China had 467 cities in 1990, but the figure has now risen to 666 cities and about 17,000 towns where some 350 million people live. China's cities are expected to number 800 by the turn of the century. By the early 21st century, some 630 million people would be living in urban areas. But though more and more people are living cities, living conditions have not always kept up with urbanisation. Hou said China should ''ease the severe housing shortage, upgrade the backward public welfare facilities and increase the green coverage''.
Studies suggest that amenities associated with city life are still lacking.
The first nationwide survey of ''municipal facilities and urban ecology'' of more than 600 cities completed last year showed that China's cities by and large resemble cities of developed countries in the mid-1960s. Only 70 percent of urban households use gas. The rate of ''safe disposal'' for garbage stands at only 40 percent, and for treatment of water, just 19 per cent. Public green areas average 5 sq. In urban transportation, there are an average seven public vehicles per 10,000 persons.