Experts are warning local governments in east China's Jiangsu Province about the increasing influx
of migrants to its urban areas, making Jiangsu the most densely
populated in the country.
According to a survey recently released by the Jiangsu
Provincial Bureau of Statistics, the population density in the
province has reached 729 people per square kilometer, 5.3 times the
nation's average population density.
According to He Guangyuan from the Jiangsu Provincial Bureau of
Statistics, migration from other regions to the urban areas of
Jiangsu is the major reason for the population increase.
Compared with rural places, urban areas in Jiangsu experienced
an expanding population, as most migrants from other provinces or
the countryside of Jiangsu chose to settle down in the province's
cities, according to He.
South Jiangsu cities, witnessing dramatic economic growth, have
attracted a huge number of migrants and have seen their populations
increase by 9.74 percent during 2000 and 2005, said He.
To solve the problem of overcrowding, many densely-populated
cities in Jiangsu have taken measures.
For instance, Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu, has
announced recently that it will speed up its construction of
suburban districts to relocate factories, institutions and
residents.
The latest population census conducted by the local statistics
bureau revealed that the number of residents per square kilometer
has reached 282,000 in Nanjing, which makes it one of the most
densely populated old cities in the country, said Liu Qinghao, vice
director of the Nanjing Municipal Urban Planning Bureau.
To date, more than 390 medium- and large enterprises have
already been moved to suburban industrial parks.
Moreover, dozens of universities and middle schools have set up
campuses in the suburb.
More than 300,000 residents are going to be relocated in the
newly built suburban residential districts within five years,
according to Liu.
Like Nanjing, five other cities in the province, which boast a
population larger than 5 million, have taken measures to relocate
their work units and residents in suburban areas.
In addition to developing new and bigger cities, local
governments in Jiangsu have also drawn detailed schedules to
protect their ancient buildings.
The province's rich history has left many cities in Jiangsu with
a great number of monuments, buildings, sites and ruins, many of
which are the remains of imperial palaces, according to officials
with the Jiangsu Cultural Heritage Bureau.
"We hope that after the renovation, the city will maintain its
authentic flavor and boost its tourism," said local cultural
heritage protection authorities. "We don't want all those ancient
buildings to vanish due to urban development."
(China Daily May 9, 2006)