Basic Frame of the Urban Geography of Northeast China

This paper discusses basic frame of urban geography in Northeast China on background of rebuilding northeast old industrial base, new-type industrialization and new-type urbanization. It is an overall summarization of unban geographical system of northern China for purpose of proving and practising urban geographical theory further. It is also a basic prerequisite for analysis of northeast economic development under new situation of implementing concrete strategy of giving a new life to region and the regional innovation to meet actual need of region. Proceeding from formation and development process of urban geographical structure of Northeast China, this paper deals with such basic problems as urban system frame, key cities, metropolitan district, urban compact district and urban agglomerations of Northeast China. It points out that formation and development process of urban geographical frame in Northeast China witnesses periods, namely, forming period of ancient cities and towns, forming period of modern cities, and shaping and developing period of modern urban system. In terms of urban system frame, relavant aspects are identified as: a top to bottom urbanization process that is fast first and slowing down afterwards, structure of scale and grade of weak pyramid type, T-shaped space structure distributed along railway lines, and urban function structure developing from single to new-type. The four cities era taking and as key cities in Northeast China has come. The provincial GDPs are highly concentrated on cities, taking shape and developing into metropolitan districts of Big Harbin, Big Changchun, Economic Zone of Shenyang and Big Dalian relying on these cities. In process of rebuilding northeast old industrial base, cities will choose different leading directions that rely on original foundation and new opportunities for development. Harbin will continue to strengthen its position as key city in northern part of Northeast China. Changchun should fully take its basic advantage of automobile industry that has broad market and form an automobile industrial base. will serve as centre of Northeast China. will become an important passageway of Northeast China depending on its advantage while developing outward-oriented industries. As a result of certain degree of urbanization, urban compact district and urban agglomerations of Northeast China have developed into a relatively complete and intensive frame, and has formed a basic pattern of three groups preliminarily, namely, urban agglomeration of Central-southern Liaoning, Central Jilin and Harbin-Daqing-Qiqihar.