If we were to take an aerial view of the Yangtze River’s Three Gorges, it would be like a jade belt floating from one peak of mountain to another, while Yichang is just like a shining pearl inlaid into the jade belt.
At the 10th Party Congress of Hubei Province it was instructed that Yichang be transformed into a modern megacity as a provincial sub-central / regional central city in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River with its abundance of hydroelectric power and tourism resources.
Since construction was completed on the Gezhouba Water Control Project and Three Gorges Water Control Project, the Yichang municipal government has seized the third opportunity of“golden ten years”to quicken its pace of building Yichang into a modern mega-city with“a large size and the charm of high-level development with agreeability and habitability.”By the end of the“12th Five-year Plan”, we will strive to achieve the goal of being a“big city”with a permanent population of 2 millionin the urban framework of200 square kilometers.
“When my tripto the Xiling Gorge draws to its end,in the eastthe sun isarising;to my surprise, in front of the flat-topped mountains along the broad Yangtze River, my eyes are greeted by a big city emerging.”As early as half a century ago, the great Chinese poet Guo Moruo had anticipatedthat there would emerge a big city here.For the past few years, it has proven that the Yichang peoples dream of a modern mega city is gradually becoming true.
The decision to build Yichang into a megacity conforms to the trend of development of history.
Yichang— National Civilized City
Located in the so-called“Gate toThree Gorges as well as Sichuan”, Yichang has accelerated its pace of building into a modern mega city, which conforms to both the historical trend of urbanization and the objective course of economic and social development.
Additionally there are only two mega cities including Chongqing and Wuhan in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River which stretches over 1000km in China; generally, the radius of influence of the mega city can reach two to three hundred kilometers.So, Yichang, due to its geographic advantage of location, should serve the connecting link between Chongqing and Wuhan.It is no exaggeration to say that the prosperity of Yichang may drivethedevelopment of the entire Yangtze valley.
Themap of Hubei Province shows that in the triangular distribution of the three cities of Wuhan, Yichang and Xiangyang, Yichang takes the prominent position in Western Hubei Provice, enjoying a geographic advantage, which makes it possible to promote the regional economic and social development into a megacity.
In 2011, the Provincial PartyCommitteeand Government held a meeting in Yichang on the construction of the pattern of“Wuhan as the center and Yichang and Xiangyang as two sub-central cities”.In other words, the gross regional product in Wuhan, in Yichang and Xiangyang, and in the other cities each accounts for one third of the size of economy in Hubei.Last year, at the 10th Party Congress of Hubei Province it was instructed that Yichang be transformed into a modern megacity as a provincial sub-central/ regional central city in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River due to its abundance of hydroelectric power and tourism resources.
The drastic change in Yichang from a smallcity by the Yangtze River to a modern mega-city has proven that it goes with the historical trend.In 1949, Yichang only had an urban population of 70, 000; when the Gezhouba Water Control Project was under construction, the urban population increased to 170,000; when this project was completed, the urban population reached 350,000. Since the construction of the Three Gorges Water Control Project started, the urban population exceeds 1.28 million and shows no sign at present of ceasing to rise. Driven by these projects, Yichang has brought about a historic leap-forward in its development, during which Yichang experienced changes twice in quick succession; first from a small city to a medium-sized city, then from a medium-sized city to a megacity.
Thegross regional product of Yichang maintained a double-digit growth for the ninth consecutive year in 2012, well abovetheaverage among prefecture-level cities in Hubei or in China for ten years in a row.Last year, its gross regional product summed a total of 40 billion US dollars, which ranked Yichang as a prefecture-level city compared to cities of the same level,63rdin China, 2ndin central China and4thalong the Yangtze River.
In 2012, the percentage of urbanization in Yichang reached53.59%, and according tolaw, percentages between50to 70 percent indicate high-speed development of a city.
With the wisestrategicdecisions made by the Provincial Government, with the drive from urbanization, it is the best time for Yichang to enjoy rapiddevelopment.
Yichang as the central city among the urban circle of Yichang, Jingzhou and Jingmen can take on a larger role in wielding its influence.Last year, Yichang witnessed an influx of population of 100 thousand.It is estimated that by 2016 the size of Yichang’s economy will double the present basis.Because of this, Yichang will witness a rapid increase in population.
Nevertheless, at present there still exists quite afew issues to be solved in the old city zone of Yichang. Some of them are urgent including the enormous pressure of transportation and housing, the unreasonably above-standard population density at certain areas in the city and almost no spare environment capacity. The population density of some areas in Yichang has amounted to 60 thousand people per square kilometer, which exceeds the density of first-tier cities in China like Beijing, Shanghai,and Guangzhou.
To reduce the pressure from the old city zone of Yichang is urgent to expand the size of Yichang.
To Raise Confidence of Building Yichang into a Modern Megacity
In1988，the Yichang government initiated the construction of its first urban development zone in Dongshan which was still a desolate place. Twenty-four yearsafter the initiation,great changes have taken place within the 6 square kilometer area. The residentpopulation hasincreasedfrom about 10 thousandto 120thousand. Well-known enterprises, such as Yichang Humanwell Pharmaceutical Co., LTD,HXF SAW CO., LTD, Parsons Music andHenan Shineway Group, have settled down in Golden Dongshan Market. Thousands of enterprises have settled down in Yichang Jindongshan Market withannualtaxationincreasefrom 60 million to 1.4 billion. The bleak suburb hasnow becomebusystreets.
The success story of Dongshan has made Yichang people realize that only bycoordinating development between industry and city can we hope to achieve the goal of co-prosperity of industry and city. Now“the experience”has become the secret of building Yichang into a modern megacity.
