Title: Introduction to Chengdu
Project Site Name: Chengdu, China
Geographic Region: East Central
The Discussion
1. Settlements/communities are often located at a particular site because of the site’s industrial and/or resource potential. For example, many towns in the Appalachians were established where coal deposits existed and thus, the coal industry thrived. Were there any preexisting economic resources or advantages about your area that caused people to settle there?
Chengdu has some of the preexisting economic resources that influenced people to settle in the city. One of the resources is arable land that encourages farming and the practice of agriculture. Chengdu has fertile land for gardens around the city, which makes the landscape appealing to view. From the site, the city can be viewed to have beautiful and green scenery that shows the fertility of the soils. The Chengdu region has forty rivers which are connected into two; The Min and Tuo Rivers as the branches of the Yangtze River, which are good sources of water supply to both the city and the outskirts (Travel China, n.d). In addition, Chengdu has the preexisting economic advantage of having mountain ranges and water near the city. The region has large plains that are well supplied with water, especially from the Chaoyang Lake. Moreover, Chengdu is habitat to large panda, which makes the town a tourist attraction point (Travel China, n.d).
2. In the past, what were the major economic activities of your site? Include a discussion of what resources were needed for these industries and also describe what physical characteristics of your site made it an appropriate place for these activities
One of the major economic activities in the past was farming, both at subsistence and commercial level. The main resources that made it possible for the region to engage in farming were the vast fertile lands and the availability of rains. The region had a good supply of water for irrigation. For instance, as early as 256 BC, the region had established the Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, which ensured that farming was continued throughout the year (Travel China, n.d). The city was also a trade center because it was at a center for exchanging goods and services due to the high supply of agricultural products it had.
3. Currently, what are the major economic activities of your site? Include a discussion of what resources are needed for these industries and also describe what physical characteristics of your site make it an appropriate place for these activities. For this question, you should consider the infrastructure (roads, sewers, utilities) as a physical characteristic of the site.
One of the current economic activities is farming. Just like in the old days, the region has great rivers, irrigation, water supply and fertile land for farming. Secondly, the region has a thriving electronic and IT industries that produce technological products for local use and export to other countries. The region is able to produce the technological products because of the availability of technological expertise. Trade is another important economic activity for the region. The region is involved in both local and foreign trade as the products produced by agriculture and industry are traded locally and internationally. To facilitate these economic activities, Chengdu has proper infrastructure of good roads, and proper communication channels. Tourism is also an activity that Chengdu is known for because of the panda in the region (Travel China, n.d). The region also has properly constructed air and rail transport terminus along with the functional water transport.
4. How does your site’s economic activity influence the development near your site (e.g. establishment of towns and advancement of the community)? For this question, you should examine how site activities have influences beyond the site boundary.
The economic activities in Chengdu have influenced the development of the region in terms of economic growth and social cohesion. Farming has led to healthier population who are productive in other economic activities that grow the region. The development of technological industries has opened more opportunities for the people to develop businesses that have grown in local and international scene. Trade has opened the city to the international markets, which promotes higher production of the region because the outputs have enough markets. The economic developments have also increased the income potential for the people in the Chengdu region, which has improved their social status in the large Chinese social set up.
5. Describe your landscape site’s contribution to the regional economy; does it provide a unique economic contribution or the same as the surrounding area?
The contribution of the Chengdu to the regional economy is immense and significant to the Chinese economy. The developments of the key economic activities of agriculture, industry and trade have opened the regional economy to national and international benefits. The development of agriculture and in the economy of Chengdu has impacted heavily on the economic output of the region and the production of goods and services in the region. The site has contributed to the security of the region because of the establishment of the Chengdu military headquarters. This is in addition to other contributions to the regional growth the Chengdu to the regional development.
6. Identify any trends in economic activity in your area. For example, has there been a shift from dependence primarily on natural resource industries or an emergence of more service industry in recent years? Has there been a balance between different types of economic activity in the area over time?
One of the trends in the economic activities in Chengdu is the embrace of technology to the economy of the region. The industrial output in Chengdu has increased immensely because of mechanization and the use of technology in the production of goods and services. This trend has continued to influence industries through the establishment if IT industries that produce IT and software products for local and international application. The second trend is the modernization of the transport and communication infrastructure. The region has transformed because of the new modern roads, modern rail lines and airports that have facilitated all the economic activities in Chengdu.
7. What physical characteristics of the site constrained or limited your landscape site’s usage?
While Chengdu has developed and become a stronger region, there are a few physical characteristics that constrain and limit the usage of the landscape. One of the characteristics is that the plains in the region lead to frequent flooding. The flooding is because of the large supply of water, heavy rains and the terrain are overwhelmed by excessive flood waters. This limits the agricultural use of land and affects transportation as well as industrial developments. Another constraint is the mountainous region of Chengdu makes the region challenging to construct road networks to cover all the areas.
8. What is the land value of your site or what are the land values within your site? Compare the land value(s) of your site with those found in the region, state, nationally, or globally.
