Urbanization Process and the Characteristics and Overall Trend of the Urban and Township Organization Pattern of the Yangtze Delta Area

From an interlocking point of view between upgrade of the industrial and change of the urban and township spatial structures,this paper discusses the urbanization process in the first hand and then the characteristics and overall trend of the urban and township organization pattern of the Yangtze Delta Area in order to provide a scientific base for establishment of urban and township planning of the area consequently.Structurally,it includes three main parts: i) current state and main features of the urbanization process of the Yangtze Delta Area;ii) development mode and conditions of the urban and township organization pattern of the Yangtze Delta Area;and iii) characteristics and overall trend in expansion of the urban and township organization pattern of the Yangtze Delta Area.In this,the main arguments are: I.The Yangtze Delta Area is a nationally leading place with higher level of urbanization rate and faster growth of the economy compared with any other places in China.II.Specifically,a spatial network structure of the urban agglomeration area of the Yangtze Delta contained centers at different levels and mutually connected with axial lines has been witnessed.Associated with this,a regional framework comprised of metropolitan zones of different sizes has been setting up.And,overall,the characteristics of a cycle space structure of the urban agglomeration area of the Yangtze Delta have been evident although it is still at an evolutionary stage.III.Centering at and in accordance with distance of all other cities to Shanghai,to a certain extent,at present in the urban agglomeration area of the Yangtze Delta there have been 4 overlap zones in different ranges in space and,it is estimated there will be 5 zones in this regard in the future.IV.Comparatively,the spatial feature of the axial lines of the urban agglomeration area of the Yangtze Delta has been more notable with big cities alongside three main transportation lines of Shanghai-Nanjing,Shanghai-Hangzhou and Hangzhou-Ningbo that form a pattern of Z style concerning with the overall regional framework of the area.V.Moreover,along with further expansion and linking up of main transportation lines between cities,predictably,the pattern of Z style will change some how and it will then form a network structure with key centers at different hierarchy levels including Shanghai,Nanjing,Hangzhou,Ningbo and Suzhou,etc.and consequently rise a polycentric and multiplex network model in shape.VI.Following this,meanwhile,the commercial,technology,capital,manpower and information networks will also be gradually formed and/or further optimized.And,through interaction and facilitation,they will eventually become a closely integrated unity to promote and strengthen the existing spatial network structure to a high level.