City Planning Review, 26(6): 22–25. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei Heng, Wei Qingquan, Cao Tianyan et al., 2009. Types, problems and changes for readjustment of administrative divisions in the process of urbanization. Human Geography, 24(6): 55–58. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei Lihua, Yan Xiaopei, 2004. Study on the relation between urban planning and administrative division in the course of rapid urbanization. City Planning Review, 28(2): 48–51, 76. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler S M, 2002. The new regionalism: key characteristics of an emerging movement. Journal of the American Planning Association, 68(3): 267–278. doi: 10.1080/01944360208976272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Wenbin, Wang Haifeng, 2011. Research of China municipal district under international comparative perspective. Administrative Tribune, 18(5): 44–48. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Yu, Dong Wen, Liu Yi, 2013. Administrative adjustment of Xinjiang in multiple perspectives. Acta Geographica Sinica, 68(10): 1367–1379. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Z S, Cai J M, Qi W et al., 2017. The influence of income, lifestyle, and green spaces on interregional migration: policy implications for China. Population, Space and Place, 23(2): e1996. doi: 10.1002/psp.1996

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Jingxiang, Shen Jianfa, Huang Junyao et al., 2002. The administrative division and regional governance in urban agglomeration areas. City Planning Review, 26(9): 40–44. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Zhanbin, Xie Zhendong, Che Wenhui, 2013. Research on Urbanization and the Optimization of Administrative Division Set Up. Shijiazhuang: Hebei People’s Press. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Jujun, 2012. Paradigm Shifts of Chinese Administrative Divisions Research During the Transitioning of Government Development. Tianjin: Tianjin People’s Publishing House. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Zhenhe, 1998. The Changes of the Administrative Division in China. Beijing: The Commercial Press. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Jianhua, Chen Tian, Wang Kaiyong et al., 2015. Spatial pattern evolution and driving force analysis of administrative division in China since the reform and opening-up. Geographical Research, 34(2): 247–258. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100101, China

    Hu Yu, Yu Deng & Shan Xu

  2. Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100101, China

    Hu Yu & Yu Deng

Authors
  1. Hu Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yu Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shan Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shan Xu.

Additional information

Foundation item: Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41701164, 71433008), Programme of Excellent Young Scientists of the Institute of Geographic Science and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Science

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yu, H., Deng, Y. & Xu, S. Evolutionary Pattern and Effect of Administrative Division Adjustment During Urbanization of China: Empirical Analysis on Multiple Scales. Chin. Geogr. Sci. 28, 758–772 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-018-0990-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-018-0990-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation