My research focuses on China’s transformation from a planned economy to a market economy after 1978. To understand the transformation, I examine issues of regulation, commodification, and development, and addresses what has happened on the ground and how individuals’ everyday life has been shaped by China’s political and economic transformation. In particular, I investigate urban and regional development and how two particular strategies of development—heritage tourism and transnational regionalization—transform material and vernacular landscapes. Material landscapes include buildings and streetscapes, while vernacular landscapes entail expressions of everyday life through music, dance, costume, religion, and daily routine activities.
My main research topics include:
Cross-border trade and border cities;
Transnational narcotics control and development intervention;
Urban entrepreneurialism and tourism development;
Border control and transnational migration;
China and its overseas development assistance