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 and Chair of 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–present
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
"Return migration and housing in China: A systematic review"
Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies
with Z. Zhang
- Article
"Effects of digital economy on carbon emission intensity in Chinese cities: A life-cycle perspective"
Energy Policy, vol. 182, 113769
with Y. Wang et al.
- Article
"Housing trajectories of migrants in urban China"
Housing Studies
with L. Chen
- Article
"Theorizing housing pathways of migrants in urban China"
Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, vol. 54, no. 6, pp. 1142-1160
with doctoral student
- Article
"Digital economy and urban carbon emissions: A spatial analysis"
Sustainable Cities and Society
with Y. Wang
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.