Question

Discuss China’s rapid urbanization since the 1980s. Why has it been so fast? What are some of its key problems or challenges?

Answer 1

By the end of the 1940 China had 69 cities but in 2020 it has more than 800 cities almost ten times as many. Increasing urbanization is the result of migration from villages as well as natural increase leading to the expansion of small towns which have now been turned into cities. Out of these cities 89 cities have a population of over a million dwarfing the numbers in other large countries such as the United States with 37 of this size and India with 32. In a rapidly urbanizing world China is expected to play an important role because of its size and the speed at which it is changing. In 1980 China urban population was 191 million but in 2020 it is more than 1 billion excluding migrants. About more than half of China population now lives in cities. One of China greatest success in its rapid urbanization has been that it has managed to contain the process to the extent that there are crowded living conditions but very few slums. This is an important achievement for a developing country. Problems of rapid urbanization in china are as follows : 1 - Jobs and infrastructure. Between now and 2025 it is likely that another 200 to 250 million people will migrate to China cities adding to an existing mobile population of about 625 million. Providing jobs and infrastructure for this anticipated inflow of people poses major challenges. 2 - Motorization : While the government has identified motor vehicles as an important subsector the country needs to weigh the pros and cons of further motorization which leads to urban sprawl higher energy consumption and pollution. 3 - Land for agriculture : Urban sprawl also needs to be contained because it will be important to have enough available land in China for agriculture given high commodity prices and rising consumption. 4 - Water : China suffers from water scarcity with just over 2100 cubic meters of water available per person one third of the world average. The situation is more precarious in the northern part of the country where climate change may worse conditions. 5 - Climate change :  Climate change will affect heavily populated low lying areas. There are likely to be major infrastructure requirements to protect.