Summary of Key Points
After the Kunming Metropolitan Area was approved as a national-level metropolitan area, the total number of such areas in China has reached 21. There are still 12 provinces that do not have a national-level metropolitan area, but most of these provinces have clearly defined their development goals within the 15th Five-Year Plans. Among them, the Shanghai Metropolitan Area, the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou Metropolitan Area, the Nanning Metropolitan Area, and the Nanchang Metropolitan Area are receiving the most attention. The Shanghai Metropolitan Area is particularly notable for its “top-tier” status and its cross-provincial scope, which has taken a longer time to develop; Nanning and Nanchang are expected to be among the next batch of approved areas due to significant efforts by their local governments. The expansion of metropolitan areas aims to promote coordinated development around central cities and drive balanced regional economic growth.
I. Kunming Metropolitan Area: A New Growth Pole in Southwest China
The approval of the Kunming Metropolitan Area is not incidental; it serves as a crucial link between Southwest China and South Asia and Southeast Asia. In terms of its scope, it includes not only the 12 districts and counties of Kunming itself but also Mile City in Honghe Prefecture, Hongta District/Chengjiang City in Yuxi City, and even Lufeng City in Chuxiong Prefecture—effectively bringing together all the potentially promising cities in the surrounding area.
Why was the Kunming Metropolitan Area approved? Simply put, as the provincial capital, Kunming boasts advantageous resources in industries, education, and healthcare. However, the costs of land and labor are gradually increasing. The surrounding cities, such as Mile (known for its tourism) and Yuxi (for its tobacco industry), have specialized industries but lack high-end resources. A metropolitan area allows these regions to work together: companies from Kunming can relocate to the periphery to reduce costs, while residents from the surrounding areas can more easily access healthcare and education in Kunming, and perhaps even commute by subway in the future. This will not only boost development in central Yunnan but also strengthen Kunming’s role as a gateway to South Asia and Southeast Asia.
II. The Map of National-Level Metropolitan Areas: 21 Areas Covering Most of China, with 12 Provinces Yet to Be Included
The existing 21 national-level metropolitan areas mostly cover economically active regions, such as Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou in the east, Wuhan and Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan in the center, and Chengdu and Xi'an in the west. The remaining 12 provinces that have not been approved are primarily located in the northeast (Heilongjiang), northwest (Gansu, Qinghai), and southwest (Guizhou, Guangxi), areas with either smaller economic volumes or lower population densities.
However, these provinces are not idle: Heilongjiang is working on developing the Harbin Metropolitan Area, Guangxi is focusing on the Nanning Metropolitan Area, and Jiangxi is strengthening the Nanchang Metropolitan Area. For example, the Nanning Metropolitan Area includes Qinzhou and Fangchenggang because Nanning aims to develop a “maritime economy” that requires ports; while these cities have ports, they lack industrial support. By combining their resources, a synergistic effect of “ports + industries” can be created.
III. The Next Batch of Candidates: Shanghai, Nanning, and Nanchang Stand Out
1. Shanghai Metropolitan Area: Top-Level Configuration, Precise Planning
The Shanghai Metropolitan Area covers a vast area, including not only Shanghai but also Suzhou, Wuxi, and Changzhou in Jiangsu, Hangzhou and Ningbo in Zhejiang, and even Xuancheng in Anhui—essentially bringing together the most core cities of the Yangtze River Delta. It is positioned as a “world-class metropolitan area” on par with the capital’s metropolitan area, so its planning is particularly thorough (for instance, coordinating transportation and industries across more than 10 cities). The draft plan is currently being reviewed and is expected to be approved soon.
2. Nanning Metropolitan Area: A Gateway to the Maritime Economy
The focus of the Nanning Metropolitan Area is on developing a maritime economy, such as building the Pinglu Canal to connect Nanning with Qinzhou Port, transforming Nanning from an inland city into a coastal one. It also collaborates with Fangchenggang on green energy projects and jointly develops an airport economic zone with Chongzuo. These concrete initiatives indicate that Guangxi is well-prepared for approval.
3. Nanchang Metropolitan Area: Jiangxi’s Key Driver of Development
Jiangxi considers the Nanchang Metropolitan Area as the core of its provincial development, proposing integrated urbanization efforts, such as improving transportation links with nearby cities like Jiujiang and Fuzhou and sharing healthcare and educational resources. As an important part of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River economic cluster, the Nanchang Metropolitan Area aligns with national goals for coordinated regional development.
IV. What’s the Use of Metropolitan Areas? What Benefits Do Ordinary People Enjoy?
Many people might think that metropolitan areas are solely government initiatives and have nothing to do with them, but this is not the case:
- More Convenient Employment: If you live in Yiliang County near Kunming, you used to have to travel to the city center to find internet-related jobs; now, with the establishment of a metropolitan area, companies in Kunming might set up branches in Yiliang, providing local job opportunities.
- Improved Quality of Life: Future developments could include “urban services across all areas,” such as using your Kunming medical insurance card for treatments in Mile or commuting by subway to Chengjiang for weekend trips to Fuxian Lake.
- More Reasonable Housing Prices: With improved transportation links between central and peripheral cities, people can choose to live in the suburbs, saving money while still benefiting from the resources of the larger city.
For the country, metropolitan areas help address issues like congestion in major cities (such as Beijing) and high housing prices in Shanghai, while also promoting the development of smaller cities and reducing regional disparities. This is why the government continues to push for the expansion of metropolitan areas.
Conclusion
The expansion of national-level metropolitan areas aims to shift from individual city efforts to coordinated teamwork. The inclusion of Kunming fills an important gap in the southwest region, and the approval of additional areas like Shanghai and Nanning will further enhance the nationwide network of metropolitan areas. For ordinary people, this means a broader range of opportunities and greater convenience in their daily lives.