Abstract The coupling degree of metropolitan urban and rural system in developed areas changes along with national economic and social transformation. It aims at revealing the interaction and impact between urban and rural area of different period to test the coupling of urban and rural system which is expressed by coupling degree. The coupling degree can also provide a scientific basis for the further regulation of interaction between urban and rural areas. Based on the theory of systematic science, this paper took Wuxi as an example to construct a coupling measurement model of urban and rural system. It measured the coupling degree of urban and rural system in Wuxi of 8 periods which is from 1979 to 2008 on the base of coupling degree measure system, and described the track of development of urban and rural system according to the coupling degree of Wuxi. The measure results shows that:from 1979 to 2008, the changing progress of the coupling degree in Wuxi urban and rural system can be divided into three stages, which presented as a shape of flattening "S". Before the early 1990s, the coupling degree keeps a low increase trend which reflects a more independent development of urban and rural systems; after the early 1990s, the coupling degree increases rapidly which reflects that the interaction between urban and rural areas is strengthened; in the 21st century, the coupling degree tends to keep a slow rising. As the development of the urban system is accelerated continuously, the development of the rural system is declining and even slowing down. Along with the slowing down of the development of rural system, there is a crisis of in compatibility between the urban and rural system. Aiming at the sustainable development of urban and rural system, the government needs to strengthen the support and guidance in public policies to rural development to promote the positive interaction between the urban and rural system.
2011, Vol. 26 
