New Town Developments In China:a Case Study On Shanghai New Towns

Since the open-door policy in 1978, China has experienced massive economic growth that has increased the living standard of hundred millions people. A large number of Chinese has been moving to the cities in search for a better job and a better life. The urbanization rate has been increasing every year. Chinese government has planned to move 250 million people from the countryside to urban cities in the next 20 years and expected to have one billion people living in urban centers by 2030. To support its urbanization plan, the government plans to build 12 to 24 new cities every year in order to prepare the homes for these new migrants that will be moving into the new cities. The main objectives of this thesis are to describe the new town development in China, explain the main drivers of new town development, analyze three new towns in Shanghai as a case study, and define the issues that these new towns are facing. The study indicates that urbanization, densification of urban cities, generating land income for local governments, increasing income, rising middle class, demographic and household formation, and homeownership structure are the main drivers of new town developments in China. Based on field observations and interviews with local residents, local business owners, real estate brokers, and other real estate professionals on these new towns, there are issues that these new towns are facing. By analyzing prospects of the new town development and current issues, this thesis can be useful for the future references of new town development in China.