Analysis of Spatial Patterns and Socioeconomic Activities of Urbanized Rural Areas in Fujian Province, China

Qinghai Guo, Zhichao He, Dawei Li and Marcin Spyra
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Qinghai Guo: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Zhichao He: Department of Sustainable Landscape Development, Institute for Geosciences and Geography, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
Dawei Li: School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Marcin Spyra: Department of Sustainable Landscape Development, Institute for Geosciences and Geography, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: Rural urbanization under China’s process of rapid urbanization entails significant rural transformation and is profoundly influencing sustainable development. However, little research has been undertaken on spatial patterns and socioeconomic activities. In this study, we defined urbanized rural areas as territories where the population size, economic output, and built-up land area are larger than in other rural and urban areas. Using large-scale and high-granularity spatial data, we delimited 255 urbanized rural areas from the 15,117 village-level administrative units in Fujian Province, China, in 2015. Analysis of the spatial patterns of the urbanized rural areas showed that spatial clustering, proximity to well-developed urban centers, and transportation accessibility influenced the development of the urbanized rural areas. Analysis of socioeconomic activities in the urbanized rural areas showed that the urbanized rural areas are rudimentary urban areas in terms of socioeconomic activities. Specifically, we found four representative socioeconomic activities in the urbanized rural areas: an urban-like housing model, diverse non-agricultural activities, transportation improvements, and sufficient health services. Based on our findings, we put forward several policy implications. This study can add valuable new knowledge for rural and urbanization studies.

Keywords: rural urbanization; delimitation; spatial patterns; non-agricultural economy; POI; sustainable development; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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