My studies focus on the transformation of Chinese cities and regions during last three decades. I am interested the effects of sociospatial reconfiguration underlying tremendous impacts of globalization, urbanization, and marketization. The studies involve both quantitative analysis and qualitative methods such as ethnographical explorations. In this vein, I enjoy the readings of geography, sociology, anthropology, planning, and GIS related literature. Also I have a high interest upon such issues as critical urban theory, post-modernism, and (post)structural Marxism. Basically, I believe in the power of (post)modern science and put efforts to contribute to our understanding of ‘planetary urbanization’ across different contexts, especially that of China. Also I believe that to understand today, or the future, history matters. I strive to contribute to the knowledge for urban studies as well as planning of China, and try to improve its theorization, largely on the basis of empirical exploration and interrogation, so to achieve further social sustainability, through spatial efforts such as governance or planning. Thereby, my microscopic examinations include such issues as residential segregation in Shanghai, urban village and their residential satisfaction in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, trade immigrants and African enclaves in Guangzhou, rural migrant integration, clan or born-place based migration and resultant enclaves, everyday life of the residents of affordable housing estates, across Chinese cities. My major sites of studies cover Guangzhou, Pearl River Delta, Shanghai, Beijing, Dongguan, Wuhan, and other mainland Chinese cities.
Qualifications
- University of Southampton, PhD in Urban Geography （2001-2005）
- Nanjing University, City and Resources Department, M.Sc. （1998-2001）
- Wuhan University, Architecture Department, B.E. (1994-1998)
Selected research funding
（1）Natural Science Foundation of China-Excellent Youth Foundation (1000 thousand) (41422103) The mechanism and effect of urban spatial transformation（2015-2017）
（2）Natural Science Foundation of China (800 thousand) (41271163) Social space structure, characteristics and evolution mechanism of China’s affordable housing community -A case of Guangzhou (2013-2016)
（3）Natural Science Foundation of China (300 thousand) (40971095) New migrant enclaves in China’s large cities-A case of Beijing，Shanghai，Guangzhou (2010-2012)
（4）Natural Science Foundation of China (280 thousand) (40601033) Transnational social space in China – A case of Guangzhou，Shenzhen，Dongguan (2007-2009)