The spatial and temporal characteristics and the formation mechanism of the county urbanization in China since 1990 were analyzed systematically, using the methods including regional differences, transect and geography detectors. Results show that the temporal and spatial differences of the county urbanization were significant. The "herringbone" shape region pattern of high county urbanization was gradually highlighted, which were made by the counties along the north border and in eastern coastal areas. The county urbanization process of some regions were accelerated and enhanced, including Wuhan metropolitan region, Chengdu-Chongqing region and Guanzhong-Tianshui region. The low county urbanization level was maintained in Southwest China and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau regions. The differences of urbanization and the change rate of county urbanization were converged in China after 2000, but the rate has slowed down since 2000. The county urbanization trend of transects were significantly different, including Lianyungang-Lanzhou railway and Lanzhou-Urumqi railway transects, the Yangtze River transect, the border of north China transect, 106 National Road transect, and the eastern coastal transect. There are many factors affecting county urbanization, mainly including economic development stage, the level of secondary and tertiary industries, rural net income per capita, population density, leading position of grain production, demographic statistics and special arrangements for counties. The high county urbanization in northern border regions was a typical type of statistical unrealistically high urbanization. In the future county urbanization development should follow the geographical differences, highlight its leading function, and adopt multiple urbanization development models such as promoting urbanization intensively in key urban economic development areas, separating urbanization in cropland and grain producing areas, migrating urbanization in ecological and water resource protection areas, suburban areas and urban-based urbanization and other leading county urbanization patterns.
[1] Chen Yang, Li Xun, Xu Xueqiang. Spatial evolvement and its affecting factors of urbanization in China after reformingand open-up. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 2007, 27(2): 142-148. [陈洋, 李郇, 许学强. 改革开放以来中国城市化的时空演变及其影响因素分析. 地理科学, 2007, 27(2): 142-148.]
[2] Chen Bochong, Hao Shouyi, Yang Xingxian. The dynamic mechanism of the rapid development of urbanization inChina. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2004, 59(6): 1068-1075. [陈波翀, 郝寿义, 杨兴宪. 中国城市化快速发展的动力机制.地理学报, 2004, 59(6): 1068-1075.]
[3] Gu Chaolin, Wu Yali. The main reviews of China's urbanization research. Urban Problem, 2008, (10): 1-10. [顾朝林, 吴亚莉. 中国城镇化研究的主要综述. 城市问题, 2008, (10): 1-10.]
[4] Li Guoping. The analysis and evaluation of the compatible relationship between industrialization and urbanization inChina. Areal Research and Development, 2008, 27(5): 6-12. [李国平. 我国工业化与城镇化的协调关系分析与评估. 地域研究与开发, 2008, 27(5): 6-12.]
[5] Urbanization Development Research Group. China's urbanization best road is small and medium-sized cities. World ofSurvey and Research, 2011, (3): 6-11. [城市化发展研究课题组. 中国城市化的出路在中小城市. 调研世界, 2011, (3):6-11.]
[6] Ning Deng, Jiang Liang. The study on the urbanization in China during the transitional period. City Planning Review,1999, 23(12): 17-19. [宁登, 蒋亮. 转型时期的中国城镇化发展研究. 城市规划, 1999, 23(12): 17-19.]
[7] Qin Zunwen. China's urbanization can't rely on the development of small cities. China's Rural Economy, 2001, (12):64-69. [秦尊文. 小城镇道路: 中国城市化的妄想症. 中国农村经济, 2001, (12): 64-69.]
[8] Ning Deng. Issues on the way of urbanization in China: Implementation of dual urbanization strategy. Urban Planning Forum, 1997, (1): 24-27. [宁登. 谈中国城市化道路问题: 论二元城镇化战略实施. 城市规划汇刊, 1997, (1): 24-27.]
[9] Ning Yuemin. New process of urbanization: Dynamics and features of urbanization in China since 1990. ActaGeographica Sinica, 1998, 53(5): 470-477. [宁越敏. 新城市化进程: 90 年代中国城市化动力机制和特点探讨. 地理学报, 1998, 53(5): 470-477.]
[10] Shen Jianfa. Analysis of the trends of urbanization levels in Chinese provinces since 1982. Acta Geographica Sinica,2005, 60(4): 607-614. [沈建法. 1982 年以来中国省级区域城市化水平趋势. 地理学报, 2005, 60(4): 607-614.]
[11] Lin S, Song S. Urban economic growth in China: Theory and evidence. Urban Studies, 2002, 39(12): 2251-2266.
[12] Zhou Yixing, Cao Guangzhong. The urbanization process in China in the past 20 years. City Planning Review, 1999,23(12): 8-13. [周一星, 曹广忠. 改革开放20 年来的中国城市化进程. 城市规划, 1999, 23(12): 8-13.]
