Editorials

Urban sprawl

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-28 07:58

Cities across the nation are thinking big - literally, so it seems. Big cities are vying to be metropolises, while medium-sized ones are working hard at becoming bigger.

Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province in northwest China, is one such recent instance. The city has hammered out a long-term initiative to turn itself into an international metropolis within the decade. And, one of the benchmarks of urbanization - half of its residents must be able to speak at least 900 sentences in English by 2015.

City officials believe citizens' behavior will determine its soft power and competitive edge vis--vis other metros in China.

They anticipate, rightly, a large influx of tourists, especially foreigners, into the city famous for its Terracotta Warriors of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) period and other amazing sites of historical provenance.

This expansion of cities is not without its share of consequences.

Traditional architecture is giving way to high-rises and wider streets, resulting in increased traffic hurdles and pollution. Plus, the small town loses its sense of community.

Three decades of reform and liberal policies have sped economic progress and urban development, yet a fail-proof strategy to accommodate large numbers of migrants into today's urban centers is lacking.

Chinese cities have ended up looking just like other major world metros, such as London, New York or Tokyo.

The government must draft plans to guide the future composition of cities and its development in the desired direction.

(China Daily 06/28/2010 page9)