Abstract While the rapid urbanization is now undergoing in China, lots of cities are actively expanding their new territorial space in order to break through the constrain of the existing spatial structure to urban development, release the high pressure on population, employment, traffic and environment in city center and rationalize the urban structure. The new towns constructions are growing vigorously in many metropolitan areas. As the biggest city in China, Shanghai has always tried to build some suburban towns in order to reduce the denser status of the city center since 1950s. Especially, in the last decade, as one of the suburban satellite city in Shanghai since 1950s, the construction of Songjiang is paid more attentions by the Shanghai municipality government and it brings impacts on the spatial structure of city center. Taking Songjiang as a case study, this paper explores the mutual relation between the new town development and spatial structure adjustment through the following aspects: (1) the evolution of the Songjiang sub-center; (2) the urban function changes in Songjiang; and (3) the construction of human habitat environment of Songjiang. The author finds that the philosophic idea is one of the most important factors for the suburban new town planning,construction or development; the continuously supporting, either policy or funding from government is the key factor to the rapid development of suburban town; the change from suburban administrative center to urban fictional center is the realistic basis for the realization of the suburban new town planning targets and the adjustment of spatial structure for the metropolitan area. Finally, the author put forward suggest for the development of the multi-central cities and the new cities around metropolitan areas.
2010, Vol. 25 
