The Constitution of People's Republic of China (PRC) stipulates that:
Article 10 The land in a city belongs to the state.
Land in rural areas and suburban areas belongs to the collective, except that it is owned by the state according to the law; Homestead, private plots and private hills are also collectively owned.
In order to meet the needs of public interests, the state may expropriate or requisition land in accordance with the law and make compensation.
No organization or individual may occupy, trade or illegally transfer land in other forms. Land use rights can be transferred in accordance with the provisions of the law.
All organizations and individuals that use land must make rational use of land.
The Land Management Law stipulates that:
Article 2 People's Republic of China (PRC) implements socialist public ownership of land, that is, ownership by the whole people and collective ownership by working people.
Ownership by the whole people, that is, land ownership owned by the state is exercised by the State Council on behalf of the state.
No unit or individual may occupy, buy or sell or illegally transfer land in other forms. Land use rights can be transferred according to law.
According to the needs of public interests, the state may expropriate or requisition land according to law and make compensation.
The state practices the system of paid use of state-owned land according to law. However, unless the state allocates the right to use state-owned land within the scope prescribed by law.
Article 8 Urban land belongs to the state.
Land in rural areas and suburban areas belongs to farmers' collectives, except for those that are owned by the state according to the law; Homestead, private plots and private hills are collectively owned by farmers.
Article 9 State-owned land and land collectively owned by peasants may be designated for use by units or individuals according to law. Units and individuals that use land have the obligation to protect, manage and rationally use land.
The Property Law stipulates that:
Article 47 The land in a city belongs to the state. Land in rural and suburban areas owned by the state according to the law belongs to the state.