The differentiation and evolutionary models of industrial bases in China

doi:10.1007/s11442-018-1564-z

Abstract

Abstract:

The rapid progress of China’s industrialization has been manifested in space as the formation and evolution of a series of industrial bases. Employing data from the years 1985, 2001 and 2010, this paper carries out differentiation, screening, and categorization of industrial bases in China. It then analyses the evolutional characteristics of these industrial bases and explores different paths of growth according to their scale or types, and summarizes the general pattern for their formation and evolution. The results of this study indicate that China’s industrial bases as a whole have gone through three spatial stages since the founding of the PRC in 1949: decentralized development before reform and opening up in 1978, gradual concentration in eastern coastal regions during the early period of reform and opening up, and balanced and diversified development since the beginning of the 21st century. By 2010, China had a total of 251 industrial bases and had thereby established the overall spatial map of its industrialization. As industrial bases expand in scale, their industrial structures develop from homogenization to diversification, and then again from diversification to competitive optimization. Leading industries in the vast majority of industrial bases constantly evolve along the track of light industries, basic materials industries, and advanced manufacturing industries. Meanwhile, the key factors in their evolution and development transition from traditional factors of production like resources and labor to new ones like capital and information, but there are significant differences in terms of influencing factors and growth paths between large, medium, and small bases. Small industrial bases primarily rely on natural resources to maintain development through a single leading industry, medium industrial bases gradually become more comprehensive in their industrial compositions, and large industrial bases evolve in the direction of a combination of basic materials industries and equipment manufacturing industries.

Key words: industrial base, differentiation, evolution, model, China

Fengjun JIN, Linlin CHEN, Yu YANG, Hui HONG. The differentiation and evolutionary models of industrial bases in China[J].Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2018, 28(12): 1757-1780.

Figures/Tables 11

Figure 1

Table 1

Table 2

China’s industrial bases from 1949-2010"

