Shanghai in the Context of Urban Change in the PRC

In this chapter, the literature on Chinese urbanisation and Shanghai’s transformation in the past three decades was reviewed. This chapter highlighted the changes that have occurred in China’s urbanisation policy, the process and consequences of urbanisation, the government’s role in urban change and the several transformations that Shanghai has undergone, culminating in the development of the massive Pudong project on the east bank of the Huangpu. The chapter went on to show how Shanghai Municipal Government has restructured its city centre and inner city areas through urban regeneration projects. These projects have, in its own eyes, helped it address the problem of urban slums, many of which have been transformed into luxurious property and commercial real estate; they have changed the city's image into that of a prosperous business centre. The chapter discussed how they have raised revenue through land leasing for district governments, which are thus able to have a long-term source of tax revenue to use for further projects both in inner city areas and in the development of the urban fringe.