Traffic, Water Conservancy And Prospering And Fading Of A City

Traffic, water conservancy and prospering and fading of a city is a permanent topic, for traffic and water conservancy play very important parts in a city's developing and changing process. Looking back upon the developing history of world cities, ever since the birth of cities, most cities which are political, economic and cultural centers in the region have been located where both traffic and water conservancy are convenient. The development of cities has a causal relationship with that of traffic and water conservancy. They are interactive. For one thing, cities are accumulation places of goods and people, needing convenient traffic to guarantee the provision of materials and exchange of commodities. Especially since the rising of modern industry, traffic has been vital to the development of cities. For another, water is the origin of life. As accumulating places for public dwelling, cities must be equipped with plentiful water preservation and a well-developed water conservancy system so that they can meet the needs public life and the continual development of agriculture. Therefore, whether traffic and water conservancy can develop well or not becomes a key factor deciding the prospering or fading of a city.Kaifeng, one of the famous ancient capitals in Chinese history, used to play a very important role in the long process of feudal society in Chinese history. Kaifeng in North Song dynasty was ever a cosmopolitan city. In the historical development course, convenient traffic and perfect water conservancy have significantly facilitated the prosperity of Kaifeng. However, with the falling of South Song dynasty, Kaifeng was on the way to fading. This fading process was so increasingly frustrating when it came to Qing dynasty that by the end of Qing dynasty, Kaifeng turned into an ordinary town in the middle China area. In essence, the losing of traffic hub position of Kaifeng and the severe destruction of the Yellow River flood were also the inducements to this fading process. Therefore, Kaifeng's prospering and fading were closely related to those of traffic and water conservancy, which is quite typical and representative in the relationship between prospering and fading of a city and its traffic and water conservancy. This article consists of four chapters, respectively discussing from the following aspects: the prospering of traffic and water conservancy and the uprising of Kaifeng, the development of Kaifeng in Qing dynasty, the changing of traffic's conditions and the development of Kaifeng in late Qing dynasty, and the difficulty floods brought to the development of Kaifeng in Qing dynasty. By analyzing changes of traffic condition and the influence of floods on the development of Kaifeng city, demonstrates that traffic was a key factor in the development of Kaifeng city, and with the losing of traffic's pivot position and serious destruction of floods, Kaifeng faded gradually. Basing on this, the evolving track of Kaifeng city in Qing dynasty becomes clear.In conclusion, research on the prospering and fading of Kaifeng in Qing dynasty is full of great significance. On one hand, it can help us to get a further objective understanding on the evolving track of Kaifeng city in Qing dynasty, to be aware of the great importance of traffic, water conservancy and environmental protection in the development of cities. On the other hand, it is also helpful in revealing the developing characters of city itself, enabling us to realize that in the process of developing cities, we need pay attention to not only the construction of traffic and water conservancy facilities, but also protection of environment, promoting harmonious development of human and nature. This is also valuable to the future development of cities in our country.