Spatial differences and driving forces of land urbanization in China

doi:10.1007/s11442-015-1186-7

Abstract

Abstract:

Land urbanization plays an important supporting and restriction role in the rapid and sustainable development of urbanization in China, and it shows distinctive spatial heterogeneity. Applying urban area as the basic research unit and urban construction land area as the core indicator, this paper establishes the conceptual framework and calculation method for the quantity and rate of land urbanization process. The study evaluates the spatial differentiation pattern of absolute and relative process of land urbanization in 658 cities in China from 2000 to 2010. The spatial distribution of cities with rapid land urbanization process is discussed, and the contribution rate and its spatial heterogeneity of major land use types are examined with the aid of GIS. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) Land urbanization in China shows a clear spatial difference. The greater the city scale, the faster its land urbanization. The cities with rapid land urbanization show a significant pattern of central distribution in coastal regions and a scattered distribution in the inland regions. (2) Over the last 10 years, the average quantity of land urbanization in the 656 cities was 3.82 km², the quantity of land urbanization is differentiated by administrative grade. The average rate of land urbanization was 6.89%, obviously faster than the speed of population urbanization. The rate of land urbanization reveals a pattern of differentiation between coastal and other cities. (3) In the past 10 years, the two primary land use types associated with land urbanization in China are residential and industrial, with a combined contribution rate of 52.49%. The greater the scale of the city, the more significant the driving effect of industrial land. In small- and medium-scale cities of the western and central regions, the growth of residential land is the primary driver of land urbanization, while in coastal urban agglomerations and cities on important communication axes, the growth of industrial land is the main driver. (4) Overall, urban population agglomeration, industrial growth and investment are the three drivers of land urbanization in China, but cities of different scales have different drivers.

Key words: land urbanization, urban construction land, urban area, the driving force for land urbanization, China

Xueqin LIN, Yang WANG, Shaojian WANG, Dai WANG. Spatial differences and driving forces of land urbanization in China[J].Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2015, 25(5): 545-558.

