China’s economic miracle and the unprecedented pace of urbanization in the past three decades have substantially changed the life of urban Chinese. Increasingly people live in luxury real estates with club house, swimming pool and other facilities. In just a few years, the percentage of private car ownership has soared to a double-digit level in major cities and car has become a major transport mode in people’s daily life. As a result of the increasing mobility, among other factors, individuals’ life space has expanded considerably and people’s life style has also diversified. On the other hand, traffic congestion and air pollution have become prominent problems in major Chinese cities. Soaring housing prices outpace people’s income growth and the affordability of homes is becoming a problem for many, especially the urban poor. Intensifying social polarization has heightened the tension between the rich and the poor. Opportunities to get rich and to advance one’s career are shrinking for the younger generation and it has become harder for them to climb the social ladder.
