Investigation on the Reallocation of the Town Core in the Changjiang Delta Using Satellite Images

We analyzed the expansion process of town centers in the rural area of Changjiang delta since middle of 1980s and its mechanism using satellite images. The local industries played the most important role in urbanization of rural areas through investing their profits and paying their taxes to the town finance. Therefore, expansion of the town center was regulated by the growth of local industries and their ups and downs were reflected directly in the increase and the decrease in the town area. On the other hand, accompanying the accumulation of local industries to the town center, the employees (village population) moved into the town center and a chain reaction started; the increase in the permanent population accelerated development of residential land, accumulated commercial, transport, communication, financial and service businesses and resulted in a further expansion of the town center.