Scholarly Publications
Scholarly Publications: Discover High-Impact Research Across Critical Urban Domains
Welcome to the Publications page of the Program on Chinese Cities (PCC) at UNC Chapel Hill—where rigorous scholarship meets real-world relevance. PCC scholars consistently publish high-quality research papers covering a diverse set of research areas rooted in our core mission:
- Sustainable Environment & Energy – including low-carbon urban models, resilience to climate change, and renewable energy integration,
- Land Use, Transportation & Infrastructure – addressing equitable urban expansion, redevelopment, and transport systems,
- Community Development & Public Health – focusing on inclusive housing policy, neighborhood revitalization, and health impacts of urban growth,
- Economic & Business Upgrading – exploring innovation policy, entrepreneurship, and the transition toward competitive urban economies,
- Governance, Property Rights & Finance – analyzing fiscal tools, property institutions, and governance strategies that enable equitable and effective city management.
Why Our Publications Matter
- Interdisciplinary Depth
Each publication draws upon insights from urban planning, environmental science, public policy, economics, real estate, and public health—reflecting the PCC’s interdisciplinary strength. - Global & Practical Impact
PCC research not only advances academic knowledge but also informs urban planning practice and policy, positioning Chinese cities as living laboratories whose experiences shape global dialogues on urbanization and sustainability.
Latest Featured Paper
Our recent publications exemplifies this multidisciplinary excellence:
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Paper Overview | Revitalization paths for different types of rural settlements based on life cycle theory: A case study of a township in the farming-pastoral ecotone of northern China
Authors: Yafeng Zou, Chengfeng Yi， Feng Luo， Pingping Du， Haiying Liu， Tian Chen， Yan Song， Pinqi Wu ，Yu Zhou College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill … Read more
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Paper Overview | Rural Infrastructure Supply and Population Mobility—An Empirical Analysis Based on Microdata for Rural China
Authors: Yunxing Song, Jiguang Zhu， Yan Song College of Economics, Henan University of Economics and Law, Zhengzhou, China Ademician Laboratory for Urban and Rural Spatial Data Mining, Henan University of Economics and Law, Zhengzhou, China Department of City and Regional … Read more
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Paper Overview | Exploring spatial restructuring of villages and towns in rural China: Insights from villagers’ subjective willingness
Authors: Jiajie Liu, Guangzhong Cao, Yan Song， Tao Liu College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China Center for Urban Future Research, Peking University, Beijing, China Key Laboratory of Territorial Spatial Planning and Development-Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources of PRC, Beijing, … Read more
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Paper Overview | Integrating Climate Adaptation into Transportation Planning—Practices and Insights from Major U.S. Cities
Authors: Meng Wei, Cai Zhi, Xu Jiangang, Shen Duanshuai, Yan Song School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Tourism and Urban-Rural Planning, Zhejiang Gongshang … Read more
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Paper Overview | Spatiotemporal Evolutionary Characteristics and Driving Forces of Carbon Emissions in Three Chinese Urban Agglomerations
Author：Meng Wei , Zhi Cai , Yan Song , Jiangang Xu , Muqiu Lu Received 9 November 2023, Revised 7 February 2024, Accepted 27 February 2024, Available online 3 March 2024, Version of Record 6 March 2024. Highlights Unveils evolving carbon emission trends in China’s urban agglomerations. Discloses spatial spillover in carbon emissions … Read more
We’re committed to sharing the most recent, high-caliber scholarship from our team. Please check back regularly—we frequently update this page with new, cutting-edge publications as they become available. Return often to discover the newest insights from our dynamic research teams.