Figures/Tables 10

Figure 1

Figure 2

Table 1

Figure 4

Figure 3

Figure 5

Table 2

Figure 6

Table 3

Table 4

References 38

1	Chen Fenggui, Zhang Hongou, Wu Qitaoet al., 2010. A study on coordinate development between population urbanization and land urbanization in China.Human Geography, 25(5): 53-58. (in Chinese)
2	Chen Jianglong, Gao Jinlong, Xu Mengyueet al., 2014.Characteristics and mechanism of construction land expansion in Nanjing metropolitan area.Geographical Research, 33(3): 427-438. (in Chinese)
3	Chu Honejay, Liau Churnjung, Lin Chaohunget al., 2012. Integration of fuzzy cluster analysis and Kernel density estimation for tracking typhoon trajectories in the Taiwan region.Expert Systems with Applications, 39(10): 9451-9457.
4	Deng J S, Wang K, Hong Yet al., 2009. Spatiotemporal dynamics and evolution of land use change and landscape pattern in response to rapid urbanization.Landscape and Urban Planning, 92(3): 187-198.
5	Ding C, Zhao X, 2011. Assessment of urban spatial growth patterns in China during rapid urbanization.Chinese Economy, 44(1): 46-71.
6	Dong Tingxu, Qin Qiming, Wang Jianhua, 2011. Expansion mode of urban landuse in Mianyang City in the last 30 years.Geographical Research, 30(4): 667-675. (in Chinese)
7	Feng J, Chen Y, 2010. Spatiotemporal evolution of urban form and land-use structure in Hangzhou, China: Evidence from fractals.Environment and Planning B-Planning & Design, 37(5): 838-856.
8	Gan Hong, Liu Yansui, Wang Dawei, 2004. Simulation and analysis of the human driving factors of land use type conversion.Resources Science, 26(2): 88-93. (in Chinese)
9	Jiang Hai, Wang Bo, Li Chengruiet al., 2013. Spatial characteristics of construction land expansion in China: A comparison analysis regarding fixed capital and non-agricultural labor. China Land Sciences, 27(5): 63-70. (in Chinese)
10	Liu J Y, Kuang W H, Zhang Z Xet al., 2014. Spatiotemporal characteristics, patterns, and causes of land-use changes in China since the late 1980s. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 24(2): 195-210.
11	Liu J Y, Zhang Q, Hu Y F, 2012. Regional differences of China′s urban expansion from late 20th to early 21st century based on remote sensing information.Chinese Geographical Science, 22(1): 1-14.
12	Liu Jiyuan, Zhan Jinyan, Deng Xiangzheng, 2005. The spatiotemporal patterns and driving forces of urban land expansion in China during the economy reform era. Ambio, 34(6): 444-449. (in Chinese)
13	Liu Jiyuan, Zhang Zengxiang, Xu Xinlianget al., 2009. Spatial patterns and driving forces of land use change in China in the early 21st century.Acta Geographica Sinica, 64(12): 1411-1420. (in Chinese)
14	Lu Dadao, 2007. Urbanization process and spatial expansion in China.Urban Planning Forum, (4): 47-52. (in Chinese)
15	Lu Dadao, 2013. Contents framework of urbanization research in geography.Scientia Geographica Sinica, 33(8): 897-901. (in Chinese)
16	Lu Dadao, Yao Shimou, Li Guopinget al., 2007. Comprehensive analysis of the urbanization process based on China’s conditions.Economic Geography, 27(6): 883-887. (in Chinese)
17	Lv Ping, Zhou Tao, Zhang Zhengfenget al., 2008. Construction and application of land urbanization and corresponding measurement index system.China Land Science, 22(8): 24-28, 42. (in Chinese)
18	Shi Peijun, Chen Jin, Pan Yaozhong, 2000. Landuse change mechanism in Shenzhen City.Acta Geographica Sinica, 55(2): 151-160. (in Chinese)
19	Shu Bangrong, Zhu Jianjun, Li Yongleet al., 2013. Driving forces of urban land expansion at different stages of economic development: An empirical analysis based on provincial panel data. China Land Sciences, 27(11): 65-71. (in Chinese)
20	Tan M, Li X, Xie Het al., 2005. Urban land expansion and arable land loss in China: A case study of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Land Use Policy, 22(3): 187-196.
21	Tan Minhong, Li Xiubin, Lv Changhe, 2004. The expansion of construction land and its occupation of farmland in China’s big and medium cities in 1990s.Science in China Ser. D Earth Sciences, 34(12): 1157-1165. (in Chinese)
22	Tang Juhua, Lv Changhe, Yang Xuchao, 2009. Analysis of driving force of urban land expansion in Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou region.Resources Science, 31(5): 801-806. (in Chinese)
23	Tian Guangjin, Liu Jiyuan, Zhuang Dafanget al., 2003. The temporal-spatial characteristics of urban land in China in 1990s by remote sensing and GIS.Quaternary Sciences, 23(4): 421-427. (in Chinese)
24	Tian Li, 2011.Urbanization of land in urbanization process of China: Boon or Bane?Urban Planning, (2): 11-12. (in Chinese)
25	Wang Lei, Li Congcong, Ying Qinget al., 2012. China’s urban expansion from 1990 to 2010 with satellite romote sensing.China Science Bulletin, 57(16): 1388-1403. (in Chinese)
26	Wang Liping, Zhou Yingkang, Xue Junfei, 2005. Study on urban land expansion and its driving mechanism in Jiangsu province. China Land Science, 19(6): 26-29. (in Chinese)
27	Wang Y, Li S C, 2011. Simulating multiple class urban land-use/cover changes by RBFN-based CA model.Computers & Geosciences, 37(2): 111-121.
28	Wang Yang, Fang Chuanglin, Xiu Chunliang, Liu Daqian, 2012. A new approach to measurement of regional inequality in particular directions.Chinese Geographical Science, 22(6): 705-717.
29	Wang Yang, Wang Shaojian, Qin Jing, 2014. Spatial evaluation and driving force of land urbanization in Chinese Cities.Geographical Research, 33(12): 2228-2238. (in Chinese)
30	Wei Suqiong, Chen Jianfei, 2006. A comparative research on built-land changes between Fujian and Taiwan provinces. Geographical Research, 25(1): 87-95. (in Chinese)
31	Xiu Chunliang, Zhu Xiangling, 2005. The spatial expansion multi-force of local central cities.Human Geography, 20(2): 9-12. (in Chinese)
32	Xu X G, Peng H F, Xu Q Zet al., 2009. Land changes and conflicts coordination in coastal urbanization: A case study of the Shandong Peninsula in China.Coast Manage., 37(1): 54-69.
33	Yao Shimou, Lu Dadao, Chen Zhenguanget al., 2012. Serious thinking about urbanization based on China’s conditions.Economic Geography, 32(5): 1-6. (in Chinese)
34	Yao Shimou, Lu Dadao, Wang Conget al., 2011. Urbanization in China need comprehensive science thinking: Exploration of the urbanization mode adapted to the special situation of China.Geographical Research, 30(11): 1947-1955. (in Chinese)
35	Zhang H Y, Uwasu M, Hara Ket al., 2008. Analysis of land use changes and environmental loads during urbanization in China.Asian Archit. Build., 7(1): 109-115.
36	Zhang J E, Zhou Y K, Li R Qet al., 2010. Accuracy assessments and uncertainty analysis of spatially explicit modeling for land use/cover change and urbanization: A case in Beijing metropolitan area.Science China Earth Sciences, 53(2): 173-180.
37	Zhang Li, Lei Jun, Li Xuemeiet al., 2011. The features and influence factors of urban expansion in China during 1997-2007.Progress in Geography, 30(5): 607-614. (in Chinese)
38	Zhou Guohua, He Yanhua, 2006. Characteristics and influencing factors of urban land expansion in Changsha.Acta Geographica Sinica, 61(11): 1171-1180. (in Chinese)

