Skip to main content

Chinese Construction Industry: Governance, Procurement and Culture

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Engineering Earth

Abstract

The past two decades have witnessed the rapid development of China’s economy. Since the “open door policy” was implemented in 1978, ushering in a period of economic reform, China has achieved remarkable success in economic development. To accommodate the rapid expansion in demand for building and infrastructure, China’s construction industry has achieved extraordinary growth and has formed the backbone in China’s economy. The objectives of this study are: to review the Chinese construction industry; to identify the weakness of the industry; and to identify opportunities for the foreign firms. This study will be a key source for outsiders seeking to understand this enormous market.

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

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 549.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 699.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 699.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bajaj, D., & Zhang, R. (2003). Managing construction industry development in China. The AACE International Transactions 2003, AACE Annual Conference 2003, Morgantown, WV.

    Google Scholar 

  • BOCOG. (2008). Olympic venue distribution, The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Retrieved online, August 18, 2009, from http://en.beijing2008.cn/venues/

  • CEIN. (2006). The legal issues in government-funded projects, Chinese Construction Engineering Information Network 2006. Retrieved online (in Chinese), July 8, 2006, from http://www.cein.gov.cn/news/show.asp?rec_no=11837

  • Chan, E. H. W., & Chan, A. T. S. (2002). Development of professional system in the construction industry of China. Journal of Construction Research, 3(2), 271–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J. J. (1998). The characteristics and current status of China’s construction industry. Construction Management and Economics, 16(6), 711–719.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, B. G. (2001). Analysis of the impact on the construction industry after WTO accession. Shanghai, China: Tongji University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, L., & Mohamed, S. (2002). China’s foreign economic cooperation development: exporting Chinese construction services. CIB W107 1st International Conference on Creating a Sustainable Construction Industry in Developing Countries, November 2000, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ding, G. K. C., Smith, P., & Yan, L. (2007). The cost management system in China – The impact of social and economic reforms in the construction industry. The 12th International Research Symposium on the Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate, Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee Beach, Sydney Australia, 8–13 August 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang, D., Li, M., Sik-wah Fong, P., & Shen, L. (2004). Risks in Chinese construction market-contractors’ perspective. Journal of Construction Engineering & Management, 130(6), 853–861.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunhan, S., & Arditi, D. (2005). Factors affecting international construction. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 131(3), 273–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han, S. S., & Ofori, G. (2001). Construction industry in China’s regional economy, 1990–1998. Construction Management and Economics, 19(2), 189–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He, B. S. (2003). Position and development of engineering and construction supervision in China. Construction Supervision, 3(2), 10–11 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambertson, G. (2008). Chinese contractors a small but growing presence in U.S. Retrieved June 10, 2008, from http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/story.asp?story=10408

  • Liu, A., Fellows, R., & Fang, Z. (2003). The power paradigm of project leadership. Construction Management & Economics, 21(8), 819–829.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, G. W., & Jin, Z. G. (2007). An overview report on the international competitiveness of China’s construction industry. Journal of International Economic Cooperation, 2007(7), 26–30 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Y. J., & Paul, W. F. (2001). The construction industry in China: Its image, employment prospects and skill requirements. Geneva: International Labour Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • MoC. (2001). Qualifications of contractors in China, Beijing, China, Ministry of Construction. Retrieved September 1, 2006, from http://www.cin.gov.cn/manage/file/200307040101.htm

  • MoC. (2003). The policy to develop EPC and D&B contractor firms and the project management consultant firms in the construction industry. Beijing, China.

    Google Scholar 

  • NBSC. (2005). Year Book China 2005. Beijing, P.R.China.

    Google Scholar 

  • NBSC. (2006). Year Book China 2006. Beijing, P.R.China.

    Google Scholar 

  • NSBD. (2008). Brief introduction of the South-to-North Water Diversion project. Retrieved September 2, 2008, from http://www.nsbd.gov.cn/zx/english/20080902/

  • Sha, K., & Jiang, Z. (2003). Improving rural labourers’ status in China’s construction industry. Building Research & Information, 31(6), 464–473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen, L., & Song, W. (1998). Competitive tendering practice in Chinese construction. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 124(2), 155–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, R. A., & Jiang, Z. (2004). China’s construction industry after WTO accession: Opportunities, challenges and strategies. International Symposium on Globalisation and Construction AIT Conference Centre. Bangkok, Thailand.

    Google Scholar 

  • TACO. (2002). Sector overview. Government of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, G. (2007). Research on business environment of construction supervision in China. The CRIOCM2007 international symposium on advancement of construction management and real estate, Sydney, Australia, 8–13 August 2007, 649–659.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J., Liu, J., & Huang, L. (2007). Study on the professional liability insurance system of the supervision engineer in China. Construction Management and Economics, 25(7), 801–810.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xinhuanet. (2008). Three Gorges Project – An overview. Retrieved online, March 12, 2009, from http://news.xinhuanet.com/ziliao/

  • Xu, T., Smith, N. J., & Bower, D. A. (2005). Forms of collaboration and project delivery in Chinese construction markets: Probable emergence of strategic alliances and design/build. Journal of Management in Engineering, 21(3), 100–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, T., Tiong, R. L. K., Chew, D. A. S., & Smith, N. J. (2005). Development model for competitive construction industry in the People’s Republic of China. Journal of Construction Engineering & Management, 131(7), 844–853.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan, Z. K. (2005). Human resource management under the strategy of Chinese construction enterprise going overseas. Railway Construction Technology, 2005(4), 12–20 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, S., Tam, C., Wang, H., & Deng, Z. (2003). Overcoming problems associated with sustainable development of the construction industry in China. Architectural Science Review, 46(4), 353–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, J. (2006). “West to East Electric Power Transmitting” Strategy in China, The China National Association of Engineering Consultants. Retrieved October 26, 2006, from http://www.cnaec.org.cn/DOWNLOAD/Speech_zhaojie.doc

  • Zhao, Z. Y., Shen, L. Y., & Zuo, J. (2009). Performance and strategy of Chinese contractors in the international market. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 135(2), 108–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, Y. (2006). Making the international contraction enterprise. Journal of Construction Economy, 2006(1), 70–72 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuo, J. (2008). Project culture in the Australian construction industry: Lessons for China. PhD thesis, University of South Australia, Department of Natural and Built Environments.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jian Zuo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Zuo, J., Zillante, G., Zhao, ZY. (2011). Chinese Construction Industry: Governance, Procurement and Culture. In: Brunn, S. (eds) Engineering Earth. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9920-4_46

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics