Evolution Of Urban Morphology Of Wuhan From1840to1949

With high speed economical development of the city, China is under rapid urbanization. The increasing city population directly leads to city space expansion, city size increases and city restructuring. In order to create a better city space, study on city morphology gradually arouses people’s attention. Analyzing characteristic of historical city form by historical geography method has become a kind of important access to better study on city morphology.This article treats modern urban form in Wuhan city as main research object, divides modern Wuhan urban form into formation stage (1840～1911), spreading period (1912～1937), decline phase (1937-1949), based on spatial and temporal ch aracteristics of urban form. Then use the historical literature analysis and map fact or analysis to sum the process of modern Wuhan urban form change and the cha racteristics of it, from the political,economical,social reason in different period of city evolution and the form elements such as city outer outline,concession,market,a nd layout of streets.Through the analysis of the evolution of the modern Wuhan urban form, the following conclusions:(1) Between1840and1949, the spatial form of Wuhan gradually extended. Horizontally on the performance of the geographical spread for the city, the cities had been expanded gradually from along the Yangtze River to the inland areas of Hanjiang River, strengthened links of the three towns; Increase the performance of the urban upper space utilization, construction increased, the larger size of cities in the vertical direction.(2) Modern concession area mainly refers to the concession of1861～1937, has gone through the formation, expansion, planning three stages. During this period within the city space by the chaotic, narrow streets to the latitude and longitude is clear, good road accessibility, land divided into neat, clear and functional layout pattern form; Expanding external spatial extent of the main trends in the convenient transport conditions near the water transport and rail transport expansion, the expansion of the concession showing the trade and traffic to its attractiveness.(3) Wuhan had been feudal inland commercial center gradually transformed into a semi-feudal, semi-colonial and open trade center from1840to1949, Banks, companies, trading firms, chambers of commerce and other commercial buildings gradually increased. The development of the commercial center promoted the construction of ports, terminals, roads and other urban facilities, laid the foundation for the modern Wuhan to be an international metropolis.(4) The evolution of features from1840to1949on Wuhan city streets:From the external shape, the layout of the streets gradually expand outwards; Distribution from the internal point of view, the port layout and railway construction affect the layout of the streets. The main streets of the city gradually join the shipping and rail transport, Construction of streets gradually grading, Street number is increased, Road network of change.