Progress in the Overseas Studies on the Urban Geography of China

This paper reviews the main progress in the overseas studies on the urban geography of China.Rapid changes in Chinese cities provide ample opportunities for urban geographers to conduct theoretical and empirical studies.Most overseas studies on the urban geography of China focus on the roles of central and local governments,global capital and economic reforms in the processes of urbanization,urban development and urban spatial restructuring.Hitherto most theoretical research in urban geography and urban studies has been conducted in the context outside China.Thus it is necessary to enhance theoretical research in the Chinese context.The studies of various processes and spatial relations offer the greatest potential,such as localism,urbanism,regionalism,urban competition and cooperation,urban governance,the dynamic relations of local,regional and global processes,the relation of space and scale.