Facing up to issues of rapid urbanization

China's urbanization process has been picking up speed over the past five years, and this is evident in the growing size of the cities, their increasing economic strengths and management levels.

Official statistics show that the country's 287 cities, from the prefecture level up, have seen more than a one-fold increase in their GDPs compared to the previous five years. And their total GDP accounts for 63.2 percent of the national total. The GDP in each of the 12 big cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, exceeded 200 billion yuan last year ($26.3 billion).

While urbanization is proceeding at an accelerated pace, urban population growth is also picking up speed.