(Proceedings of International Symposium on Developmental Strategies of Riverside Cities,  Oct.16-20, 1991, Wuhan,  China)

Shichao LI

Research Center of Environment and Territory, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Planning Committee of Hubei Province

54 Xudong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430077, P. R. of China

ABSTRACT

Along the river and coast, the physical environment is favorable for human settlement and city development. The growth or decline of riverport and seaport cities is directly related to ports, and the port function is one major function of these two kinds of cities. By exploring the development principles of these port cities along the Yangtse River and the coast in China, we can see through the nature of port cities. Therefore, the results of this paper will be helpful to the development of port cities in China or other countries.

Because of the natural conditions of water transport, water sources and flowing across through inland, the industry/urban belts may be produced along the rivers. On the other hand, because seaport cities have foreign trade function, megalopolis or metropolitan zone may raise along the coast. Jean Gottmann, a France known geographer, has pointed out that nowadays megalopolis in the world are all distributed over the coast or international rivers and railways, and the riverport and seaport cities become the centers of megalopolis, especially the port cities at river mouth. As he said, megalopolis will be an important index of modern civilization and advanced developed countries or areas. So the important status of riverport and seaport cities can be seen.

In China, the Yangtse River and coast make up the "T" pattern for national social and economic development strategies. The Yangtse River is the main axis for economic development and Chinese inland towards oversea. Along the coast, on the other hand, there are many good ports and centers open to the world. According to Jean Gottmann's megalopolis theory, there are three megalopolis or metropolitan zone in China that will become into being:

That is, Chinese megalopolis in the future may be all distributed over the Yangtse River and coast, and they will indicate the economic flourishing and high urbanization.

According to statistical data from "Chinese City Statistic Year Book 1989", there are 28 super large cities in China, 4 of them (Chongqing, Wuhan, NanJing and Shanghai) lying along the Yangtse River, 5 of them (Guangzhou, TianJing, Dalian, Qingdao and Shanghai) lying along the coast. Shanghai is a special city which is an either riverport city or seaport city. So these 8 cities account for 30% in all super cities. This paper selects 2l riverport cities along the Yangtse River and 22 seaport cities on the coast to study the principle of port city development (see Fig. l). By analyzing statistical data (idem), we can realize the important status of riverport and seaport cities in China (see Tab. l). From the view of patterns of economic and urban development, the Yangtse River and coast are the ideal sites to build up megalopolis and industrial belts.　

Tab.1 Status of Comprehensive Economic Index of Seaport and Riverport Cities in China

II. Distribution of Port Cities

The emergence and development of river port cities are due to valley economic exploitation; on the other hand, the rising of seaport cities relies on sea transport open and. foreign trades development. However development of all these port cities are related to national political steady and economic flourishing. Of course, the superior position ant foreign trade functions are also vital to port cities.

Passing through four stages of emerging, flourishing, abnormally developing, and generally developing, the distribution patterns of port cities become more reasonable gradually. However, because of the differences in natural geographical conditions and historical developing process, the characteristics of distribution between seaport and riverport city are distinct.

Among 2l riverport cities, there are 4 large centers from the upper to lower reaches of Yangtse River, i.e. Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing and Shanghai. They construct the balance model, but the density of cities becomes higher and higher from the upper to lower reaches. There are 9 cities along the lower reaches, 7 cities along the middle reaches, and 5 cities along the upper reaches, accounting for 42.9%, 33.3% and 23.8% of total, respectively. That is, there is one city per 92 kilometers along the lower reaches, and l72 kilometers along the upper reaches. The number of cities along the lower reaches is twice as many as that of cities along the upper reaches.

Moreover, because of differences of land forms, bank lines and mineral resources, the number of cities on the right side is obviously more than that of cities on the left side along the middle and lower reaches. However, along the upper reaches, cities on the left side have great advantage over the right side. Among l6 port cities along the middle and lower reaches, l0 cities are distributed over the right side, and only 5 cities over the left side, accounting for 62.6% and 3l.3% of total, respectively. Wuhan is a special city striding across the Yangtse River. Therefore, the number of cities over the right side is twice of that of cities over the left side along the middle and lower reaches. On the contrary, there are 5 port cities along the upper reaches cities which mainly lie on the left side, except Fuling on the right side.

