Reinventing the Chinese City : Columbia University Press : 9780231211000 : 0231211007 : 24 Oct 2023 : Since the late 1970s, China has undergone perhaps the most sweeping process of urbanization ever witnessed. This is typically understood as a story of growth, encompassing rapid development and economic dynamism alongside environmental degradation and social dislocation. However, over the past decade, China's leaders have claimed that the country's urbanization has entered a new stage that prioritizes "quality." What does China's new urban vision entail, and what does the future hold in store? Richard Hu unpacks recent trends in urban planning and development to explore the making and imagining of the contemporary Chinese city. He focuses on three key concepts-the "green revolution," "smart city movement," and "great innovation leap forward"-that have become increasingly influential. Through case studies of Beijing, Hangzhou, and Hefei, Hu analyzes how attempts to achieve greater sust