Investigating the urban–rural integrated town development strategy on the basis of the study of rural forms in Nantong, China.

Urban–rural integrated development is the priority task of China due to the wide development gap between cities and villages caused by the most rapid economic growth in history. In the province–city–town–village administrative system of China, town, as the smallest urban form, is the social, economic, and cultural center of a rural area and becomes the key to many development problems. An improved township enhances living standards and creates numerous jobs in rural areas, and it will provide opportunities for urban–rural sustainable integration. This paper introduces three typical rural forms in Nantong and demonstrates the objective fact that rural form is an important manifestation of residents' living habits, historical context, and the regional characteristics of rural areas. Then, this study aims to find the close inner relationship between rural form and town development through a comparative study of morphological indicators. Therefore, on the basis of full understanding of rural forms, this study proposes that town development from the perspective of serving the countryside, improving the quality of life of rural residents, and protecting the rural landscape texture with regional characteristics is the development mode conforming to the spirit of sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]