Tentative ideas on rationalization of population distribution in China.

Planned population growth must be accompanied by planned population distribution in China. China's population immediately after independence showed uneven geographic distribution and a predominantly rural location. Population density was much greater in eastern than in western provinces and greater on the plains and along commucication lines than in the mountains. Hans are the largest nationality group. China's population still lives mainly in rural areas; a few principal cities have grown abnormally. Both urban and rural population has increased rapidly; urbanization has proceeded at a slower pace. The number of smaller cities has decreased, while medium-sized and larger cities have increased in numbers and scale. Population size in the largest cities grew by 174% from 1953-1978, while all urban population grew by 120%. China's uneven population distribution reflects its uneven distribution of natural resources. The eastern provinces have a more favorable climate and more resources than the western provinces. The location and distribution of industry, transportation, and agricultural development help to determine population distribution, and China's development policies have been guiding population toward the hinterland. Rational features of China's population distribution include a more even geographic distribution and more cities; irrational features are an excessively large population size, low levels of urbanization, and the abnormal growth of large cities. To achieve modernization, China's population distribution must be rationalized by 1) adopting family planning to slow population growth, 2) promoting the development of industries run by communes, and 3) controlling the location of industry and urban growth in the largest cities.