N China coal town gets new look(2)

"The industrial park has many companies. I work in one of them. I think the relocation is good. Without the compensation, we wouldn't have been able to afford the new apartment," Guo Qingtian said.

Many experts say industries are a major support for successful urbanization. Wutong town is just one of those that have a solid industrial base.

Su Guangxu, Party Secretary of Wutong Town, Xiaoyi, said, "Industries play a fundamental role in the urbanization of this town. The development of enterprises have pushed forward urbanization. It's a positive interaction between industrialization and urbanization."

Officials in the town also say they will try to offer an urban Hukou to rural residents there in the future. But rural people still need time to integrate into the city both technically and mentally.

"The rural residents have been living in villages for years. It's hard for them to change their living habits and lifestyles in a short time. What we can do is to provide a better living environment, to strengthen community management and organize some cultural activities. We believe they will integrate into urban life gradually," Su Guangxu said.

China's urbanization is expected to undergo rapid growth in the next few years. But experts emphasize that urbanization should not simply be a rise in urban areas and population. More important, they say, is to transform local industries, the employment structure, living environments, and social security, in order to give rural residents the chance for a better life.