Rural China Unbound: Exploring new concepts, theories and paradigms

The Chinese countryside has often been studied and analysed through dualistic frameworks such as “rural” vs. “urban”, “city” vs. “countryside”. These binary notions are reproduced through disciplinary divides that place, e.g. agrarian and rural studies, urban studies, and environmental and resource studies in separate domains. Under new institutional reforms and emergent dynamics shaped by technological change, state ambitions, and market forces, such binary frameworks warrant critical rethinking. ICARDC XVIII seeks to traverse these boundaries and create dialogue across theoretical, empirical and methodological approaches.

ICARDC Best Paper Award

We are greatly pleased to announce the ICARDC Best Paper Award and warmly invite high-quality submissions. Details on eligibility and procedures can be found below.

Venue, papers and panels

ICARDC XVIII will be held in Hong Kong from Friday 11 December to Sunday 13 December 2026, and is kindly hosted by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Our 18th conference will take place in Hung Hom, one of Hong Kong’s hottest new, upcoming neighbourhoods. With a mix of East and West, traditional and contemporary, this area is home to exciting, hidden cultural gems, heritage sites and traditional street food eateries. We look forward to welcoming you there in person!

For info on registration, logistics and paper submission, please see the Call for Papers.