A First Glance at China’s 2010 Census

This monograph focuses on identification of ongoing urban and regional dynamics shaping China’s national spatial system, based on the recent partial release of 2010 population census data. Using time series comparisons of China’s population censuses between 1990–2000 and 2000–2010, this paper objectively looks at the recently Chinese census data from the view of: (1) key emerging socio-economic drivers, e.g., the pursuit of amenity, (2) key policy initiatives, e.g., policies such as the “Go West” program introduced in 1999, and (3) emerging spatial phenomena, e.g., the rapid emergence of megapolitan regions.