[13] Xu X Q. Characteristics of urbanization of China: Changes and causes of urban population growth and distribution.Asian Geographer, 1984, (3): 251-259.
[14] Chen Mingxing, Lu Dadao, Liu Hui. The provincial pattern of the relationship between China's urbanization andeconomic development. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2010, 65(12): 1443-1453. [陈明星, 陆大道, 刘慧. 中国城市化与经济发展水平关系的省际格局. 地理学报, 2010, 65(12): 1443-1453.]
[15] Chen Mingxing, Lu Dadao, Zhang Hua. Comprehensive evaluation and the driving factors of China's urbanization.Acta Geographica Sinica, 2009, 64(4): 387-398. [陈明星, 陆大道, 张华. 中国城市化水平的综合测度及其动力因子分析. 地理学报, 2009, 64(4): 387-398.]
[16] Cai Jianming. Dynamics of Chinese urbanization process and its future developmental strategies. Progress inGeography, 1997, 16(2): 9-14. [蔡建明. 中国城市化发展动力及发展战略研究. 地理科学进展, 1997, 16(2): 9-14.]
[17] Feng Juan, Zeng Juxin. The model of urbanization in China. Areal Research and Development, 2007, 26(3): 41-44. [冯娟, 曾菊新. 试论中国城市化发展模式. 地域研究与开发, 2007, 26(3): 41-44.]
[18] Liu Y S, Liu Y, Chen Y F. The process and driving forces of rural hollowing in China under rapid urbanization.Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2010, 20(6): 876-888.
[19] Li Z N, Yang Y B, Liu Y. Difference among the growth of GDP and urbanization of the provinces and the cities inwest China since the reform and opening-up. China Population, Resources and Environment, 2008, 18(5): 19-26.
[20] Ning Yuemin, Li Jian. The mechanism, model and strategy of urbanization in Pan-Yangtze River Delta region. SocialScience in Nanjing, 2009, (5): 8-14. [宁越敏, 李健. 泛长三角地区城镇化的机制、模式与战略. 南京社会科学,2009, (5): 8-14.
[21] Chi Fulin. The Second Transition: Development Mode Changes at Crossroads. Beijing: China Economic PublishingHouse, 2010. [迟福林. 第二次转型: 处在十字路口的发展方式转变. 北京: 中国经济出版社, 2010.]
[22] Liu Yansui, Liu Yu, Zhai Rongxin. Geographical research and optimizing practice of rural hollowing in China. ActaGeographica Sinica, 2009, 64(10): 1193-1202. [刘彦随, 刘玉, 翟荣新. 中国农村空心化的地理学研究与整治实践. 地理学报, 2009, 64(10): 1193-1202.]
[23] Liu Yansui. Rural transformation development and new countryside construction in eastern coastal area of China. ActaGeographica Sinica, 2007, 62(6): 563-570. [刘彦随. 中国东部沿海地区乡村转型发展与新农村建设. 地理学报,2007, 62(6): 563-570.]
[24] Liu Yansui. The research direction and frontier problem of agriculture and rural development in new period. ResourcesScience, 2005, 27(2): 176. [刘彦随. 新时期农业与乡村发展研究方向及前沿问题. 资源科学, 2005, 27(2): 176.]
[25] Chen Xiwen. The current situation and challenges of agriculture and rural economy and rural development. China'sRural Economy, 2010, (1): 4-9. [陈锡文. 当前农业和农村经济形势与“三农”面临的挑战. 中国农村经济, 2010,(1): 4-9.]
[26] GCTE Report 36: The terrestrial transects: Science plan. IGBP of ICSU, Stockholm, 1995.
[27] Long H L, Heilig G K et al. Socio-economic development and land-use change: Analysis of rural housing landtransition in the transect of the Yangtse River, China. Land Use Policy, 2007, 24(1): 141-153.
[28] Long Hualou. Rural housing land transition in China: Theory and verification. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2006, 61(10):1093-1100. [龙花楼. 中国农村宅基地转型的理论与证实. 地理学报, 2006, 61(10): 1093-1100.]
[29] Egenhofer M J, Golledge R G. Spatial and Temporal Reasoning in Geographic Information Systems. OxfordUniversity Press, 1998.
[30] Longley P A, Rhind D, Goodchild M. Geographic Information Systems and Science. Wiley, John & Sons,Incorporated, 2001.
[31] Burrough P A., McDonnell R A.. Principles of Geographical Information Systems. Oxford University Press, 1998.
[32] Wang J F, Li X H, Christakos G et al. Geographical detectors-based health risk assessment and its application in theneural tube defects study of the He shun Region, China. International Journal of Geographical Information Science,2010, 24(1): 107-127.
