The historical development of Chinese urban morphology

China has had a long and distinctive urban experience, the existence of towns dating back to 2600 BC. This paper describes the characteristics and historical development of Chinese urban morphology. The central location of political and administrative buildings, a grid‐iron street pattern, symmetrical layout and axiality are the most important characteristics of Chinese traditional cities, reflecting the distinctive political and economic systems and cultural traditions of China. Political forces have played a key role in shaping this urban pattern. The historical development of Chinese urban morphology experienced four phases: the walled city (770 BC‐AD 906), the open city (618–1840), the colonial city (1840–1949), and the socialist city (1949–1985). The four phases provide a historical frame to analyse the development of China's urban form; each phase has its distinct characteristics and different town building philosophies, reflecting the nature of national political and economic development.