1
9
How unfortunate? The rainstorm two
days ago washed away what we have
been working for in the past three
months. If I had known better, I
would have harvested a week earlier.
Grains harvested before their time
won’t sell for a good price! Well, it
seems the heavens love making things
difficult for us farmers. We can never
enjoy good times.
If it is not
rainstorm, it is flooding or …… Even
if we have a good harvest, we don’t
earn enough to buy food and daily
items. There is no other job for us
here than working the fields. Are we
supposed to go on like this the rest of
our life?
2
Pa, Ma, I was going to tell you that
younger brother and I plan to go to the
city after the New Year to try our luck.
We’ll see if we can find work there.
However, we are somewhat worried
about you not having help in the fields.
Big brother, that’s all right. 4th younger
sister and I will help out! In any case,
we won’t have the opportunity to go on
to middle school after finishing
primary. Don’t get me wrong, I like
going to school. The teacher says I do
well in school and can continue with
my studies. If only there is a middle
school in the village …!
To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t want to leave
you behind and go to a strange place all by
myself. But then, life in a farming village is
difficult and we have to brave the sun and
rain out there in the fields. If one is ill, it
takes more than two hours of walking to
receive medical attention at a hospital. Ah
Keung of the neighbouring village says
wages in the city are much higher. Workers
there enjoy holidays and go to the cinema in
their free time … So I plan to go with
eldest brother.
3
It’s a good idea to try your luck
beyond. This way, we won’t be
looked down upon as bumpkins or
good-for-nothings. But then when
can we see each other again …?
There are many bad men in the city.
I am worried! ……
If you were the mother, would you let the brothers go to the city to look for jobs?
Why?
4
The following are pictures sent home by the brothers. They represent the brothers’
impression of city life.
5
Look at the pictures and analyse the pros and cons of city life.
Pros
Cons
6
1.
Urban migration --- rural people moving to towns
2.
Urban migration is the result of the push factor of too many
unfavourable rural living conditions and the pull factor of
attractive urban opportunities.
Level of urbanization –percentage of urban population
Urban population
Level of urbanization=
X 100%
Overall population
3.
4.
Urbanization –the process of increase in the percentage of the
urban population and of decrease in the percentage of the rural
population.
5.
The increase in the rate of urbanized population is mainly due
to migration and secondarily the natural growth of the urban
population (i.e. birth rate minus death rate).
城市人口百分比
Percentage
of urban population
7
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
世界
World
發達國家
Developed
Countries
欠發達國家
Underdeveloped
countries
2000年世界城市化水平
Level of world urban population in 2000
1.
Read Source 1 carefully. What is the difference between the level of
urbanization in developed countries and that in developing countries? Why is
there such a difference?
8
According to the Fifth National Population Census, 455.94 million
people or 36.09% of the population live in townships and 807.39
million people or 63.91% live in rural areas. Compared to the
general census in 1990, the growth rate of the urban population is
9.86%.
Translated from: National Bureau of Statistics of China. <www.stats.gov.cn>
2. Draw a bar chart based on the data of the variation of urban and rural population
given in Source 2 (use of Excel is permitted)
9
3.
Judging from the above data concerning urbanization, how should we categorize
China?
Why
Chinese cities have developed rapidly since the years of reform and opening up. The
number of cities has risen from 192 in 1978 to 668 in 2000. The role of cities in the
national economy is becoming more and more important.
In 2000, cities took up
68.63% of the national GDP. At present, there are 51 big cities in China and among
them, 14 are ultra-large cities. There are 210 medium-sized cities, representing 31%
of the national total.
Medium-sized cities usually refer to provincial cities and
townships with a population of about half to one million.
There is a large number of
such cities. They are widely dispersed and their total economic share is above 30%
of the national GDP.
10
4.
a.
Take reference from the following website about urbanization in China
Identify on the map of China below large cities (A to D) with a population of
over 3 million.
A. Tianjin
b.
B. Chongqing,
C. Chengdu, D. Wuhan
Look for 5 other large cities with a population over 300 million and mark them
out on the map.
11
1.
What is the relationship between urban development and economic
development?
China Population Information and Research Center
中國城市化網站
12
Basic information about cities (part) --- city population (1981-1998) (10,000’s)
Population
1981
1985
1990
1994
1996
1997
1998
Beijing
542.7
586.4
624.2
649.6
662.79
670.04
675.26
Tianjin
500
538.1
572.6
587.3
590.9
591.56
594.9
129.3
138.5
148.4
156.7
176.38
162.84
163.64
Taiyuan
214
188.2
194.7
208
217
221.7
223.3
Huhhot
79
79.2
88.6
92.8
96.4
98.7
101.7
Shenyang
391.8
420.1
453.9
661.1
384
386.28
387.63
Dalian
145.2
162.9
239.6
252.4
257.2
295.7
262.4
Changchun
169.6
186.5
211
223.7
274.17
278.81
282.69
Jilin
104.9
113.8
127.5
136.8
139.35
140.81
140.93
Harbin
246
262.5
282.7
317.3
329.86
334.72
337.69
Shanghai
1163
698.3
783.5
1298.8
961.02
1018.59
1070.62
Nanjing
208.7
225
249.8
261.5
269.37
273.26
276.36
Wuxi
78.1
84.3
92.8
96.1
108.77
109.56
110.21
Suzhou
65.8
70.9
84.4
105
106.43
107.07
107.75
Hangzhou
115.6
124.7
133.9
141.3
144.96
169.29
171.89
Tangshan
13
Basic information about cities (part) --- city population (1981-1998) (10,000’s)
Con’t
Population
1981
1985
1990
1994
1996
1997
1998
Ningbo
45.2
102.1
110.6
112.7
116.2
123.5
119.68
Wenzhou
97.1
53.1
56.2
113
114
115.28
116.48
Xiamen
49.2
54.6
60.3
65.5
68.31
81.17
126.59
Jinan
129
143
232.2
243
250.9
250.9
257.49
Qingdao
115.3
125.1
205.8
215
223.86
227.8
229.58
Luoyang
95.1
104.7
119
127.4
135.87
138.52
141.08
Shenzhen
8.5
23.2
39.5
133.2
160.3
175.1
184.63
Wuhan
315.7
339.6
475.1
392.5
415.55
408.86
412.12
Guangzhou
301.7
328.9
356.1
377.4
387.75
395.65
396.04
Zhuhai
13
15.5
22.5
33.1
36.8
38.2
40.74
Shantou
70.9
76.1
85.6
101.5
106
109.22
111.32
106
114.9
123.6
126.8
128.36
130.08
Zhongshan
Zhanjiang
84.9
92
106
118.1
124.63
128.38
130.73
Chongqing
259.7
277.9
298.4
309.7
551.36
557.48
836.52
Chengdu
242.7
258.3
280.8
301.5
317.13
321.92
325.98
Kunming
126.2
148.8
153.5
163.3
166.94
169.78
173.06
209
232.8
275.7
292
304.5
309.3
333.5
Lanzhou
138.1
135.3
150.7
161.2
168.96
172.44
174.98
Urumqi
91.8
100.2
115.7
124
132
151.94
154.8
Xian
Source of information: