The characteristics of peri-urbanization region:a case study of Dongguan Municipality in Guangdong province
试论半城市化现象及其特征——以广东省东莞市为例

Since reform and open up, owing to the influx of foreign capitals, the world wide manufacturing shift and the development of TVEs, a kind of area has been formed and developed in some post rural areas of the Yangze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. It's a transitional zone where urban and rural land use interlocked and economic and social structure changed rapidly. Based on literature review, this paper defines it as peri urban and puts forward a complete index system, in terms of structure, change in gross amount, landscape and administrative features. Then taking the case of Dongguan Municipality, the characters and the problems of the peri urban area are analyzed, in terms of economic conditions, industry, population, employment, land use and administrative system. Dongguan Municipality, characterized by rapid economic growth, mass entry of immigration, rapid development of non agricultural activities, expansion and interlock of non agricultural land use and rural administrative system,has thus embryonically formed a peri urban area. According to international experience Dongguan is in a crossroad. So we should clearly consider its advantages and regulate its social, economic, and urban development strategy for sustainable development and evolvement to late model urbanization.