From the view of China, the economic centers mainly lie on the Yangtse River valley, Pearl River Delta, Liao River valley, and Jing-Jin-Tang areas. Among 22 seaport cities along the coast line, there are 3 large centers: Tianjin, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Shanghai is just on the middle of coast, and Tianjin and Guangzhou are on the northern and southern of coast, respectively. They construct a reasonable distribution pattern of comprehensive economic centers.

However, the density of seaport cities is obviously different, and that circling around the Yangtse River and Pearl River Delta is the highest. There are l5 seaport cities on the southern side of Yangtse River Delta, accounting for 68.2% in all. Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Xiamen and Shantou are balanced distributed between Delta of Yangtse River and Pearl River. On the contrary, there are only 7 seaport cities on the northern side of Yangtse River Delta, accounting for 3l.8% in all. Dalian, Yingkou, Qinghuangdao, Tianjin and Yantai mainly circle the Bohai Bay.

Ports, which are linking water transports with land transports, not only are the bases to develop port cities, but also rely on the functions of port cities. Therefore, the development of ports, and furthermore the distribution of ports is quite agreeable with that of port cities.

Along the lower reaches of Yangtse River (from Anqing to Shanghai), which is 692km in length, there are l2 major ports, i.e. one port per 70km. Along the middle reaches (from Yichang to Anqing), which is ll50km in length, there are 8 major ports, i.e. one port per l45Km. Along the upper reaches (from Yibin to Yichang), which is l032km in length, there are 5 major ports, i.e. one port per 206km. Therefore, the density of port along the lower reaches is twice as that of the middle reaches and three times of the upper reaches.

Moreover, because of the favorable factors of building port and comprehensive communication network, the good or central ports are only lying on the middle and lower reaches, such as Wuhan, Jiujiang, Wuhu, Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Zhangjiagang, Nantong and Shanghai port. Their handling capacities are mostly over ten million tons, except Anqing, Tongling and Maanshan port. That indicated handling capacities of ports are closely related to the scale of port economic hinterland.

Besides these, ports mainly lie on the right side along the middle and lower reaches, but on the left side along the upper reaches. That is, among twenty ports along the middle and lower reaches, l4 of them are on the right side, accounting for 70% in all; but along the upper reaches, only Fuling port is on the right side.

The development and distribution of seaports are also identical with that of seaport cities. In China, there are l46 deepwater berths of ten-thousand tons or over which are mainly lying on the Bohai Bay, the Yangtse River and Pearl River Delta area, accounting for 77.7% in all (the total number is l88). On the north coast of Yangtse River mouth, the number of deepwater berths are up to 88, but only 43 on the southern coast. Therefore, the high-handing capacity seaports should mainly lie on the northern side. The fact shows that although the seaports and cities along south coast line develop earlier than that of northern coast, the present situation of seaports has reflected that the focal point of developing seaport lie on north which depends on the needs of shapes and technology of contemporary sea-shipping.

External transportation of port cities directly decides the range of port economic hinterlands, and the scale of ports and cities. The different functional and scale port cities have different characteristics of external transportation which are contained by landforms and geographical positions:

(l) External transportation of riverport city mainly develop along the river, i.e. mostly paralleling the river unless the motive power of development of comprehensive city is coming from hinterlands other than from bank lines. In the later case external transportation of riverport city may have radiate factors, such as, Wuhan, Chongqing, Nanjing and etc..

(2) External transportation of cities on the river-mouth mostly parallel the river and have radiate factor, such as, Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangzhou.

(3) Because of facing the sea, seaport cities are mostly at the terminus or fringes of railways. So their external transportation are usually in the form of terminal railways or paralleling highways along the coast.

