Work

Arguing with megaregions: Learning from China’s chéngshì qún

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: The rise of megaregions is championed by those arguing that the 21st century will be dominated by vast expanses of transmetropolitan urban landscapes. Many argue that we are living in a ‘world’ and an ‘age’ of megaregions, where megaregions are both competitive territories par excellence and an important scale for urban planning. Nowhere does the spotlight shine more brightly than on China’s megaregions ( chéngshì qún). In this paper we examine the new planning vision for megaregions in China’s 14th Five Year Plan (2021–25). We trace continuities and discontinuities from the 11th, 12th and 13th FYPs to emphasise the importance of adopting a strong spatial and temporal approach to researching megaregions. This analysis is then used to outline an agenda for researching urban China and megaregionalism through the lens of chéngshì qún. This research agenda takes the form of eight statements which are presented as modern theses for megaregionalism. These are then countered by eight antitheses, alternative views which provide an agenda for future research into chéngshì qún, the changing dynamics of urban China and megaregionalism more generally. Tying everything together is a claim for more synthesis.

Source: Transactions in Planning and Urban Research

DOI: 10.1177/27541223231157239

Authors: John Harrison, Hao Gu

Institutions: Loughborough University, Hunan University

Language: English

Topic: Urban Planning and Governance

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000