The rise of two sub-provincial cities in Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shaoxing is expected to surpass Suzhou, Xichang?
Urban railway integration in the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou metropolitan area.
The Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou, has long been the backbone of economic development in the Yangtze River Delta region. Recently, the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou metropolitan area launched the "Urban Rail Transit Integrated Development Plan", which aims to promote transportation and people mobility by connecting the three cities through urban rail transit. The plan aims to promote the development of the metropolitan area, so that the boundary between the three cities gradually disappears, thus unlocking the huge development potential within the metropolitan area. The Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou Yangtze River Delta metropolitan area is of great significance to the economic development of the Yangtze River Delta region and will strongly promote the development of the entire region. Notably, the actions in Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou have also attracted the attention of other cities. Ningbo, for example, recently unveiled its own transportation plan, which includes four urban rail transit lines to the west to Shaoxing, which is already connected to Hangzhou. This means that Hangzhou-Ningbo-Shaoxing has also joined the development and construction of the metropolitan area, and is expected to become the next Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou.
However, it is not easy to become the next Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou. At present, the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou metropolitan area is far ahead in terms of GDP and industrial income above designated size. According to 2022 data, Suzhou, Wuxi, and Changzhou each have a GDP of 239 trillion yuan, 148 trillion and 095 trillion yuan, a total of one trillion yuan, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shaoxing's GDP is 187 trillion yuan, 157 trillion yuan and 073 trillion yuan, a total of 417 trillion yuan. Although the total GDP of Hangzhou-Ningbo-Shaoxing is about 065 trillion yuan, but this does not mean that Hangzhou-Ningbo-Shaoxing is at a disadvantage in terms of economic development. In fact, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shaoxing all have their own advantages and characteristics.
The Suzhou-Xichang metropolitan area and the Hangzhou-Yongshao metropolitan area have their own advantages and characteristics.
In terms of industry, the three cities of Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou are mainly industrial and manufacturing industries, and are known for their developed manufacturing industries and strong industrial strength in the Yangtze River Delta region. According to the data of industrial income above designated size, the industrial income of Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou will reach 4 in 202236 trillion yuan, 226 trillion yuan and 164 trillion yuan, 64 trillion yuan, a total of 826 trillion yuan; Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shaoxing are 204 trillion yuan, 247 trillion yuan and 082 trillion yuan, a total of 533 trillion yuan. From this point of view, the three cities of Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou have certain advantages in terms of industry and manufacturing.
However, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shaoxing also have their own unique advantages. First of all, as a provincial capital and sub-provincial city, Hangzhou has a high socio-economic status, and can take advantage of the opportunity of hosting major events such as international competitions to enhance the city's visibility and provide more opportunities for economic development. On the other hand, the cargo throughput of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has ranked first in the world for five consecutive years, and the container throughput has ranked third in the world for five consecutive years, providing a huge impetus for the development of the Hangzhou-Ningbo-Shaoxing metropolitan area. These are all innate advantages that Su Xichang does not have.
Therefore, the Suzhou-Xichang metropolitan area and the Hangzhou-Yongshao metropolitan area have their own advantages and characteristics. With the developed industry and manufacturing industry, as well as the efforts of the internalization of the metropolitan area, Su Xichang has realized the transformation from urban development to urban exhibition, realized the agglomeration of talents and industries, and has a broad space for future development. Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shaoxing can seek breakthroughs in other fields, form differentiated advantages, and further promote the development of metropolitan areas.
Development prospects for the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou metropolitan area and the Hangzhou-Ningbo-Shaozhou metropolitan area.
The Suzhou-Wuxi-Yangtze River Delta metropolitan area and the Hangzhou-Ningbo-Shaoxing metropolitan area are both located in the Yangtze River Delta (Yangtze River Delta) region, which is an important driving force for the economic development of the Yangtze River Delta. The two metropolitan areas have their own advantages and complement each other's characteristics. In the future, the Suzhou-Xichang metropolitan area will continue to release greater development potential and further strengthen the advantages of industrial economic development by promoting the integrated development between cities. At the same time, the Hangzhou-Yongshao metropolitan area will also make full use of its unique location advantages and resource advantages, and form its own characteristics and advantages through breakthroughs in different fields.
It is foreseeable that both metropolitan areas will play an important role in future development. By strengthening cooperation and exchanges, they will work together to promote economic prosperity in the DRJ region. At the same time, policies can also be formulated to support the development of the two metropolitan areas and provide more opportunities and support for enterprise innovation. Prosperity and stability of the entire region can only be achieved on the basis of common development.
In short, DRJ's two metropolitan areas, namely Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou and Hangzhou-Ningbo-Shaoxing, each have their own strengths and characteristics, and both are striving to realize their development potential. Whether it is the industrial and manufacturing advantages of Suzhou-Wuxi-Chang, or the geographical and resource advantages of Hangzhou-Ningbo-Shao, they will contribute to the overall development of the DRJ area. We hope that the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou metropolitan area and the Hangzhou-Ningbo-Shaoxing metropolitan area will make greater achievements in the future development and make greater contributions to the economic prosperity of the Yangtze River Delta region.