(4) External transportation of coastal city especially large coastal cities have radiate factors to develop.

As been proved, it is important: for ports to have railways, express roads and other communications. But among the port cities listed in the paper, Nantong, Wenzhou, Zhuhai, Anqing, Shashi, Beihai and etc., have no railways as external transportation. Thus, the development of these port cities are much limited.

Both riverport cities and seaport cities have port function. Along the Yangtse River, most riverport cities are middle and little scales and have relatively simple functions except for central cities. On the contrary, because of foreign trade functions, the scale of seaport cities are almost large or middle (see Tab.2).

Tab.2. Lrge, Middle and Small Cities along the Yangtse River, Coast and Countrywide (population unit :10,000 person)

As Tab.2 been shown:

(l) The number and population of super large cities among riverport and seaport cities account for l9.05%, 74.80% and 22.72%, 74.78% in all, respectively, much more than the proportions of the same kind of cities in China (6.45%, 40.79%);

(2) The number of middle cities among riverport and seaport cities have great superiority, accounting for 7l.43% and 45.45%, respectively, more than that of the same kind of cities in China (25.35%);

(3) On the contrary, both of the number and population of small cities are much lower than those of the same kind of cities in China;

(4) Ranks of seaport cities are complete, but those of riverport cities lack large cities.

Based on statistics data of Chinese cities in l988, the major functional index of riverport and seaport cities can be divided into four ranks (see Tab.3 and Tab.4).

Tab.3 Ranks of Major Functional Targets of Riverport Cities

Tab.4 Ranks of Major Functional Targets of Saeaport Cities

Comparing the functional structure of riverport cities with that of seaport cities and combining with distribution and industrial structure of port cities, we will obtain the following suggestions:

(l) Sub-centers of riverport and seaport cities develop slowly. Along the Yangtse River, there is no sub-center, the third rank cities are mainly distributed over the middle and lower reaches, and no third rank cities over the upper reaches. Among seaport cities, the third rank cities, such as Dalian and Qingdao, are all distributed over the north of the Yangtse River mouth, and in the south of Yangtse River mouth almost all cities are the fourth rank cities;

(2) Special industrial functions are common among riverport cities, also the foreign trade functions among seaport cities. Along the Yangtse River, the fourth rank cities generally have special and simple functions, and mostly develop industries costing water and energy greatly, such as metallurgical industry, oil refined industry, chemical industry and power industry etc. Along the coast, besides comprehensive cities, most southern port cities also have outstanding foreign trade functions. The totality of seaport foreign trades of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Shantou; Zhuhai, Zhanjiang and Fuzhou account for 5l.63% in all of seaport cities listed;

(3) Compared with Yangtse River port cities, seaport cities have more developed tertiary industry; also comprehensive functions and the rank of scales are higher.

As been suggested, the zones along the river and coast are not only ideal to develop industry/urban belts, but also the important investment points with the preferential policy in China. Thus it is necessary and important to develop systems of riverport and seaport cities. In view of the shortages of development of riverport and seaport cities, we should strengthen the comprehensive functions of central port cities, raise the scales of port cities, link cities with each other, and give full roles to systems of port cities. These will produce a vital effect on the social-economy of China in the future.

On the basis of studying characteristics and locations of riverport cities, the third rank cities Wuhu, Jiujiang and Yichang will become large cities and sub-centers in the last of 20th century or the beginning of 2lst century. With the Wuhu and Jiujiang Bridge striding across Yangtse River being built, the status of communications and comprehens-ive functions of Wuhu and Jiujiang will be improved and enhanced. With the Gezhou Dam having been completed and the Three Gorges Dam Project starting, Yichang will become the electric power base of industry along the middle and lower reaches. In the south of Yangtse River Delta, there are no higher rank central cities except for Guangzhou, so the sub-centers along the southern coast should also be enhanced. For example, Fuzhou is an economic center with relative higher level, but at present its corresponding regional economic rank is lower. So the comprehensive function of Fuzhou should be strengthen so that it may develop into super large cities. For example again, Shantou is convenient to communicate with Chinese coast and Southeast Asia, and its hinterland is very vast also. So its function could further develop comprehensively and its rank could be raised. In a word, the distribution pattern of the third rank seaport cities will be gradual reasonable.

