Gathering·Division·Combining: Studies On The Urbanization Of Suzhou In 1927-1937

From 1927 to 1937, the urbanization trend that rises tentatively has appeared in Suzhou. To be exact, population increases to about 390,000 by the end of 1935 compared to that of more than 260,000 in 1927. Population structure tends towards complicating, for example, the household size becomes small, population "heterogeneity" is strengthened, the job splits up quite close, and the occupational structure becomes more and more complicated. The population sex ratio is on the high side. The quality of the population improves to some extent. Women receive more chances of education. The religious beliefs are comparatively various. The urbanization trend of rising tentatively in this period of Suzhou results from the reasons that function mainly under the following factors comprehensively. First of all, economic structure and style of economic increase are changed further to modernization, the handicraft industry splits up , industry develops the machine to some extent, especially financial circles are comparatively developed and beginning to change modernly for the financial circles of the trade and business. The city of Suzhou even has a second-class function of banking centre for Su Nan (Southern Part of Jiangsu) and southeast of China besides Shanghai. Modern tourist industry rises gradually, and tourist economy begins to show an inkling. Secondly, like other parts of China, modern traffic and communications network take shape tentatively in this period in Suzhou, shipping industry continues to develop the steamer to some extent, in the whole country, as well as in Jiangsu Province and in Suzhou, national road, provincial highway, arterial construction of county road are in the ascendant, railway facility updates, mileage increases, train speed quickens, its service improves. At the same time, air transportation rises tentatively, and transportations between various kinds of means begin to take shape. The shape is formed in telephone, telegram, and postal causes and they develop day by day. The network of the long-distance call begins to construct, the international telegram is received and dispatched and implemented day by day too. Finally, the China countryside faces the severe " going bankrupt " situation gradually, the trend that the peasants leave the village and go down town begins to take shape.Under such circumstances the urbanization trend of rising tentatively moves forward, meanwhile, when the modern city function concept and program idea begin to influence in China, Suzhou makes its first complete contemporary urban planning in history. All circles of Suzhou begin to probe into the new localization of the urban function of the city too, imagining that they can develop Suzhou into a domestic, even internationally famous tourist city, and to a certain degreepeople run through this imagination in the urban construction practice. In this period "urban space" of Suzhou expands and upgrades to some extent too, modern urban communal facilities lay a foundation tentatively. In addition, under the promotion of urbanization trend of rising tentatively, in this period, the modern urban life style begins to evolve and produce in Suzhou too. Residents salary income as well as levels of consumption split up. Facilities as clothing, food, shelter and transportation, and public health, etc. progress to some extent, and the social living standard is improved to some extent. Modern education ideas establish tentatively, mass media develop to some extent, recreations and amusement ways begin to diversify, and popularization, American health, natural beauty recommendation, marriage attachment to the family begin their transitions. Freedom of marriage becomes a trend, monogamy establishes tentatively, women's right consciousness rises gradually, the woman status improves to some extent, sex education rises, sexual standards become more and more open, the scientific ideas are popularized, the consciousness and right thoughts of being a citizen rise day by day, modern commercialism and "worship foreign things" atmosphere begins to take shape, and the social spiritual living standard improves to some extentFrom 1927 to 1937, with the appearance of urbanization trend of rising tentatively, the urban questions of Suzhou are open to daylight quickly too. Unemployment, poverty, crime, cigarette malicious, prostitution, suicide, divorce, losing of value pattern, environment and public health deterioration, pestilence spread. The urban questions are caused by many kinds of reasons. As to the urban questions that overflow for a moment, all circles of Suzhou make certain efforts to avoid the their worsening on a large scale. They only succeed in a small amount, but unable to dispel deeper social economic origins that these questions produce. Therefore, its effect is limited.During this period, Suzhou's modern city management model changes further. Administration, legislation, and judicature, the so-called "separation of powers" are the basic principle that the local government adheres to in theory in this period. Dividing duty, department layer taking, collective decision, department implementing are Suzhou's urban management modes that tend to be basically a trend. Absorbing, arousing social forces and participating in city management, paying attention to using the administration means and legal means to manage actively are the basic characteristics of the urban management modes in Suzhou during this period.In a word, from 1927 to 1937, Suzhou has already formed a preliminary urbanization trend. Such peculiar gathering, division, and chain effect combined in urbanization courses have appeared. The urbanization trend of rising tentatively in Suzhou has already obtained certain historical development. However, there are also a lot of deficiencies which give us a great deal of historical enlightenment.