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Discussion
of Case Study Themes
At
a Glance
Both Lanzhou and Shenyang are cities located on what
can be considered the cultural and physical frontiers
of China. Natural resource exploitation has been an
important factor in the industrialization of both cities.
Development of Shenyang's rail network was a key to
its early growth. Lanzhou did not receive rail service
until the mid-twentieth century. Historically, Lanzhou
has served as a stopover point in an extended trade
network whereas Shenyang has served as a regional center.
Both cities have been repeatedly occupied by foreigners
who have left distinct impressions on the landscape
and culture. Shenyang's industrial development is largely
derived from influences outside of China whereas Lanzhou's
are mostly from within China.
Case
Study 1 -- Lanzhou: Confluence of Cultures
Cultural Composition is a Result of Lanzhou's Location
Lanzhou has been a traditional regional center for
thousands of years, serving as a gateway to Central
Asia by way of the old Silk Road. The city's location
takes advantage of the shallowness of the Huang He
as the river leaves the mountains and enters the Lanzhou
basin. The confluence of Han, Hui, Mongol, and Tibetan
cultures begun in ancient times continues today as
the region begins industrial development. The region
represents a borderland or frontier that has been
under the control of different groups over time. The
cultural mosaic found today reflects this frontier
situation.
Creative Farming Practices Adapt to Harsh Climate
Traditional labor-intensive agricultural methods are
practiced in the dry, mountainous area surrounding
Lanzhou. The unique "stone field" practice
shown in the video is an ancient creative method of
preventing the fine loess soil from drying out and
blowing away. Human adaptation to the semi-arid environment,
fragile soil conditions, and steep topography is the
basis of agriculture that supports the region's traditional
lifestyle.
Exploitation
of Natural Resources Has Led to Economic Growth
Modern industrial development began in the early 1950s
in Lanzhou with the arrival of rail, an early decision
of the communist government. Industrial development
was based upon exploitation of energy resources, notably
petroleum. The city now features large modern industrial
plants that produce petrochemicals, drilling and refining
equipment, as well as chemical fertilizers. Modern
agricultural techniques (i.e., pump irrigation) coupled
with traditional methods produce a wide range of crops
including wheat, barley, millet, corn, soy beans,
and a variety of fruits that support local demand.
Urbanization
as a Consequence of Economic Growth
Industrialization and agricultural production support
the city as it grows into an urbanized metropolis.
As an urban center for the developing region, the
city maintains its links to the past. Use of natural
resources, modernization of agricultural practices,
and a newly developed, energy-intensive industrial
economy support the growth of Lanzhou, even as it
is isolated in a harsh environment.
Case
Study 2 -- Shenyang: Hope for China's Rust Belt?
Shenyang's
Resource Base Supports Economic Development
The Tiexi Industrial Park has the highest concentration
of heavy industry in all of China. It covers an area
of some 25.5 square miles (66 square kilometers),
one third of the land within the city of Shenyang.
Chief among the numerous factories in the industrial
park are machinery manufacturing and chemical processing
plants. The Liaoning Province in northeastern China
is blessed with large deposits of raw materials such
as coal and iron. These natural resources in part
led Japan to invade China in the 1930s in order to
fuel its own economy. While occupying the region,
the Japanese invested in the development of much of
the industrial infrastructure, such as rail and road
networks, that exists today.
The
Decline of Shenyang's Economic Might
Economic growth in Shenyang lags behind the rest of
China, particularly the booming maritime areas of
southeastern China. When tensions between China and
the Soviet Union were high in the 1950s and 1960s,
investment was diverted out of the region and into
southern China. Communist agrarian reform also caused
a decline in investment in the region's industrial
base. In recent years, many of the facilities have
become outdated.
The
Future for Shenyang in Foreign Trade
With the disappearance of many of the traditional
machine shops that provide equipment for heavy industry
throughout Japan, Korea, and most of China, Shenyang
will face stiff competition even as it takes advantage
of its skilled workforce and sturdy infrastructure.
Recently, Volkswagen, the German auto manufacturer,
began production at Jilin Province's massive Automobile
Factory Number One. Other auto manufacturers have
moved into the area as well.
A
bright spot in Shenyang's economic future is new machinery
investments by the Japanese and other foreign concerns.
New industrial investment in the region has helped
create training programs and opportunities for young
workers, many of whose fathers and grandfathers worked
in the same factories, but under very different circumstances.
However, all observers are not optimistic about northeastern
China's economic future. Many see the Special Economic
Zones of coastal southern China reaping the lion's
share of direct foreign investment, leaving little
for Shenyang and its region. And the massive unemployment
in the Northeast and elsewhere in China remains an
ongoing problem.
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