A Study On Major Function Oriented Zoning Of Metropolis In China

As far as human geography is concerned, one of the most important changes is the transformation of traditional concepts of space (i.e. region, metropolis) under the background of deepening globalization and quick development of information technology. The latter part of the twentieth century witnessed the resurgence of spatial planning at various scales from pan-European to the local level. Regions are not only passive spatial units bearing all kind of human activity, but also the main parts and elements of global labor division and national competition power. Regional/space quality becomes the essential factor of measuring the competition power of regions and attracting various'flows'to agglomerate. Metropolis plays a more important role in accelerating regional innovation, improving regional quality and enhancing national power. With the development of globalization, central government is gradually losing some rights and control in regions. Therefore, spatial(region) planning has become the main method and way to enhance the influences of government on regions and make sustainable development. Since 1990s, the thoughts of sustainable development, new regionalism, ecological city, compact city etc. have taken deep influences on regional planning theory and practice in main developed countries.A lot of efforts have been made about economic zoning in national level and regional planning within or cross administrative districts since reform and opening, which provides solid support and leading function to the formation of territorial spatial structure and quick development of economy. However, traditional regional planning based on planning economic system eventually led to the disorder of national regional development and collective non-rationality. This economy-oriented regional planning could neither solve the problems faced by economy, society, ecology and environment in China, nor catch up with the main thoughts and scientific theories of spatial planning in developed countries.As an important countermeasure of dealing with the disorder of regional development, implementing scientific development, promoting regional coordination and sustainable development, major function-oriented zoning is the guideline and core theory of regional planning and territory exploration in China in future. However, major function-oriented zoning still remains some theoretical and practical problems in theoretical foundation, zoning method, performance evaluation, governance policies, etc. which are urgent to be scientifically solved and explained. Since regional research is always one of the core subjects of human geography, theoretical discussion and practical research on major function-oriented zoning is one of the hot topics of human geographers now. In this thesis, taking metropolis, the most dynamic and competitive spatial unit under the background of globalization, as the research subject, the author systematically discussed theoretical system and practice procedure of major function-oriented zoning and built the index system of major function-oriented zoning to make some supplementary theoretical and practical research from the perspective of human geography.At present, there is little systematical study on the features, theoretical support and approach of major function-oriented zoning of a certain type of spatial unit. No research has been made on systematical analysis of the theory and practice of major function-oriented zoning from the metropolitan level. Firstly, the evolution and development process of regional planning practice and theory in developed countries have been specifically seek out trying to obtain their characteristics of practical and theoretical changes, in order to provide with practical and theoretical explanation of major function-oriented zoning and ideology changes of regional planning in China. Secondly, based on the comprehensive analysis of main content and concepts of major function-oriented zoning and the characteristics of metropolis, the basic theoretical system of major function-oriented zoning of metropolis has been put forward, which includes regional spatial structure theory, regional labor division theory, sustainable development theory and regional governance theory. Thirdly, through concluding the evolution of regional planning domestic and abroad, the thesis emphasized the theories, methods and policy that major function-oriented zoning should learn from to make sure major function-oriented zoning catch up with the advanced thoughts and ideas. Fourthly, based on the definition and connotation of major function-oriented zoning, the top design thoughts and systematic framework of major function-oriented zoning of metropolis have been put forward. Finally, using the complex ecological systems theory and'Pressure-Status-Response'model, combining the index system of major function-oriented zoning and the influential index system of sustainable development home and abroad, the author built the index system of major function-oriented zoning of metropolis in China. Then, choosing Shanghai as a case study, the author tried to put the theory and index system of major function-oriented zoning of metropolis into practice in Shanghai, and hoped this practical research for certain reference to relative spatial planning in other provincial and metropolis level.