From “ghost cities” to booming metropolises, the map of China’s urbanization creates a complex picture. Over the past thirty years, many major cities have not only expanded in square mileage, but also exploded in population. TWOC has picked a few fascinating GIFs of this massive urban migration over the past few decades.

Via Business Insider.

1. Chongqing

Chongqing, one of China’s fastest growing cities, boasts a population of 27.7 million people. With a growth rate of 15 percent each year, other cities may have trouble keeping up with this population growth behemoth.

2. Nanjing

As China’s former capital, not only is Nanjing a famous and historically rich city, but Nanjing has also doubled its population since 1949. Today, the total population of Nanjing is an estimated seven million people.

3. Shangahi

The city of Shanghai is China’s most populous city. With 16,200 people per square mile, Shanghai’s population density tops the charts. The grand total of Shanghai’s population: 23.9 million people.

4. Shaoxing

At 853, 000 people, Shaoxing has a modest population compared to China’s other urban growth monsters. However, by 2025 the population is estimated to by pass 1 million people. That’s a 524 percent increase in the city’s population, since 1990.

5. Xiamen

Located in the subtropical Fujian province, the population of Xiamen is estimated at 2.5 million people. An additional million people are expected to migrate to Xiamen in the next 10 years.

Read more about China’s massive urban expansion here.

Images courtesy of Business Insider.