Period	Number	Category	Directory of bases
1949- 1985	168	Large 21	Anshan, Zhenjiang, Daqing, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Nantong, Yangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Wuxi, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Shenyang, Nanjing, Dalian, Changzhou, Chengdu, Ningbo
		Medium 67	Liaoyang, Yueyang, Fushun, Lanzhou, Zhuzhou, Maoming, Weifang, Jiaxing, Zhoukou, Huzhou, Bengbu, Luoyang, Baotou, Qiqihar, Changchun, Dandong, Jiangmen, Xianyang, Jiamusi, Shantou, Kaifeng, Yantai, Foshan, Xi’an, Jining, Xiangfan, Wuhu, Yingkou, Leshan, Jilin, Kunming, Zibo, Urumqi, Huangshi, Anyang, Harbin, Jinan, Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Yancheng, Changsha, Nanchang, Fuzhou, Hefei, Guiyang, Jinhua, Baoji, Mianyang, Zhangjiakou, Hengyang, Handan, Shaoguan, Tangshan, Tai’an, Jinzhou, Taiyuan, Xuzhou, Mudanjiang, Xiangtan, Shenzhen, Liuzhou, Wenzhou, Dongying, Benxi, Datong, Neijiang, Shaoxing
		Small 80	Ma’anshan, Panzhihua, Panjin, Shuangyashan, Jingmen, Xinyu, Jingdezhen, Sanming, Jiujiang, Baoding, Karamay, Xiamen, Xinxiang, Hunjiang, Liupanshui, Huainan, Tieling, Deyang, Liaoyuan, Zaozhuang, Pingdingshan, Chaoyang, Yichang, Fuxin, Tonghua, Changzhi, Yangquan, Jiaozuo, Huaibei, Puyang, Jixi, Jincheng, Xingtai, Chifeng, Chengde, Hegang, Shizuishan, Shiyan, Pingxiang, Tongchuan, Yumen, Sanmenxia, Hebi, Qitaihe, Wuhai, Jiaojiang, Hancheng, Qingtongxia, Chenzhou, Zigong, Qinhuangdao, Baiyin, Tongling, Jinchang, Guangyuan, Ezhou, Ganzhou, Loudi, Anqing, Luzhou, Quzhou, Cangzhou, Nanning, Jingzhou, Lianyungang, Zhanjiang, Changde, Yichun, Xuchang, Yuxi, Tianshui, Yibin, Yiyang, Nanping, Longyan, Yakeshi, Bei’an, Yanbian, Hohhot, Zhuhai
1985- 2001	256	Large 24	Shenzhen, Beijing, Qingdao, Changchun, Huizhou, Dalian, Xiamen, Zhuhai, Shanghai, Tianjin, Foshan, Nanjing, Chongqing, Wuhan, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Ningbo, Shaoxing, Jiangmen, Weihai, Yantai, Changzhou
		Medium 44	Zibo, Anshan, Jilin, Taiyuan, Tangshan, Dongguan, Hefei, Shiyan, Shenyang, Jinan, Wenzhou, Taizhou (Z), Taizhou (J), Lanzhou, Liuzhou, Fuzhou, Chengdu, Yangzhou, Kunming, Daqing, Jiaxing, Huzhou, Quanzhou, Linyi, Zhongshan, Nantong, Weifang, Zhenjiang, Yancheng, Zhaoqing, Harbin, Jinhua, Baoding, Changsha, Shantou, Nanchang, Xiangfan, Xi’an, Jining, Zhengzhou, Xuzhou, Mianyang, Wenzhou, Shijiazhuang
		Small 188	Jiuquan, Handan, Fushun, Liaoyang, Yuncheng, Baotou, Urumqi, Linfen, Panzhihua, Karamay, Changzhi, Loudi, Hechi, Baiyin, Suqian, Dali, Chongzuo, Panjin, Pingdingshan, Wuzhong, Yan’an, Sanmenxia, Wuhu, Guilin, Leshan, Anyang, Zhuzhou, Shaoguan, Jinzhong, Jiaozuo, Xinxiang, Luoyang, Cangzhou, Guiyang, Huai’an, Lianyungang, Yichang, Dezhou, Nanyang, Yueyang, Zaozhuang, Xingtai, Sanming, Chenzhou, Baishan, Chuxiong, Chengde, Yanbian, Honghe, Longyan, Xinyang, Zhangjiakou, Anqing, Qujing, Yuxi, Liaocheng, Zhangzhou, Yunfu, Shangqiu, Tai’an, Hengshui, Jingzhou, Deyang, Hainan, Langfang, Yingkou, Xuchang, Xiaogan, Qinhuangdao, Jieyang, Baoji, Kaifeng, Mudanjiang, Qiqihar, Nanping, Putian, Siping, Wuzhou, Dongying, Ordos, Weinan, Chifeng, Bayingolin, Xianyang, Puyang, Qianjiang, Hebi, Huainan, Yangquan, Tieling, Datong, Lüliang, Huaibei, Liupanshui, Jincheng, Shuozhou, Huaihua, Shizuishan, Fuxin, Jixi, Yulin, Pingxiang, Wuhai, Tongchuan, Ulanqab, Hulunbuir, Qianxinan, Shuangyashan, Hegang, Pingliang, Qitaihe, Benxi, Chuzhou, Huangshi, Dandong, Ezhou, Heng- yang, Ma’anshan, Laiwu, Xiangtan, Zigong, Tongling, Chaozhou, Suizhou, Yingtan, Xining, Qiannan, Xinyu, Jinchang, Shaoyang, Hanzhong, Ganzhou, Baise, Heyuan, Liangshan, Jiayuguan, Xiangxi, Xinzhou, Haixi, Bayannur, Ya’an, Qinzhou, Pu’er, Longnan, Hami, Wenshan, Alxa, Shangluo, Altay, Nujiang, Ganzi, Maoming, Huanggang, Huludao, Quzhou, Tonghua, Jingmen, Jinzhou, Zhumadian, Jiujiang, Yinchuan, Chaoyang, Suihua, Ziyang, Songyuan, Binzhou, Luohe, Zhanjiang, Nanning, Zunyi, Zhoukou, Hohhot, Yibin, Changde, Bengbu, Zhoushan, Lishui, Xianning, Fuyang, Liu’an, Yichun, Luzhou, Suining, Bijie, Enshi, Zhaotong, Yichun, Rizhao, Yangjiang
Period	Number	Category	Directory of bases
2001- 2010	251	Large 22	Zibo, Tangshan, Shenzhen, Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang, Nanjing, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Dalian, Shanghai, Wuxi, Changzhou, Suzhou, Nantong, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Qingdao, Yantai, Foshan, Weifang
		Medium 64	Anshan, Handan, Qingyuan, Kunming, Yingkou, Anyang, Changchun, Taizhou, Liuzhou, Zhuhai, Xiamen, Dongguan, Ordos, Huizhou, Wuhu, Cangzhou, Luoyang, Baotou, Jiaozuo, Langfang, Zhenjiang, Taizhou, Jinhua, Yangzhou, Wenzhou, Zhongshan, Hefei, Xi’an, Daqing, Baoding, Taiyuan, Rizhao, Quanzhou, Binzhou, Yueyang, Heze, Yichang, Linyi, Shaoxing, Liaocheng, Jiangmen, Weihai, Yancheng, Xinxiang, Tieling, Huzhou, Jiaxing, Dezhou, Huai’an, Xuzhou, Xiangfan, Shijiazhuang, Harbin, Nanchang, Jinan, Zaozhuang, Jining, Tai’an, Zhengzhou, Xuchang, Changsha, Chengdu, Dongying, Fuzhou
		Small 165	Maoming, Chengde, Sanmenxia, Tonghua, Panzhihua, Fushun, Linfen, Shaoguan, Lanzhou, Honghezhou, Chifeng, Chenzhou, Karamay, Xining, Jilin, Jinzhou, Yan’an, Zhoukou, Loudi, Urumqi, Zhangjiakou, Pingdingshan, Lüliang, Changzhi, Jinzhong, Yinchuan, Ximeng, Hengshui, Lishui, Heyuan, Zhuzhou, Zigong, De- yang, Wuzhou, Jingmen, Lianyungang, Xingtai, Jiujiang, Neijiang, Huaihua, Yuxi, Yichun, Ji’an, Qinhuangdao, Sanming, Xinyang, Zhumadian, Guilin, Bayannur, Nanyang, Bozhou, Siping, Ziyang, Kaifeng, Shantou, Hulunbuir, Liu’an, Putian, Qujing, Zhanjiang, Zhangzhou, Nanning, Qiqihar, Shangqiu, Hengyang, Tongliao, Baishan, Xianyang, Guiyang, Puyang, Hohhot, Hebi, Yibin, Songyuan, Zhaoqing, Jieyang, Panjin, Datong, Yangquan, Jincheng, Shuozhou, Wuhai, Ulanqab, Jixi, Hegang, Shuangyashan, Qitaihe, Huainan, Huaibei, Dazhou, Liupanshui, Bijie, Yulin, Qingyang, Bazhou, Yuncheng, Xinzhou, Benxi, Dandong, Liaoyang, Chao- yang, Ma’anshan, Tongling, Chizhou, Xuancheng, Ningde, Pingxiang, Xinyu, Yingtan, Ganzhou, Fuzhou, Shangrao, Laiwu, Huangshi, Ezhou, Huanggang, Suizhou, Xiangtan, Xiangxi, Chaozhou, Yunfu, Baise, Hechi, Leshan, Liangshan, Wenshan, Baoji, Weinan, Shangluo, Jiayuguan, Jinchang, Baiyin, Longnan, Altay, Alxa, Huludao, Anqing, Qinzhou, Haikou, Nanchong, Yanbian, Yichun, Jiamusi, Mudan- jiang, Suqian, Quzhou, Suzhou, Nanping, Longyan, Luohe, Xiaogan, Jingzhou, Xiantao, Shaoyang, Yiyang, Yongzhou, Fangchenggang, Luzhou, Bazhong, Zunyi, Chuxiong, Zhoushan, Shiyan, Yangjiang, Mianyang

