Theories concerned with peri-urbanization were reviewed, including the basic concept about the peri-urbanization and peri-urbanized areas, the spatial turn of research realm, the different mechanisms of the peri-urbanization in several typical regions, and the characteristics and the evolvement process of peri-urbanization phenomenon occurring in the coastal region of China. Then, the paper takes the urban fringe area of Putian City in Fujian Province as a case, where the phenomenon of peri-urbanization arises even though the economy is not as developed as many other areas in the coastal region of China, especially the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta. Based on the survey on the population, land-use pattern and infrastructures of 309 villages in the urban fringe area of Putian, the paper puts forward the characteristics and the mechanisms of the peri-urbanization taking place in such relatively less developed areas of the coastal region in China.The characteristics of the peri-urbanization in Putian can be concluded in three points: (1) As well as high population density and high non-agriculture rates, the fluidity of population is notable. Unlike the developed area where a great many people are floating from other areas, Putian's population has high rate of both floating in and floating out. (2) The built-up area blends with agricultural area, and the industrial area invades the village. Unlike other peri-urbanized areas where industry buildings are the leading actor, the dwelling house is the main component of the landscape in Putian, which suggests that the peri-urbanization would be mostly recognized on its constructing landscape rather than the functional shifting. (3) The improvement of infrastructure is mainly influenced by the radiation from downtown, hence the modernization of the villagers' living condition is degressive as the distance from downtown increases. The main reasons can explain the forenamed characteristics as follows: (1) Conflict between the population and the land resources is the essential dynamics of the peri-urbanization. (2) Folk capital and moderate-small enterprises, not the foreign investment and large enterprises, act as the main impetus of such less developed peri-urbanization area. (3) Due to the weak central city, the actual city area is smaller than the municipal administrative boundary, and the dual land system of urban and rural exists widely on the fringe of the city. (4) The special culture of strong ancestrial idea and being inclined to parade the wealth advances the symbolization of the dwell house, and the large luxurious house acts as the main body of the landscape.