A Method for Delineating Urban Development Boundaries Based on the Urban–Rural Integration Perspective

Mengjing Wang, Walter Timo de Vries, Wanchen Sang, Haijun Bao, Yuefeng Lyu and Sheng Liu ()
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Mengjing Wang: School of Spatial Planning and Design, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
Walter Timo de Vries: School of Engineering and Design, Department Aerospace and Geodesy, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany
Wanchen Sang: Zhejiang University Urban-Rural Planning & Design Institute, Hangzhou 310027, China
Haijun Bao: School of Spatial Planning and Design, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
Yuefeng Lyu: School of Public Administration, Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China
Sheng Liu: School of Art and Archaeology, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-25

Abstract: Urban development boundaries are efficient tools for coordinating urban–rural relations and ensuring sustainable development. From 2000 to 2020, the expansion rate of the built-up area in cities and towns throughout China reached 177%, far exceeding the urban population growth rate of 96.5% in the same period. As this spatial expansion seems to continue, there is a need to intervene and control urban boundaries. We believe using the urban–rural integration perspective to set (or reset) and maintain urban development boundaries will help manage urban expansion more effectively than present methods. This research, therefore, develops an urban development boundary delineation method from a macroscopic view for China. A new model for defining boundaries was developed based on the four dimensions of urban–rural interaction: economic demand, environmental protection, urban carrying capacity, and urban development resistance. And an empirical study was conducted in Guiyang City as an example. The results show that the resultant urban boundary can provide a more comprehensive and realistic growth model than current methods, making it more applicable for controlling and fostering sustainable urban and rural development.

Keywords: urban development boundary; delineation model; land-use planning; land-use control; sustainable growth; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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