By Zhang Yunhua, Li Qing & Ning Xia, Research Department of Rural Economy, DRC

Research Report, No.335, 2021 (Total 6400) 2021-11-12

Abstract: The living, production and ecological spaces in rural areas have witnessed great changes in recent years. Many villages have become hollowing-out because of the shrinking living space; the rural production space has become centralized due to the concentrated development of industries; and the ecological space is expanding since the ecological areas are increased. The above-mentioned changes have brought about some challenges, including the co-existence of the hollowing-out villages and the strong demand of villages around the periphery of cities. In addition, the rural production space is becoming hollowing-out and fragmented and the economic values of the rural ecological space remain to be realized. It is necessary to further optimize the layout of the relevant spaces. We need to promote the urban-rural integration focusing on the mix between cities and villages around the cities in order to bring closer the rural living space to the cities and its surrounding villages. The rural production space needs to be further enhanced to become professional and large-scale. And the ecological space needs to be further developed, thus the production, living and ecological spaces can be integrated organically.

Keywords: rural living, production and ecological spaces, changes, challenges, layout