Path of Sustainable Urbanization in Western China

The path for sustainable urbanization in western China was explored on the basis of the investigation of the urbanization process in western China in this study. The demands of urbanization in western China was analyzed on the basis of the current and historical trends of urbanization,and the environmental pressure during the urbanization was also studied. Finally,some policy suggestions were put forward,which could provide scientific basis for the sustainable urbanization in western China. The current urbanization level in western China is still very low on the whole,and it shows great regional imbalance among provinces. The socioeconomic development level plays a great role in promoting the urbanization,and it will continue to be the main driving force of the regional urbanization in western China; meanwhile the development of industrialization will also play an important role in promoting the urbanization since western China is still at the stage during which the urbanization is positively related with the industrialization.However,the fragile ecological environment in western China suffers from the threat of further losses and damages during the process of accelerated urbanization and industrialization,which will lead to the ecological environment deterioration,and in turn seriously restrain the urbanization and have negative impacts on the sustainable development of the local economy to some degree. So we suggest a dual development strategy should be implemented in the process of urbanization in western China so to strengthen the leading roles of dominating cities and promote the development of medium and small sized cities with special advantages. Besides,it is necessary to further improve the urban infrastructure in western China and focus on the construction of the transportation and communication facilities. In addition,a Green Development strategy should be implemented so as to promote the development of green industries and green cities. What's more,it is necessary to promote the development of urban agglomeration on the basis of the National Major Function Oriented Zoning and the strategic‘Three-horizontal Two-longitudinal'urbanization planning.