Mega-City Region Development in China (Routledge Studies in Urbanism and the City)

This book sheds light on the mega-city region development in China as a new form of urbanization which plays a crucial role in the economic development of the country. It examines the challenges faced by the mega-city regions and opens up avenues for debates and further research.

Economic reform of 1978 has led to an unprecedented growth in the population and economic development of China. A large portion of this increased urban population and the corresponding economic growth has been concentrated in the mega-city regions, such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Pearl River Delta (PRD). These three mega-city regions have less land but more people and thus higher economy, resulting in various issues and challenges faced by these regions. These challenges pertain to the socio-economic development, transport, environment, governance and development strategy, which this book explores through case studies of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Wuhan. This book also explains and analyses the economy, migration processes, transport development, environmental conditions and governance of the mega-city regions of China.

With an overview of China’s rapid urbanisation and the consequent economic growth, this book provides an essential understanding of related issues in order to establish appropriate strategies and policies to sustain the process of mega-city region development.

Anthony G.O. Yeh is Chair Professor in Urban Planning and Design of the University of Hong Kong. His research interests are in urban development and planning in Hong Kong, China, and South East Asia and the applications of geographic information systems (GIS) as planning support system. He is the co-editor of Governance and Planning of Mega-City Regions: An International Comparative Perspective with Jiang Xu published by Routledge in 2011.

George C.S. Lin is Chair Professor of Geography at the University of Hong Kong. His research interests include China's urban development and urbanization, land use and land management, and the political economy of urban redevelopments. He is the author of Red Capitalism in South China published by UBC Press in 1997, Developing China published by Routledge in 2009, co-author of China's Urban Space published by Routledge in 2007 and many articles.

Fiona F. Yang is Associate Professor in School of Geography and Planning of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. Her research interests are in geography of producer services, urban and regional development in China, and Hong Kong-Guangdong economic integration. She is the co-editor of Producer Services in China: Economic and Urban Development with Anthony G.O. Yeh published by Routledge in 2013.