Research on Shanghai and Hangzhou :D

Shanghai:

    [source: www.facilities.ac.uk ]

1. Why is Shanghai the financial and commercial centre of China?

Shanghai's dramatic development comes from its diverse economic base. Major industry networks include: communications, electronics and the information industry, biomedicine, auto manufacturing, petroleum, sophisticated chemical and steel manufacturing, complete-set equipment manufacturing, finance, insurance, real estate, household electrical appliances, and tourism.

2. Why is Shanghai the largest developed city by population in China?

Firstly, Shanghai has a total area of 6,340.5 square kilometers (2,448 sq mi). This shows that it is a relatively large town, which can occupy more people. Secondly, it has an extensive network of rivers, canals, lakes and streams. Thus, it is suitable for fishery and supplies freshwater for the people. It also allows another form of transportation-- via water. These combines to create a perfect setting for a large population. On the other hand, migration to the area is increasing rapidly especially after it's Hukou system(on of its economic reforms), which will offer incentives to migrants who move to rural people in the cities, providing them the same benefits as local residents. 

3. How has Shanghai developed over the years?

For centuries a major administrative, shipping, and trading town, Shanghai grew in importance in the 19th century due to European recognition of its favorable port location and economic potential. The city was one of five opened to foreign trade following the British victory over China in the First Opium War while the subsequent 1842 Treaty of Nanking and 1844 Treaty of Whampoa allowed the establishment of the Shanghai International Settlement and the French Concession. The city then flourished as a center of commerce between east and west, and became the undisputed financial hub of the Asia Pacific in the 1930s. However, with the Communist Party takeover of the mainland in 1949, trade was reoriented to focus on socialist countries, and the city's global influence declined. In the 1990s, the economic reforms introduced by Deng Xiaoping resulted in an intense re-development of the city, aiding the return of finance and foreign investment to the city

   Sky view of Shanghai

  [source: www.shutterstock.com]

Hangzhou:

   [source: http://en.wl-expo.com/hangzhou02.html]

4. What role does Hangzhou play in ancient China?

Hangzhou's role in ancient China was to act as capital of the Wuyue Kingdom from 907 to 978 during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period as well as other roles. It is also listed as one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China.

5. How has Hangzhou developed over the years?

Started as "Yuhang" (simplified Chinese: 馀杭) in 220 BC during the Qin dynasty, "Hangzhou" in AD 589, the capital of the Wuyue Kingdom from 907 to 978 during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, Arab merchants' migration town during the Song Dynasty, then the new capital of the Southern Song dynasty in 1132 until the Mongol invasion of 1276 where it served as the seat of the imperial government, a center of trade and entertainment, and the nexus of the main branches of the civil service, where it was captured by Mongol armies of Kublai Khan in 1276.The city of Hangzhou was constantly under development since the ancient period. The city remained an important port until the middle of the Ming dynasty era, when its harbor slowly silted up. Then urbanization and modernization take place and we have our current Hangzhou.

    Westlake in Hangzhou

   [source: http://thegoldenscope.com/2014/04/26/a-gweilo-in-1980s-china-chapter-14/]

Yi Ki's reflection on China's dilemma

  China pursues higher economic growth but escalates pollution due to industrialization. This is due the prioritization of finance, rather than saving the environment. Since China longs profit to grow their economy, they would build more factories to increase the production of products to be sold to other countries and earn more money. However, many factories produces chemical wastes and emits greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. China also grow crops to be exported to other countries and to be consumed. An example of crops is rice and having rice fields would produce methane, another greenhouse gas. Due to industrialisation, developing the country becomes necessary and demand of land would be higher. As such, deforestation would be carried out to clear land for industrial purpose. Deforestation would mean less plant to produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. Therefore, China escalates pollution.

Amelia's Reflection On China's Dilemma

I think that as china develops and pursue higher economic growth, it will build more factories. As they want to increase their country's profit, they will use cheap fossil fuels that produces a lot of carbon dioxide after burning. Due to that, they will emit a lot of carbon dioxide and pollute the air. As Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, it will traps a lot of heat and contribute to global warming that is currently endangering our health and homeland. But, if they change and uses more expansive way to get energy for their country, it will greatly decrease their profit and will slow down on their economic growth. 

Xuan Ying's reflection on China's dilemma of industrialization

Due to industrialization. China pursuing higher economic growth, however, China is facing escalating pollution problems. China is trying to develop, and build more factories, buildings to earn more money. However, this results in China polluting the Earth.  China does not want to invest more money on research and invention of alternative energy resources, therefore they prefer to burn fossil fuels, which is cheaper. This causes pollution, which is very harmful to the Earth. Therefore, China is in a dilemma between pursuing higher economic growth and escalating pollution due to industrialization.

Jing yan's reflection on dilemma of China

China is currently the highest in the world in terms of carbon dioxide emission. Thus, many countries are pointing finger at them, thus china is being pressurised to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as it is destroying the Earth.However, due to a large land china owns and its population, it is inevitable to build lots of factories for jobs for its people. Thus, if china were to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, it has to reduce factories built and thus many would lose jobs and economy in china will decrease as people gets poorer due to no jobs.

Thus, china is having a dilemma whether to reduce carbon dioxide emissions for a brighter future but would harm them short-term or continue with what they are doing but destoying thr future

Qianhui's reflection on China's dilemma

I feel that as china is going through industrialization, and due to the many number of factories, china contributes a lot to the green house gas emissions. They are unable to choose between improving the economy of the country but increasing pollution, or try to reduce the amount of pollution produced however having a lower profit. More environmentally friendly measures and alternatives might also require more money, and they might rather just use fossil fuels due to the low price. Therefore, they are in a dilemma.

An Qi's reflection on the dilemma between China's economic and pollution

Reducing the amount of pollution, means that China would have to reduce the amount of factories which would indirectly link to the downturn economic for there will be lesser jobs created for the people. Also, if China continues to build more factories, the country's economic will increase and the standard of living will be higher. However, having more factories will cause more pollution to the environment and the people's health would be affected. Thus, China is in a dilemma between pursing higher economic growth and escalating pollutiondue to the industrialization. In short, either the people's standard of living will increase with their health deteriorating or having their standard of living decreasing or maintaining with being healthy.

Reducing Pollution: 

Reducing pollution will mean that there will be lesser factories where there will be lesser people being hired to work. Having lesser people working will cause the standard of living to decrease. However, having lesser pollution will improve the people's health.

- health problems increase

- global warming

Economic Growth:

Wanting the economic to increase the country would have to build more factories in order to hire more people and also to produce more products to sell and gain profit from it. However, building more factories would also mean that there will be even more pollution which would affect the people's health.

- employment rate increases

- standard of living increases

- lower labour cost

- happiness rate increase

- lower rental fee of land

Thus, the country is in a dilemma whether to have :

1) better standard of living, poorer health (Economic Growth)

2) lower standard of living, better health (Reducing Pollution)