Prof. LONG Hualou, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and his colleagues including ZOU Jian and Li Yurui, together with Dr. Jessica Pykett, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, investigated China’s rural transformation development based on three assessing indicator systems. The results have been published in Applied Geography (31) 2011.

This study establishes indicator systems for three dimensions used to measure China’s rural transformation development (RTD): the rural development level (RDL), the rural transformation level (RTL), and the urban-rural coordination level (URCL). The results show that China’s regional rural system has universally experienced an intensive transformation since 2000. This analysis helps to determine how the development status and regional characteristics of an area can lead to substantial improvement in rural residents’ well-being in the early 21st century.

Only appropriate RTD that corresponds to certain RDLs can lead to the effective development of the regional rural system and the improvement of urban-rural relationships. In general, China’s urban-rural coordination development declined between 2000 and 2008. The regions that experienced a reduction in URCL were mainly concentrated in areas with rapid economic development but without a good balance between urban and rural areas.

Given the multiscale nature of regional inequalities in China, as measured by RTD, rural development policies aimed at various and specific RTD types might be the most effective way to improve urban-rural coordination development. The layout and implementation of these policies will enable the restructuring of rural industry and aid rural development, which may finally shape a more equitable urban-rural coordination development pattern in China.

The territorial types division of China’s RTD.(Image by LONG Hualou et al.)