China's Century-Old Economic Puzzle (Port Cities and Their Hinterlands and China's Modernization)

Author: Wu Songdi, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: This book, from the perspective of the global wave of modernization and China's vast territory with regional disparities, comprehensively discusses the process of China's modernization after 1840, based on research grounded in rich customs data and local sources. It explores how modernization began in coastal and riverine port cities and extended along major transportation routes into the vast interior, as well as the relationship between port cities and their hinterlands. The book not only examines the trade and economic development of 12 key port cities like Shanghai and their bidirectional interactions with their hinterlands but also discusses the relationships between ports, cities, and regions in areas such as the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta, as well as their impact on current regional economic development and modernization. With an expansive perspective, solid data, innovative arguments, and fluent writing, the book not only provides readers with a grand panorama of China's transformation over more than a century and the spatial process of modernization but also offers insights into the progress and regional disparities of China's modernization. It also serves as a valuable reference for current port development, urban planning, and regional development.