National Central Cities: Unravelling A Chinese urban policy puzzle

This paper critically examines a recent innovation in Chinese urban policy: the designation of new category ‘National Central Cities’ (NCCs). These cities, which there are currently nine, meant to play key role economic modernisation and national development. But, despite their undoubted importance, precise role, definition function basis is unclear. The argues first that underlying, but implicit, theoretical rationale growth pole theory cities major diffusion ‘radiation’ other forms development regional hinterlands. also geographical distribution NCCs China looks at ranking compared terms number different indicators such as GDP population asks why some have been chosen not others. What NCC designation? Finally, it speculates on future NCCs, competition for possible benefits may confer.