This Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of local governance in China, and offers original analysis of key factors underpinning trends in this field drawing on the expertise of scholars both inside and outside China. It explores and analyzes the dynamic interaction and collaboration among multiple governmental and non-governmental actors and social sectors with an interest in the conduct of public affairs to address horizontal challenges faced by the local government, society, economy, and civil community and considers key issues such as governance in urban and rural areas, the impact of technology on governance and related issues of education, healthcare, environment and energy.

1. Introduction.- 2. The Applicability of Governance Theory in China: A Novel Approach.- 3. Governance models and policy framework-Some Chinese perspectives.- 4. Local Governance in China's National Governance System.- 5. New Agenda for the Study of Chinese Governance.- 6. Mapping the Progress of Local Government Innovation in Contemporary China.- 7. Central-Local Relations in China.- 8. Local Cadres.- 9. The China's Developmental State in Transition: In light of the East Asian Experiences.- 10. The Behavioral Logic and Institutional Basis of Chinese Local Developmental Government.- 11. The Development and Prospects of Business Association since 1978.- 12. The Development of Charitable Organizations in China since Reform and Opening up and A New Layout for State-Society Relations.- 13. The Role of Mass Media in Reshaping Local Governance and its Limitations.- 14. Villages' Self-governance in Rural China.- 15. The Changing InstitutionalSpace Regarding Roles and Behavior of Village Leaders.- 16. The Unfulfilled Promise of Collaborative Governance: The Case of Low-Income Housing in Jiangsu.- 17. "Orderly Political Participation" through Deliberation in China.- 18. Lobbying of Private Business Associations in Local China: Targets, Strategies and Influence.- 19. Citizen Action and Policy Change.- 20. Selective Use of Political Opportunity: A Case of Environmental Protest in Rural China.- 21. Governing by the Internet: Local Governance in the Digital Age.- 22. Internet Governance in China: A Content Analysis.- 23. The Internet in China: New Methods and Opportunities.- 24. Predicament of Emerging Collaborative Governance: National Policy, Local Experiments and Public Hospital Reforms in China.- 25. Variations in Educational Inequalities in China and Policy Implications.- 26. Mobilization and Irregularity: Volatile Growth of Educational Expenditure in China.- 27. Labor Inspection in Contemporary China: Like the Anglo-Saxon Model but Different.- 28. From Local Government-led to Collaborative Governance: The Changing Role of Local Governments in Urbanization.- 29. The Rise of Public-Private Partnerships in China.- 30. Land Conflict and the Transformation of Local Governance.- 31. Local Energy Policy Implementation.- 32. Energy Policy Design and China's Local Climate Governance: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Policies in Hangzhou.- 33. Climate Change Challenges and China's Responses: Mitigation and Governance.- 34. Breathe Easy? Local Nuances of Authoritarian Environmentalism in China's Battle against Air Pollution.