ABSTRACT: This paper is written and submitted by Peking University (Beijing University) Center for Real Estate Law, Director, Prof. Lou Jianbo, and Assistant Director, Prof. Joyce Palomar, authors. The paper examines the People's Republic of China's national approaches beginning in 1948 to the nation's urban housing crisis. The paper focuses on policy approaches and strategies for activating the private sector as a means to improve housing conditions. It presents recent statistical results of the application of housing as a leading economic development sector.