New trends of suburbanization in Beijing since 1990: from government-led to market-oriented

Abstract

Since the 1990s suburbanization has been continuing in China along with the deepening of market transition. Based on the newest population census, this paper identifies some major new trends of suburbanization in Beijing. The process of suburbanization has gone beyond purely government-initiated relocation of households and polluting industries. The new round of suburbanization has been driven by the construction of suburban villas and affordable housing, rising private car ownership, the decentralization of industry, and the development of large suburban shopping malls and retail parks. Passively relocated households are no longer the dominant source of suburbanization. Suburbanization in Beijing has evolved into a new stage of more market-oriented development in the suburbs.