Plans and projects for the Central Plains of China: New forms of extended urbanisation in Zhengzhou metropolitan region

Abstract

Since the early 2000s, China has seen unprecedented urban growth which has spread to every corner of the country. This process has been anything but linear. Driven by the urban entrepreneurialism of the major municipalities until the mid-2000s, the reins have since passed to the central and regional administrations which plan development in a more comprehensive and coordinated fashion. This paper discusses how this turning point in urban policies has redirected planning activities: from the centripetal development of the major cities through new towns to centrifugal urbanisation fostering regional integration via wide-area projects and small-scale interventions. This is evident in the inland regions, which have become the testing grounds for new policies, governmental practices, and forms of spatial development. Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, is a case in point: once the epitome of urban entrepreneurialism policies in action, this metropolitan region is now the target of national plans and local initiatives to drive the Central Plains agglomeration. In addition to changes in its governance, this shift has also transformed planning activities, and so too the spatial features of this emerging urbanity. By investigating the changes in policies and plans, this contribution sheds light on the salient features of this metropolitan development, revealing the features of the emerging extended urbanisation in China, as well as continuities and ruptures with previous urban trends.

City-regional governance under state entrepreneurialism in China

“…For example, the new maps are designed to blur the administration boundary. They find continuities and discontinuities of regional planning in China (see also, Ramondetti, 2023, in this issue).…”

“…Despite this different emphasis, they all demonstrate that city-regional governance involves more strategic motivations of the multi-scalar state (Li and Jonas, 2023; Wang et al, 2023). These region-building activities all represent an effort to enhance coordination (Geng et al, 2023; Ramondetti, 2023). Although the state strategy is visible, this does not mean everything is well planned or achieved according to plan.…”

“…It does not equalise the spatial distribution of public services or economic productivity. The central city in the mega-city region often occupies a key position to enjoy more support from the state (Li and Jonas, 2023; Ramondetti, 2023).…”

“…The shift in urban policies at the central state level has reshaped urban planning activities and urbanisation processes at lower levels, which are increasingly integrating different territorial units into a city-region. Ramondetti (2023, in this issue) explores the changing planning activities and emerging extended urbanisation phenomenon in Zhengzhou metropolitan region. The plan of Zhengdong (later Zhengbian) New Area shows the alignment with the overall changes in urban policies in China.…”

The evolving role of geospatial intelligence in enhancing urban security: A review of applications and outcomes

“…Early applications of GEOINT in urban planning and defense have been crucial in shaping urban development. Urban planning has evolved from traditional methods to incorporating advanced technologies such as geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) (Ramondetti, 2023). This integration has allowed for a more comprehensive understanding of urban growth dynamics, enabling the observation of urban growth patterns and their impact on urban security (Oliveira et al, 2020).…”