Administrative hierarchy	Number of cities	Construction land area (km²)			Average construction land area per city (km²/city)		Average annual quantity of land urbanization per city(km²/year·city)
Administrative hierarchy	Number of cities	2000	2010	Increase rate (%)	2000	2010
Provincial capital city	36	7010.85	15668.31	123.49	194.75	435.23	24.05
Prefecture-level cities	251	9982.79	19237.88	92.72	39.77	76.64	3.73
County-level cities	369	5416.87	8743.78	61.41	14.68	23.70	0.98

Categories	City scale	Type of urban construction land
Categories	City scale	Reside- ntial	Public facilities	Industrial	Wareho- using	External traffic	Roads and squares	Municipal public facilities	Green	Special purposes
Proportion of various types of land in urban construction land in 2010 (%)	Small-scale cities	35.31	12.11	16.95	3.47	3.83	11.65	3.53	11.30	1.85
	Medium-scale cities	33.07	12.29	18.72	3.33	4.31	11.52	3.72	11.30	1.74
	Large-scale cities	30.97	12.38	22.13	3.05	4.43	11.43	3.25	10.66	1.71
	Extraordinarily large-scale cities	29.62	11.86	24.27	2.64	4.49	12.28	3.58	8.95	2.31
	Nationwide	31.20	12.15	21.86	2.99	4.39	11.77	3.49	10.21	1.95
Proportion of average annual growth area 2000- 2010) (%)	Small-scale cities	30.81	14.66	14.76	-2.46	-1.94	22.04	3.62	19.85	-1.33
	Medium-scale cities	31.46	12.76	18.20	0.95	2.10	15.35	3.55	15.12	0.51
	Large-scale cities	31.41	14.07	19.67	1.13	2.40	15.48	2.97	12.62	0.26
	Extraordinary large-scale cities	27.87	12.04	25.97	0.52	1.24	17.15	4.21	10.84	0.15
	Nationwide	29.60	13.03	22.89	0.82	1.81	16.33	3.60	11.71	0.20

Categories	Unstandardized coefficients	Standard errors	Standardized coefficients	t	Sig.
Undetermined coefficient (α₀)	1.383	1.275	-	1.085	0.278
Population agglomeration	0.704	0.021	0.730	33.657	0.000
Industrial growth	0.033	0.010	0.098	3.327	0.001
Investment	0.045	0.006	0.175	7.155	0.000
Promotion of urban function	13.497	13.125	0.014	1.028	0.304

