China city cluster (chngshqn)

By Kezala Jere.
With the continuity of Chinas urbanization there is a new trend of city planning
called chngshqn, literally meaning city cluster. By definition a city cluster is
comprised of two or more cities, combined to become the core of neibhourhoods
connected by a well defined transport system [ CITATION Fro14 \l 2052 ].

This write up is aimed at giving a summary of a blog article written by Frontier

Strategy Group (FSG) a leading information and advisory services firm for emerging
market executives (cite) about the Chngshqn . The authors in their article conclude
that China has 19 major city clusters called chngshqn. The 19 cluster include the
following; Yangtze river delta ( ), Pearl river Delta ( ),
Beijing-Tianjin-Hebe( ), Yangtze Mid-river Delta ( ),
Shandong Bayland ( ), Chengdu-Chongqing ( - ), Ha-Da-Chang
(), Liao Central South (),West Cost of Taiwan Straights (),Central(

), Guanzhong (),Hohhot (
),Taiyuan ) ,Beibu Gulf ( ) , Diazhong ( ),Lanxi ( ),
Qianzhong (), Ningxia () and Urumqi ().
These 19 clusters are further divided as follows;
1. There are 3 major clusters called hub cities, to become world-class economic
zones. These are Yangtze river delta ( ), Pearl river Delta (

) and beijin-tianjin-hebe() [ CITATION Fro14 \l 2052 ].

2. Then the next 8 (big shots) city clusters are to be called emerging city clusters of
which each contributed 3-9% of the Chinas Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in
the year 2013. These are Yangtze Mid-river Delta ( ), Shandong
Bayland ( ), Chengdu-Chongqing ( - ), Ha-Da-Chang (

), Liao Central South (),WestCostofTaiwan Straights (),Central()

and Guanzhong () [ CITATION Fro14 \l 2052 ].

3. The last 8 (new stars) City clusters are included in the governments 2020 cluster
master plan. These are ,Hohhot (),Taiyuan ) ,Beibu Gulf () ,
Diazhong ( ),Lanxi ( ), Qianzhong ( ), Ningxia ( ) and Urumqi
() [ CITATION Fro14 \l 2052 ].

Method used to define Cheng shi qun.

The author draws his definitions from the countrys government plans or policies
[ CITATION Fro14 \l 2052 ]. As such the 19 clusters are derived from Chinas 11 th 5
year plan aimed at;
Bringing economic growth
Strengthening transportation and,
Influencing the pattern of migrants in the countrys urbanization process.
The authors further defines the Cheng shi qun by what a calling the cluster go to
market for multinationals struggling in their businesses to grow in a profitable
manner.
There is also a mention of 2020 being the target of implementing the 19 clusters set
from the new national urbanization plan; in this vane businesses are to align
themselves to the future growth of these clusters with well-defined strategies as they
make important decisions to conform to the 2020 plan [ CITATION Fro14 \l 2052 ].
Lastly, the FSG list 20 potential cities that would provide high market of products for
businesses based on a number of indicators to penetrate the market in the 20 listed
cities. For example the FSG mentioned the Chinese governments high speed railway
development plan and hukou reforms as one of those indicators.
All in all these the hub cites would be the start point for the multination the growth
would spread to the big shots and finally they thrive in the new stars.
Implications of Cheng shi qun
Based on the report from the FSG, the following questions arise;
1. What will happen to the agricultural land, seeing that these clusters are to be link
people together?
Based on the governments aim to increase economic growth, strengthen transportation
and influencing the pattern of migration, as per cluster definition (link between two or
more cities) the link between most cities is agricultural land. As such, the land used
for agricultural production will fall prey to the formation of the Cheng shi qun and be
engulfed by it.
2. In terms of environmental sustainable how will these clusters perform as a single
core?
There will be need to carefully consider the environment, for example the Beijing-
Tianjin-Hebei brings so much concern in terms of pollution. Thus, sustainable ways of
heating or finding another alternative to the use of coal will make this city cluster a
better place to live in.
3 what are the benefits of having city clusters?
Despite the negative impact on agriculture and the environment cheng shi qun will
reduce the lose of labour in small towns or villages as these parts of the country with
be brought closer to the big cites thereby bringing more development to them.