China's urban areas have grown rapidly from 1995 to 2015, leading to issues like land scarcity and messy development. Using GIS and remote sensing, the study found that urban land in 367 Chinese cities expanded by 2.56% annually. Most new urban land came from farmland, with marginal expansion being the most common pattern. Medium-sized cities grew the fastest, while megacities expanded the slowest. This info can help with urban planning and protecting farmland.