Urban & Regional Development
Investigating urbanization processes, city-region dynamics, and spatial transformation in China, with particular focus on the Yangtze River Delta and Zhejiang Province.
"As a geographer, I have been in a lifelong pursuit of finding an explanation of why things are where they are and their meanings to our life and our planet."
Faculty since 2000
About
Wei Xu is Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Born and raised in Shanghai near the historic Bund district, he developed an early fascination with cities and urban landscapes that would shape his academic career.
His research spans urban and regional development in China, labor markets and migration, housing studies, sustainability, and climate change adaptation. He has published two academic monographs, over 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and delivered more than 180 conference presentations worldwide.
Professor Xu studied under Prof. Yan Zhongmin, a pioneer of Chinese urban geography at East China Normal University, and completed his doctoral training at the University of Guelph under Prof. Barry Smit, an Order of Canada recipient. He has secured millions of dollars in research funding from SSHRC, CIDA, IDRC, Mitacs, and TECTERRA.
Education
- Ph.D., Geography, University of Guelph, 1998
- M.A., Geography, University of Guelph, 1993
- M.A., Geography, East China Normal University, 1985
- B.Sc., Geography, East China Normal University, 1982
Awards & Service
- Distinguished Service Award, AAG China Geography Specialty Group, 2017
- Former Vice-Chair and Chair, AAG China Geography Specialty Group
- Department Chair, Geography and Environment, 2012–2024
Research Interests
Labor Markets & Migration
Examining rural-urban migration patterns, floating population dynamics, and the geographic structure of labor market inequality in transitional economies.
Housing Studies
Analyzing housing markets, residential mobility, and the spatial dimensions of housing inequality, particularly for migrants and returning populations.
Sustainability & Climate Adaptation
Exploring sustainable development pathways, agricultural land use change, water management policy, and climate change adaptation strategies.
Current Projects
Digital Economy and Carbon Emissions in Chinese Cities
Investigating how digital economy development affects carbon emission intensity across Chinese cities, with implications for sustainable urban policy.
Return Migration and Housing in China
Examining housing trajectories and residential choices of return migrants in China, focusing on the intersection of mobility and housing markets.
Major Collaborative Projects
- CIDA Zhejiang Rural Industrialization Project (1997–2003) — $2M+ CAD, policy research on rural industrialization and urbanization
- Canadian Climate Change Action Plan (2003–2008) — $4M CAD, climate adaptation research across multiple Chinese regions
- Food Security & Policy Project (2010–2015) — Collaboration with Beijing on food production forecasting
Publications
100+ peer-reviewed publications spanning 30+ years of research
- Article
"Effects of digital economy on carbon emission intensity in Chinese cities: A life-cycle theory and the application of non-linear spatial panel smooth transition threshold model"
Energy Policy, vol. 183, 113792
with L. Bai, T. Guo, Y. Liu, M. Kuang, L. Jiang
Cited by 129
- Article
"Determinants of housing moving intention of urban low-income residents in China: Life-cycle, lived experience, and place"
Transactions in Planning and Urban Research, vol. 2, no. 2-3, pp. 272-295
with L. Yu, I. MacLachlan, I. Townshend
- Article
"Generational variations in the timing of entry into homeownership in Shanghai: The role of family formation and family of origin"
Urban Studies, vol. 59, no. 13, pp. 2695-2718
with X. Mu, C. Cui, J. Cui
Cited by 28
- Article
"Specialty towns in China: Towards a typological policy approach"
Land Use Policy, vol. 114, 105933
with X. Hu, Q. Wu, Y. Li
Cited by 25
- Article
"Institutional conformity, entrepreneurial governance and local contingency: problematizing central-local dynamics in localizing China's low-income housing policy"
Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, vol. 54, no. 3, pp. 508-532
with L. Yu
Cited by 17
- Article
"The spatial differentiation and driving forces of ecological welfare performance in the Yangtze River Economic Belt"
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 22, 14801
with L. Bai, T. Guo, K. Luo
Cited by 10
- Article
"Think locally, act locally: A critique of China's specialty town program in practice"
Geographical Review, vol. 111, no. 3, pp. 393-414
with X. Hu, J.T. Miao
Cited by 21
For a complete list of publications, please see my personal website or Google Scholar.
Contact
Office Address
Department of Geography and EnvironmentUniversity of Lethbridge
4401 University Drive W
Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4
Canada
Telephone
+1 (403) 332-4561
Languages
Chinese, English
For Prospective Students
I welcome enquiries from prospective graduate students interested in urban geography, migration studies, housing, and China studies. Please send a brief statement of your research interests along with your CV.
Research Collaboration
I actively collaborate with scholars in China and internationally. Visiting scholars and postdoctoral researchers are welcome to discuss potential collaboration opportunities.