讲座简介：This paper will explore the differing pathways taken in China under the national policy of mass migration to the cities by rural peasants in the countryside and the growing commitment to building eco-towns and eco-cities. It will compare the experiences of rural villagers in Huangbaiyu and around Chenggong. After telling the narratives of each of these rural towns, the presentation explores a set of interdisciplinary issues—including the role and importance of rural traditions and local knowledge; the pressures to transform the rural peasantry into urban/town citizens; the ambiguous impact of Western scientific knowledge and expertise; and the molding of new identities of former rural villagers.  The presentation closes with findings that challenge neat distinctions between rural folk and new urban citizens, views of urban modernization as a top-down hegemonic project, and the symmetry between strong urban and town sustainability  and reigning models of eco-cities with Chinese characteristics.