Blueprint for China's 32 mega cities unveiled

A blueprint for urbanization with an axis of mega cities was unveiled in China. Experts expect 32 mega cities will be completed by 2030, adding that megalopolis construction can be pushed forward from three regions.

First, 11 almost completed megalopolises: the Pearl River Delta Megalopolis, Yangtze River Delta Megalopolis, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Shandong Peninsula, Liaoning Peninsula, middle reaches of Yangtze River, Central Plain, Chengdu-Chongqing, Guanzhong Plain, Western Taiwan Straits and Eastern Taiwan Straits.

Second, 14 mega cities under construction: Wuhan Megalopolis, Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Megalopolis, Jianghuai Megalopolis, Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos Megalopolis, Lanzhou Megalopolis, Wuchang Megalopolis, Central Guizhou Megalopolis, Yinchuan Megalopolis, Lhasa Megalopolis, Taiyuan Megalopolis, Shijiazhuang Megalopolis, Central Yunnan Megalopolis, Poyang Lake Megalopolis and Nanning Megalopolis.

Third, seven potential mega cities: Henan-Anhui Megalopolis, Hebei-Shandong-Henan Megalopolis, Hubei-Henan Megalopolis, Xuzhou Megalopolis, Eastern Zhejiang Megalopolis, Shantou Megalopolis and Qionghai Megalopolis.

Insiders said urbanization of second- and third-tier cities was confirmed at the Central Urbanization Work Conference. There is still a big gap in construction for county cities due to limited capacity for environmental protection. Currently, second- and third-tier cities are major leaders in new urbanization development.

Insiders also said the goal of domestic megalopolis development is to establish a multilevel megalopolis system by 2030 through a clustered city development strategy.