Challenges and the way forward in China’s new-type urbanization

•We analyze the process and distribution of China’s previous land-centered urbanization.•The urban built-up land area has grown faster than its urban population in China.•China’s vigorous urban expansion is facing three major challenges.•The core of new-type urbanization is the transfer from land-centered to people-oriented.•The national plan is only the beginning of exploration of China’s new-type urbanization. China’s urbanization has been a notable global event. The National New Urbanization Plan (2014–2020) unveiled by the Chinese Central Government revealed a new path for urbanization that accommodated unique Chinese characteristics. The most notable aspect was the transfer from land-centered urbanization to people-oriented urbanization. Given that land urbanization was the key to the previous orbit, this manuscript aims to analyze the evolution and challenge for land-centered urbanization, and way forward for people-oriented urbanization in China. With increasing urban populations and expanding industrial activities, China has experienced vigorous land urbanization and an uneven population distribution pattern since 1978. Land-centered urbanization has created some economic and social benefits, but has also posed many adverse impacts. The issues of the loss of arable land, the phenomenon of “ghost cities,” and the urban heat island effect have become critical challenges. Eight suggestions from two perspectives are recommended in this manuscript for achieving new-type urbanization in China. We should give priority to this issue of the citizenization of peasant migrants. Government, scientists, and the public can all combine to influence the development trajectories of China’s new-type urbanization.