Introduction
The Center for Modern Chinese City Studies at East China Normal University was founded in March 2003 and was authorized as the Key Research Institute of humanities and social sciences approved and supported by the Ministry of Education of China in November 2004. Professor Yuemin Ning is the Center's Director, and Professor Jinhong Ding and Yingfang Chen are the Vice Directors. The Center comprises four research groups, specializing respectively in Urban Economics and Planning, Urban Population and Society Development, Urban History and Culture Development, and Urban Institution and Management. At present, it owns a high-level research term of 15 staff and 14 research fellows including an overseas scholar.
Researchers of subjects related have focused on China's urbanization, urban economy, society, culture, history and environment for years in our university. In 1979, for the first time in China, postgraduates majoring in urban geography were enrolled in East China Normal University. Since early 1980's, surveys of urban population and community have been carried on. And afterwards, researchers on historical and cultural studies have begun to be involved in urban studies.
