<p>Chinese cities exhibit a housing-education nexus similar to their western counterparts, despite the absence of a property tax system, which raises questions about the institutional mechanisms underlying this alignment. This study explains the housing-education nexus in Chinese cities through the lens of housing-based land revenue. Using Shenzhen as the study case, it combines conceptual and spatial analysis to examine disparities in public and private educational resources across three major housing categories: commodity housing (market-oriented residential properties developed through land-use rights transfers), urban villages (informal settlements on rural collective land), and public housing (government-supported affordable housing for eligible residents). The results reveal disparities in educational resource allocation that broadly correspond to each category’s contribution to land-based revenue. Commodity housing, which generates substantial land revenue for local governments, has access to relatively sufficient enrollment opportunities and high-quality public schools. In contrast, housing in urban villages, which does not contribute land revenue, faces a shortage of enrollment opportunities from public schools, regardless of school quality. Public housing presents a more mixed pattern, reflecting its varied siting and policy functions. These disparities are further shaped by the spatial distribution of private schools, which compensate for insufficient public provision in some areas while also reinforcing uneven access to quality education. By linking educational resource provision to land revenue, this study offers insights into the mechanisms driving educational inequalities in urban China and points to directions for policy reforms.</p>