Yu Meng is a urban planner in China Academy of Urban Planning and Design. He graduated from Tsinghua University, getting a bachelor in architecture, and then got his Ph.D. in economic geography from Peking University. Engaging in urban planning for many years, he has concerned about many areas of urban-rural development and territorial development, including future and targeted strategies of metropolis, urban planning influenced by informal behaviour, policies of territorial coordination etc. Currently he is undertaking the studies of mechanism, model and policies of urbanization.
The research will focus on the theme of urbanisation which is different from the habitual way related to metropolis. The objectives of urbanisation involve not only the glory of urban areas, but also the improvement of the quality of rural life. Rural modernization is becoming more important as the foundation of urbanisation. I will discuss four issues around urban-rural relationships:
1. What is the mechanism of the spatial distribution of urban-rural population and industries, especially the bottom-up power of urbanisation? What are the critical issues for the migration of rural population？
2. Are there any experiences fit for China, such as the European policies building on urban-rural relationships? What is the vital role of small and medium-sized cities and towns for the balance of territorial development, as well as the success in agricultural modernization in the Netherlands?
3. What are the different strategies on housing, services and infrastructures of urban and rural areas in China.
4. What is the structure of balanced urban system in China? What is the suitable approach to it? How would be urban planning in the future with growing concerns on rural development?
In this research I'll use Enshi (in Hubei Province, middle of China) as a case study. Enshi is located in the planned ecological function zone in China. The requirements of ecological protection limit the manufacturing industrial development. However, the excellent environment and agricultural development would show us another way not mainly relying on manufacturing industries. This industrial structure promotes bottom -up urbanization: the migration of rural population follows the discipline of echelon; the pace of development of villages is quicker than that of small and medium-sized cities, which is quicker than that of metropolis. Meanwhile, there is a close relationship between urban-rural industries, agriculture and existing manufacturing industries, which would be helpful to balance urban-rural development.