Urban-Rural Systems Cluster Workshop in Hainan

On May 12, 2025, the Urban-Rural Systems Workshop took place in Hainan, featuring insightful presentations on rural studies. The event began with a brief introduction by Prof. Junxi Qian, Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Hong Kong, who outlined the workshop's objectives and introduced the speakers.

Prof. Jinlon Gao, Associate Professor at the State Key Laboratory of Lake and Watershed Science for Water Security, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, presented on "Towards Land Use Transitions (LUTs) v3.0: Reflections from The Good Earth (Nobel Prize 1938) by Pearl S. Buck." He explored the constructed meanings and values of land in The Good Earth, emphasizing its multifunctionality—economic, social, and emotional. Prof. Gao discussed the realities of rural China, arguing that notions of land as 'valued' or 'useful' are social constructions reflecting diverse beliefs of those who inhabit and govern land. He illustrated his points with a case study from southern Jiangsu Province, focusing on rural housing and presenting a constructivist framework for land use transitions.

Following him, Prof. Yanfeng Jiang from the School of Public Administration and Policy at Guangxi University delivered a presentation titled "Deciphering the Role of Land Consolidation in the Revitalisation of Rural Villages." He centered his discussion on multifunctionality, examining the interplays among rural revitalization, land consolidation, and multifunctional land use. Prof. Jiang identified key land use functions, including living, production, ecological, and cultural aspects. He illustrated the mechanisms of land consolidation in promoting village revitalization through case studies of Jinzhuang village and Dongheng village, detailing spatial restructuring and the effects of land consolidation from 2010 to 2020.

The Q&A sessions following each presentation sparked engaging discussions. Participants raised questions about the implications of land use policies and the challenges of implementing land consolidation strategies. The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment to exploring the vital issues surrounding urban-rural systems, fostering ongoing dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.