In 2011 China had over 690 million urban dwellers -- 51.27 % of its 1.347 billion people . `` China simply pulled off an urbanization of geographical land mass , not an urbanization of people , '' said Guangmotuan , a Chinese netizen on Sina.com , a Twitter-like micro-blogging site . For the first time , China 's urban population now exceeds the rural population . China 's rapid economic growth has doubled the size of China 's cities and towns . Many experts worry about the enormous pressure on cities ' finances and economies .
In 2011 China had over 690 million urban dwellers -- 51.27 % of its 1.347 billion people . For the first time , China 's urban population now exceeds the rural population . China 's rapid economic growth has doubled the size of China 's cities and towns . Many experts worry about the enormous pressure on cities ' finances and economies .