The value of land in Chengdu has increased over time. In the same way, the land values within the Chengdu region have also increased over time. For instance, some places have recorded an increase in the price by over 30% in value. The value of land per acre in some places is $31,000, in terms of average, especially in the farm lands (Werman, 2013). However, it is complex to determine the exact value of the land in the region. This is because of the changes in the factors that determine the value of land. In comparison with other regions, the value of land in Chengdu matches the Chinese regions (Werman, 2013). However, some cities like the Guangzhou have higher land value compared to the rates in Chengdu.
9. Identify, at least one positive externality, and describe its significance.
The Chengdu has a number of positive externalities in terms of its development and the influence of the people in the region. One positive externality is the security that the Chengdu has brought to the people in the region. Because of the establishment of the military headquarters in Chengdu, the region has a lot of security, which has influenced peace among the people. At the same time, the security and peace in Chengdu have impacted positively to the economic development in the region. Another externality is the reputation of the region in the global arena. Chengdu is known for its host of panda, which attracts tourists from both the local and the international sources.
10. Identify, at least one negative externality, and describe its significance.
Despite the positive externalities, the region has negative externalities on the people. One of the negative externality is pollution from industries as the economic activity. Pollution in the region is high because of the discharge of waste materials from the industries in terms of gaseous, solid and liquid substances out of the factories. The pollution has affected the environment in the regions, and has led to concerns of the future of the region. Most of the emissions cause diseases to the people and animals, and affects the people the health of plants and wildlife. Such pollution also affects aquatic life, and the drinking water of the region.
11. Have the opportunity or constraints of your site changed over time? For example, while central Michigan had an abundance of white pines, thus an opportunity for the timber industry, eventually nearly all pines were harvested and the resultant landscape had limited timber value and the moved toward agricultural value.
The opportunities of the Chengdu site and the region have changed over time. One of the opportunities in the region is the agricultural activity of farming and maximizing good use of the fertile plains. The agricultural practice has changed over time due to the modernization of the farming techniques and use of technology. The use of better farming tools and biological advancements in the plants and animals farmed. Another opportunity that has changed over time is in the industrialization. The region has recorded better use of technology and has seen the establishment of several IT industries in the region.
12. Describe the political history of your site:
Chengdu has a strong and long political history, which has developed the over time. Chengdu has been inhabited for over 4 thousands ago, and was a significant center in the ancient Chinese cultures. The ancient Chinese communities, the political dynasties that ruled the Chengdu region were the Zhou and the Shang dynasties. The economic advantages of the region made Chengdu expand from the Sichuan region to the large western china provinces. After the civil war, Chengdu emerged as a central city of the western Chinese region and became the headquarters of the Chengdu military. Currently, Chengdu is well planned and has good and sustainable relations with other countries as seen in the establishment of foreign consulates in the city.
13. Identify a local policy that has influenced how your landscape has been or is being used. Local policies include city or township regulations/ordinances, local tax policies and local building disincentives/incentives:
One of the local policies that have influenced Chengdu is the change in tax policies that are aimed at creating incentives for foreign investments in the region (Brinded, 2012). Chengdu government has established tax breaks with a view of bringing in more western investors in the region. This has helped the region seek economic development that has led to the growth in trade and industry sectors.
14. Identify a state policy that has influenced how your landscape has been or is being used. State policies include land subdivision regulations; land preservation programs, environmental policies:
One of the state policies that have made Chengdu have a better economic outcome and use is the attraction of foreign trade. This is done through the establishment of consulates in Chengdu. This has led to the establishment of better trade relations in the region and has promoted investments. The consulates help make traveling easier between Chengdu and other parts of the world. This has helped tourism in Chengdu and opened the region for other economic benefits.
15. Identify a national policy that has influenced how your landscape has been or is being used. National policies include environmental policies such as the Clean Water Act a NEPA, national transportation policies, and federal housing programs:
One of the national policies that have influenced Chengdu is the national water policy. This policy is enforced by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and seeks promote better use of water and promote higher productivity (Chang, 2014). The policy seeks to reduce wastage of water and allow other societies to develop better usage for economic productivity like irrigation.
16. Describe a political process that influences how your landscape is used or managed
A political process that influences the use of Chengdu is the establishment of a free citizen area. This is done by the Chengdu government where it allows foreigners to enter Chengdu and do business in the region without travelling to other regions. The process involves allowing people with passports of different major countries in the world to land in Chengdu and engages in limited interactions with the region (Travel China, n.d). This allows Chengdu to experience liberalized interaction with the international community and attract economic opportunities from other countries.
References
Brinded, L. (2012). Chengdu China Exclusive: Tax Breaks and Preferential Policies Push Western Investment, Retrieved From, <http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/chengdu-china-fortune-500-world-s-fastest-406914> June 21, 2015
Chang, G. (2014). China’s Strict NewWater Policy. Retrieved From, <http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonchang/2011/04/03/chinas-strict-new-water-policy/> June 21, 2015
Travel China, n.d. Chengdu Travel Guide, Retrieved From, <http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/chengdu.htm> June 21, 2015
Werman, M. (2013). China Past Due: Land Rights. Retrieved From, <http://www.pri.org/stories/2013-05-01/china-past-due-land-rights> June 21, 2015