Researchers on urban development show that an accelerated urbanization could keep China's economy on the fast track for another 15 to 20 years. The country's urbanization rate will hit 52% in 2015, growing up to 65% by 2030, as estimates reported by most famous newspaper. By the end of 2009, the urbanization rate already hit 46.6%, with 620 million people living in cities and towns. China planned to speed up urban infrastructure construction during its 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), by spending as much as RMB 7 trillion (Ministry of Housing and Urban-rural Development, MOHURD), with fixed asset investment in city infrastructure exceeding RMB 1 trillion during the plan. Investment in urban rail transport will exceed RMB 700 billion during the plan, behind highway investment, to limit pollution by cars. Public service facilities (city water supplies, gas pipe and heating pipe networks) will also receive substantial investment.

Domestic loans would account for a smaller proportion of total investment under the 12th Five-Year Plan, around 15%. The share of other capital sources is expected to grow to 77.4%, from 76.5% previously. Funds allocated in the state budget would likely increase from 4% to 5.2% of total investment, according to figures released by an investment research group (according to the United Nations Development Program, infrastructure investment in a developing country should account for 10-15% of total fixed investment, or 3-5% of gross domestic product). The country's rapid urbanization will result in the accelerated construction of urban public facilities, during the 12th Five-Year Plan period; however, there are still some problems in the process, such as unbalanced development between urban and rural areas, income gaps, lack of spatial planning and over-expansion of large cities, migrant workers' living standards.

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