This book offers a deep exploration of recent rural land reform within China, focusing on how a central-initiated policy experimentation has played out at the county-level. Through the lens of urban theories, including local governments’ behavior, state rescaling, and policy entrepreneur, it reveals the dynamics of this sensitive and debated reform practice. Drawing on first-hand interviews with key officials across provincial, prefectural, county, and village levels, this study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of policy-making and implementation along the urban hierarchy. Ideal for students and researchers in urban studies and land resource management, this book illuminates current land reform practices in China while offering a window into the complex interactions and political negotiations among local governments across various administrative layers.  

Dr. Changchang Zhou received her Ph.D. degree in urban studies from the University of Hong Kong. She is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Administration, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. Her research interests include rural land reform, dynamics of policymaking and implementation, and city-regional governance.