In accordance with the overall strategic layout of“tourism in the west, industry in the east,and cities in the middle”, YichangGovernmentsparesno effort to develop the riverside“Trillion Economic Circle”. Now Yichang National High-tech Zone has formed the development pattern of“One District, Six Parks”with Dongshan and Xiaoting as leading.In thelight of the principle of coordinating developing between industry and city, we willplanfirst and then construct, establishing facilities first and then invest, developing underground first and then overground,puttingecological concept in the first place and then produce, trying to form a scientific layout of park and industry.
In March of 2013,theconstruction of 51 major projects with a total investment of 16.7 billion RMB was in full swing, which marked the beginning of building Yichang New District.
At the moment, Yichang Government is steadily carrying out the“plan of developing 6 pillar industries each with an output value of no less than 100 billion RMB in three years.”It is estimated thatby 2016, the output value of chemical engineering industry will amount to 180 billion RMB; that of food and beverage industry will reach 150 billion RMB; that of advanced equipment manufacturingindustry will sum to 160 billion RMB; that of advanced material industry, cultural tourism industry and modern logistic industry will also reach 100 billion RMBrespectively.
Yichang at that time will account for about 15% of Hubei economy, with the gross regional product exceeding 500 billion RMB, and budget avenues of local public finance over 30 billion RMB.The confidence of building Yichang into a modern mega city will be enhanced.
The Feature of Yichang City to Be Revealed
According to the Yichang City Master Planning Scheme approved by Hubei Provincial Government, the actual population in urban district aims at 3 million in 2030, and the construction land 300 square kilometers.
At the end of the Twelfth Five-year Plan, Yichang urban district strives to bear the capacity of 2 million people in an area of 200 square kilometers, and reaches the goal of 3 million people in 300 square kilometers in the middle term, and 5 million people in 500 square kilometers in the long term vision.
The beauty of Yichang lies in mountains and waters.
Build Yichang into a modern megacity should stick to scientific development, ecologic development and post-modern ideas.
Future Yichang will be stretched along on both banks of the Yangtze River for dozens of kilometers and consisted of 13 groups which are surrounded by mountains and waters.
The Group of Xiling, Wujiagang, Dianjun and Yiling is the main district with urban landscape and it focuses on the protection of natural landscape.
The Group of Three Gorges Dam Area is among high mountains. The slack water stores in the upstream of the dam and downstream of the dam is Xiling Gorge scenery.
The Group of Xiaoting and Baiyang is a district based on industry, and it lays emphasis on ecology protection and protection of the mountains and waters.
The Group of Longquan, Yaqueling, Anfusi and Gujiadian is a district with manufacture landscape and green land protection.
The Group of Honghuatao and Gaobazhou will protect the present idyllic scenery and remould the wetland of Gaobazhou properly; it pays attention to the green land protection in industry zone and residence dwellings as well.
The Groups are separated by ecological barrier and linked by fast channel and rail transit. In this way the beautiful landscape revealed, and the quality of the city will be further improved.
Yichang is going to expand the new districts rapidly by these four priorities: road network, public construction, emplacement and ecology.
Taking the road network as an example, the new district will build city circle express way, BRT, slow system, greenway system and microcirculatory system between the district and groups. It will be guaranteed that one can reach the destination within 15 minutes in future from one group to another.
High standard construction of large public service facilities will be built in the new district, thus to match the integrated service system of megacity. Each group will be equalized in employment, medical treatment, education and public culture.
In the future, Yichang will be the post-modern city with mountains and water, presenting us beautiful city landscape of south China and prosperous city image.
Measures of Innovation Construction
Reform is the greatest bonus, accelerating the construction of modern megalopolis.
According to advanced experience of other places, Yichang puts head together to formulate seven aspects of normative documents on innovative urban management systems, supporting to construct the modern megalopolis.
Leader groups of planning and construction of the new district and propeling offices are set up and important problems in the construction are directly coordinated and solved by the Municipal Party Committe and the Municipal Government. Some special measures are taken, such as intervening in advance, joint examination and approval, handling special issues with special methods, settling things with limited time, and gathering all aspects of preferential policies to create the first-class development environment for the construction of the district.
It is predicted that 200 billion yuan will invest to the construction of the new district, including 30 billion yuan invested to road network and ecological aspects by the government, and other comprehensive investment like business and tourism will be inputted by the society.
Where is the fund from?
Yichang is innovative in thinking to find fund from the market.
Since this year, the activities of inviting investment were held in Beijing, Hongkong and Wuhan. Enterprisers keenly take the business chances of metropolis construction, just like Nanbo Group which already invested nearly 4 billion yuan in Yichang and invested additional 2.5 billion yuan this year, and Chengtong Industrial Investment Corporation, a powerful state-owned enterprise, has signed an investment agreement of 20 billion yuan. A batch of powerful enterprises occupied the Yichang market.
The Yichang city proper is the terrain of seven mountains, two hillocks and one flat ground, belonging to typical land of mild slope of low mountains and hills.
To protect the natural features of massifs and water bodies, Yichang is prior to ecology protection and emphasizes economical and intensive land utilization.
The new district covers an area of 220 square kilometers, including construction land 105 square kilometers and protective land 115 square kilometers.
It takes full advantage of the land of mild slope of low mountains and hills and comprehensively considers economical and intensive land utilization which will be developed stepwise and used precisely.
Yichang will overall plan land usage in areas and systematically scheme excavation project and filling project that are balanced between each other and lowered the cost with endeavor.
(Repoter Liu Liangwei, Guo Xiaoying) (China News Net, Yichang)