Research On The Determination Of Metropolitan Area In China And Forming Mechanism Of Metropolitan Area In Pearl River Delta Region

Metropolitan Area is a new evolution form of urban spatial organization in modern time. It appears after the process of urbanization stepping into a high level stage. Since opening up and reform in 1978, Metropolitan Area appeared and developed so fast in China, which was driven by unbanization and suburbanization. It has become the major spatial form for promoting Chinese urbanization process. This paper focuses on the tendency that the Metropolitan Areas develop so fast in China, and conducts a reseach on the determination and forming mechanism of Metropolitan Area in China. In this paper the author puts forward a new determination method for Metropolitan Area in China, which is using the data of fifth national census in 2000. On the basis of determination, the author gives a preliminary analysis on the the development of the Metropolitan Areas in China and their spatial features. In the end, the author makes the Pearl River Delta Region as a case study to analyze the forming mechanism of the Metropolitan Area in China. This paper consists of six chapters.Chapter one is the introduction. It mainly expatiates on the background and significance of the study, the present condition of domestic and international relevant research and the framework of the paper.Chapter two is the theoretical foundation of the research. The analysis of this paper is built up on two major theories of urban geography, they are urban spatial organization and Metropolitan Area theory.Chapter three is the preparation for the analysis on the development of Metropolitan Area in China. In this chapter, first the author gives a brief review on the history of urbanization in China since 1949, then analyzes the characters,driving forces of the urbanization and urban organization changes in two stages before and after 1978.Chapter four is the core part for the paper. First, the author gives a brief review on the determination methods of Metropolitan Area used in and abroad, then points out the shortcomings of the common method which was established by Zhou Yixing in 1990s. So the author puts forword a new determination method for Metropolitan Area in China by using the fifth national census data. By the new method, the author makes out the distribution of Metropolitan Area in China in 2000, then makes a preliminary analysis on the development and spatial features of the Metropolitan Area.Chapter five is the case study. The author chooses the Pearl River Delta Region as the case to analyze the forming mechanism of Metropolitan Area.Chapter six is the conclusion. This chapter summarizes the main conclusion and puts forward some questions that need further study.