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Urban expansion in China has its particularity, especially with regard to the role of the government. It plays not only dominant and medium roles in urban expansion but also a decisive role to a certain extent. In contrast, previous studies on urban expansion dynamics have largely ignored the role of government factors. Inevitably, this disregard will not reveal the innate character of the rapid urban expansion in China. Based on the above considerations, this article takes Shanghai as an example, to explore the spatial-temporal evolution of urban expansion. At the same time, systematically sort out the government behaviors at each stage, to reveal the particularity of urban expansion in China. Results found: urban expansion in Shanghai has gone through three stages. Construction of industrial district in suburbs led by the central government; construction of development zones and new towns under the competition between local governments; urban space restoration and infill with the collaboration of governments and markets. • Urban expansion in China present obvious top-down government regulation attribute. • Urban expansion in Shanghai has gone through three stages. • The market and society will play an increasingly important role in the new round of urban expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]