Hot Words

城中村(cheng zhong cun)

Urban Village

A special phenomenon created by China's urbanization. As a result of the uncoordinated development of urban and rural areas, a number of cities across the country have expropriated suburban and even more outlying rural land into their expansion in recent years. While erecting several new high-rise buildings on the requisitioned plot, some older, shabby houses previously built by farmers, remain intact, thus giving rise to a unique "urban village" phenomenon. Without the same facilities and services as in developed communities, these urban villages deserve more attention from city managers.

(China Daily 09/17/2008 page8)