Study On Urban Geography Of LanZhou-BaiYin Area In Ming And Qing Dynasties

Lying in the center of Gansu Province, the area of Lanzhou and Baiyin's short name is"Lanbai"Area, through which goes the Yellow River. Lanbai Area's specific geographic position contributes to several ferries, which come in to being as cities gradually with the military, economic, and traffic development.The city system of Lanbai Area in Ming and Qing Dynasties mentioned in this paper refers to the county center during that historic period, and it includes not only Lanzhou, Yuzhong, Yongdeng, Jinyuan, Huining those big cities, but also the corresponding countrysides, villages, counties, and stagecoaches.This paper consists of six chapters in total. The first chapter mainly introduces the geographic bases and characteristics, and holds the viewpoint that the specific geographic position determines Lanbai Area's consanguineous relation with Silk Road, and causes the Yellow River to be its shaft, and Silk Road to be line.The second chapter discusses cities'function in the order of dynasty. Furthermore, this chapter analyses the reasons that lead to changes of cities'function, and arrives at the conclusion that those changes of this area in Ming and Qing Dynasties exert great and long influence on cities.The third chapter focuses on the county in cities'system in Ming and Qing Dynasties, and respectively interprets countrysides, villages, counties, and stagecoaches, and researches on their spacious distribution.Through the research on the scale of this area's population and its cities, the fourth chapter describes a clear picture of cities'development scale in Ming and Qing Dynasties, and thinks that there are corresponding relations between the scope of population, and cities in this area.For the fifth chapter which mainly discusses Ming and Qing Dynasties'urban format in this area, whose change and development have a major feature named as historical inheritance. Cities of this area in Ming and Qing Dynasties are built and repaired mostly in Ming dynasty, and conversed and extended in Qing Dynasty. With the influence of geographical environment, the development of urban format in this area has local feature.In the sixth chapter, the water used in this area in Ming and Qing Dynasties are studied. The whole chapter says that the cities'development in this area is closely related to the distribution of local water resources, which directly determines, even limits the extent cities'the further development. Since the rational allocation of water resources can meet the needs of cities'development in time and space, it is worthwhile consideration.In a word, through this research, it can not only make clear the cities'basic conditions in history and geography of the area in Ming and Qing Dynasties, explore various factors affecting cities'development, and try to find out the discipline of their development, but also it can set good example for the regional economic integration, and scientific development and planning in Lanbai Area.