According to the development regulation of developed countries or areas, industrial belts along the Yangtse River must be based on the railways and communications paralleling the River. Therefore, paralleling railways and express roads should be built on both side of the river in the layout of industrial development along the middle and lower reaches of the river so as to constitute a comprehensive communication network in the form of north and south radiation. So the port cities could be connected directly and form the megalopolis. Of course, it is important to build system of ports also. Along the upper reaches of the river, it is necessary to raise the rank of roads so that the cities on the north side of the river could communicate directly.

Because of complicated landforms, the development of railways along the Chinese coast are hindered and port cities cannot connect as a whole by railways as well as the megalopolis along northeastern coast in the United States. Therefore, building of crosswise express roads separately along the coast become more important. The density of seaports are rather lower on the southern coast so it is key to develop southern seaports.

On the basis of studying structure of functions and distributions of port cities, riverport cities can be divided into four functional groups:

(l) Yibin-Wanxian segment: With Chongqing as center, the chemical industry, manufacturing industry of light industrial product, and Chongqing comprehensive industrial base should be developed rapidly so as to promote the economic exploitation along the upper valley;

(2) Yichang--Nanjing segment: With Wuhan as center, Yichang, Jiujiang and Wuhu as sub-centers, the heavy industry with concentrated technology and funds is the main direction of development, such as oil-chemistry industry, metallurgical industry, electrical power industry and machine manufacturing so as to become the important national heavy industrial belts;

(3) Nanjing-Shanghai segment: With Nanjing as center, Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou as sub-centers, the development of advanced technology, fine machining industry and light industry with concentrated technology and funds are the main direction;

(4) the Yangtse River mouth: With Shanghai as center, Ningbo and Nantong as sub-centers and the two main ports: Shanghai port and Beilun (Ningbo) port, this area is the hub for international trade and communication of China.

Seaport cities can also be divided into five functional groups:

(l) Yangtse river mouth (idem);

(2) Bohai bay metropolitan zone: With Tianjin as center, not only the foreign trade should be strengthen due to the deep-water harbor, but also the comprehensive industrial bases, such as oil industry, iron and steel industry, ship manufacturing, and chemical industry etc.;

(3) Metropolitan zone along south-eastern coast: With Fuzhou as center, not only the comprehensive functions of Fuzhou should be strengthen, but also the overall layout of industrial zones;

(4) Pearl River mouth: With Guangzhou as center, this region will become a new megalopolis in China which include HongKong, Macao, Shenzhen and Zhuhai, and it is also the important bases of foreign trade and light industry in China;

(5) Metropolitan zone along south coast: In this area, oil-chemical industry, ocean-chemical industry, phosphorus industry, nonferrous metal and rare metal industry will be developed and exploited rapidly due to the railways building in the hinterland of ports.

Between the functional groups along the Yangtse River and coast, both distinction and relations are existed. However, the Yangtse River Delta is hinge between the system of seaport cities and riverport cities, which forms the "┤" shape of development and layout of cities and industries in China, and is key to urbanization and advanced economy in the next century.

    l. Gu X.H., Gu C.L. and Cai J.H., "Yangtse River Calling On", People's Publishing House of Jiangsu Province, P.R.China, First published in l988.

    2. Hu X.W., and Yang G.X., "Chinese Seaport Cities", Sciences Press, First published in l990.

    3. Wu J., "The Morphology of Chinese Cities: Structure, Characteristic and Growth", Science and Technology Publishing House of Jiangsu Province, P.R. China, First published in l990.

    4. National Statistic Bureau, "Chinese City Statistic Year Book, 1989", Chinese City Society and Economy Publishing House, First published in l989.