Administrative division system changes and urbanization in China

摘要

This paper analyses the relationship between the administrative division system changes (ADSC)and the urbanization process in China, especially in Guangdong Province since the 1980s. It points out that there are three high tides in ADSC since the 1980s relevant to the changes of economic development. The guiding principle for ADSC is to give local government incentives by transferring more administrative powers to them and bringing along regional development by central city. This paper also discusses problems existed and future prospectives.