City scale	R	F	Sig.	Population agglomeration		Industrial growth		Investment		Promotion of urban function
City scale	R	F	Sig.	B	Sig.	B	Sig.	B	Sig.	B	Sig.
Small-scale cities	0.401	8.331	0.000	0.188^***	0.000	0.011	0.353	0.005	0.613	5.587^**	0.025
Medium-scale cities	0.504	22.587	0.000	0.357^***	0.000	0.013	0.146	0.025^***	0.009	-2.780	0.590
Large-scale cities	0.931	328.568	0.000	0.696^***	0.000	0.033*	0.068	0.038^***	0.001	41.415	0.333

[1]	Leilei MIN, Yongqing QI, Yanjun SHEN, Ping WANG, Shiqin WANG, Meiying LIU. Groundwater recharge under irrigated agro-ecosystems in the North China Plain: From a critical zone perspective [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(6): 877-890.
[2]	Xifang WU, Yongqing QI, Yanjun SHEN, Wei YANG, Yucui ZHANG, Akihiko KONDOH. Change of winter wheat planting area and its impacts on groundwater depletion in the North China Plain [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(6): 891-908.
[3]	Yucui ZHANG, Yongqing QI, Yanjun SHEN, Hongying WANG, Xuepeng PAN. Mapping the agricultural land use of the North China Plain in 2002 and 2012 [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(6): 909-921.
[4]	MARTINSEN Grith, Suxia LIU, Xingguo MO, Peter BAUER-GOTTWEIN. Optimizing water resources allocation in the Haihe River basin under groundwater sustainability constraints [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(6): 935-958.
[5]	Wenlan GAO, Keqin DUAN, Shuangshuang LI. Spatial-temporal variations in cold surge events in northern China during the period 1960-2016 [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(6): 971-983.
[6]	M. ROBINSON Guy, Bingjie SONG. Rural transformation: Cherry growing on the Guanzhong Plain, China and the Adelaide Hills, South Australia [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(5): 675-701.
[7]	Liying GUO, Liping DI, Qing TIAN. Detecting spatio-temporal changes of arable land and construction land in the Beijing-Tianjin corridor during 2000-2015 [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(5): 702-718.
[8]	Yifan WU, Weilun FENG, Yang ZHOU. Practice of barren hilly land consolidation and its impact: A typical case study from Fuping County, Hebei Province of China [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(5): 762-778.
[9]	Qinqin DU, Mingjun ZHANG, Shengjie WANG, Cunwei CHE, Rong MA, Zhuanzhuan MA. Changes in air temperature over China in response to the recent global warming hiatus [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(4): 496-516.
[10]	Shengfa LI, Xiubin LI. The mechanism of farmland marginalization in Chinese mountainous areas: Evidence from cost and return changes [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(4): 531-548.
[11]	Yujie LIU, Ya QIN, Quansheng GE. Spatiotemporal differentiation of changes in maize phenology in China from 1981 to 2010 [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(3): 351-362.
[12]	Xiaoyu GAO, Weiming CHENG, Nan WANG, Qiangyi LIU, Ting MA, Yinjun CHEN, Chenghu ZHOU. Spatio-temporal distribution and transformation of cropland in geomorphologic regions of China during 1990-2015 [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(2): 180-196.
[13]	Liang ZHOU, Chenghu ZHOU, Fan YANG, Lei CHE, Bo WANG, Dongqi SUN. Spatio-temporal evolution and the influencing factors of PM_2.5 in China between 2000 and 2015 [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(2): 253-270.
[14]	Danyang MA, Haoyu DENG, Yunhe YIN, Shaohong WU, Du ZHENG. Sensitivity of arid/humid patterns in China to future climate change under a high-emissions scenario [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(1): 29-48.
[15]	Jing ZHANG, Yanjun SHEN. Spatio-temporal variations in extreme drought in China during 1961-2015 [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(1): 67-83.