Shrinking cities and resource-based economy: The economic restructuring in China's mining cities

•Resource-based cities play a crucial role in China's economic development.•Roughly 17% of resource-depleted prefecture cities are experiencing urban shrinkage.•Economic restructuring in resource-based cities is difficult in China.•Two case studies - Daqing City and Pingxiang City - are presented.•Government should promote the development of extended and substitute industries.

Resource-based cities play a crucial role in China's economic development. However, they are faced with the challenge of urban shrinkage due to the slowdown of economic growth in China, single industrial structure and the ‘boom and bust’ industrial cycle. To reverse the expected decline of these cities in the future, the Chinese Government has implemented active policies at national, provincial and municipal levels. This paper reviews the current planning policies and practices in resource-based cities in China from the macro perspective, and analyses how the Government engages with the pressing economic problems faced by resource-based cities, in particular, focussing on economic restructuring. To further analyse the policies from Central Government and the diversification of practices in local contexts, this paper presents two case studies, a petroleum mining city (Daqing City) and a coal mining city (Pingxiang City). Through discussion and an evaluation of general and place-based policies and practices for resource-based cities, this paper aims to enhance the understanding of shrinking cities in China and shed light on the policy-making of economic development for other resource-based cities in developing countries.