Sun Sheng Han, Professor of Urban Planning and Ning Yan, Senior Researcher, The University of Melbourne, Australia

‘Institutions, Culture and the Chinese City provides a magisterial overview of the history of Chinese cities and institutional cultures. Sun Sheng Han and Ning Yan masterfully narrate two storylines: statesmen’s visions and the transformation of Chinese society in a long urbanisation process. The book is grand yet grounded. The perspective is highly original in revealing concrete and material causalities in the context of institutions and political cultures. It is a rare book because such an indigenous narrative has long been appealing but is challenging to achieve without a strong historical sense. It is enjoyably accessible for readers curious about the vast urban changes in China.’

• ContentsPreface x1 Introducing the institutional and cultural perspective toChinese urban studies PART I HISTORICAL INSTITUTIONS, CULTURE ANDCHINESE URBAN DEVELOPMENTIntroduction to Part I 2 The roots of institutions, culture and cities in China 3 Chinese cities in the centennial transition PART II THE CHINESE CITY UNDER MAO ZEDONGIntroduction to Part II 4 China’s institutions and culture in the Mao Era 5 Urbanisation under strict control PART III CHINESE CITIES IN THE DENG XIAOPING ERAIntroduction to Part III 6 Deng Xiaoping and his reform policies 7 Urbanisation with Chinese characteristics PART IV RAPID URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN THE POST-DENG ERAIntroduction to Part IV Institutions, culture and the Chinese city8 Marketisation, globalisation and the Chinese city 9 Land finance and urbanisation 10 The emerging Xi Jinping Era and the Chinese city 11 Conclusions: an institutional and cultural explanation ofChina’s unique urban development trajectory Bibliography

Sun Sheng Han, Professor of Urban Planning and Ning Yan, Senior Researcher, The University of Melbourne, Australia

‘Institutions, Culture and the Chinese City provides a magisterial overview of the history of Chinese cities and institutional cultures. Sun Sheng Han and Ning Yan masterfully narrate two storylines: statesmen’s visions and the transformation of Chinese society in a long urbanisation process. The book is grand yet grounded. The perspective is highly original in revealing concrete and material causalities in the context of institutions and political cultures. It is a rare book because such an indigenous narrative has long been appealing but is challenging to achieve without a strong historical sense. It is enjoyably accessible for readers curious about the vast urban changes in China.’

• ContentsPreface x1 Introducing the institutional and cultural perspective toChinese urban studies PART I HISTORICAL INSTITUTIONS, CULTURE ANDCHINESE URBAN DEVELOPMENTIntroduction to Part I 2 The roots of institutions, culture and cities in China 3 Chinese cities in the centennial transition PART II THE CHINESE CITY UNDER MAO ZEDONGIntroduction to Part II 4 China’s institutions and culture in the Mao Era 5 Urbanisation under strict control PART III CHINESE CITIES IN THE DENG XIAOPING ERAIntroduction to Part III 6 Deng Xiaoping and his reform policies 7 Urbanisation with Chinese characteristics PART IV RAPID URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN THE POST-DENG ERAIntroduction to Part IV Institutions, culture and the Chinese city8 Marketisation, globalisation and the Chinese city 9 Land finance and urbanisation 10 The emerging Xi Jinping Era and the Chinese city 11 Conclusions: an institutional and cultural explanation ofChina’s unique urban development trajectory Bibliography