Table 2

Figure 2

Figure 3

Table 3

Figure 4

Table 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Table 5

References 28

[1]	Boschma R A, Van der Knaap G A, 1997. New Technology and Windows of Locational Opportunity: Indeterminacy, Creativity and Chance. Economics and Evolution. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
[2]	Chen L L, 2016. The Identification and Evolution Mode of Industrial Bases in China. Beijing: The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. (in Chinese)
[3]	Editorial Board of China’s Geography (EBCG), 1952-1964. A Series Books on China’s Economic Geography. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
[4]	Grabher G, 1993. The Weakness of Strong Ties: The Lock in of Regional Development in the Ruhr Area. The Embedded Firm on the Socio-economics of Industrial Networks. New York:Routledge.
[5]	Guo T Y, Lu D D, Zhong S K, 1998. A study on the development of raw and semi-finished materials industries and construction of its production bases along coastal areas in China.Science & Technology Review, (7): 48-52. (in Chinese)
[6]	He C F, Pan F H, Sun L, 2007. Geographical concentration of manufacturing industries in China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 62(12): 1253-1264. (in Chinese)
[7]	He C F, Zhu Y G, Zhu S J, 2010. Industrial attributes, provincial characteristics and industrial agglomeration in China.Acta Geographica Sinica, 65(10): 1218-1228. (in Chinese) doi: 10.11821/xb201010007
[8]	Jin F J, Chen M X, 2010. The evaluation of regional policy in Northeast China since 2003.Economic Geography, 30(8): 1259-1265. (in Chinese)
[9]	Jin F J, Chen M X, Wang J E, 2012. Key Issues of Northeast China Development. Beijing: The Commercial Press. (in Chinese)
[10]	Jin F J, Lu D D, 2004. Development of resource-based cities under the revitalization policy of Northeast China industrial base.Science & Technology Review, (10): 4-6. (in Chinese)
[11]	Jin F J, Zhang P Y, Fan J et al., 2006. Study on the Revitalization and Sustainability of Northeast China. Beijing: The Commercial Press. (in Chinese)
[12]	Li C G, 1996. A study on the mechanism of recession and structure transformation of Northeast old industrial base.Acta Geographica Sinica, 16(2): 106-114. (in Chinese)
[13]	Li C G, Li P X, Tan X Let al., 2003. Situation and countermeasures of industrial structure adjustment and escalation of Northeast China.Acta Geographica Sinica, 23(1): 7-12. (in Chinese)
[14]	Li W Y, Lu D D, Chen H X et al., 1990. China’s Industrial Geography. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
[15]	Lu D D, 2003. Theory and Practice of Regional Development in China. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
[16]	Lu D D, Fan J, 2009. 2050:The Regional Development in China. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
[17]	National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 2002. Industrial Classification for National Economic Activities. Beijing: National Bureau of Statistics. (in Chinese)
[18]	National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 2012. China Cities Statistical Yearbook (2011 Edition). Beijing: China Statistics Press. (in Chinese)
[19]	Pred A R, 1966. The Spatial Dynamics of Urban Industrial Growth 1800-1914:Interpretive and Theoretical Essays. Cambridge: MIT Press.
[20]	Research Group of the Old Industrial Base of the State Council (RGOIBSC), 2013. Plan for the Adjustment and Reconstruction of the Old Industrial Bases throughout the Country (2013-2022). . Plan for the Adjustment and Reconstruction of the Old Industrial Bases throughout the Country (2013-2022). (in Chinese)
[21]	Scott A J, 1988. New Industrial Spaces: Flexible Production Organization and Regional Development in North America and Europe. London: Pion.
[22]	Wang C J, Wang W, 2013. Developing level of old industrial cities and decline mechanism.Journal of Natural Resources, 28(8): 1275-1288. (in Chinese)
[23]	Wang J C, 1982. Discussion on the layout and site selection of China’s petroleum chemical fiber industry.Economic Geography, (3): 194-199. (in Chinese)
[24]	Wang Q Y, 2007. Identification of China’s old industrial base and city.Macroeconomics, (5): 3-7. (in Chinese)
[25]	Zhang L, Lu D D, 1999. Progress of China’s industrial geography in the 20th century.Acta Geographica Sinca, 54(5): 391-400. (in Chinese)
[26]	Zhang P Y, Ma Y J, Liu W Xet al., 2004. New urbanization strategy for revitalizing the traditional industrial base of Northeast China.Acta Geographica Sinica, 59(Suppl.1): 109-115. (in Chinese)
[27]	Zhang W Z, 2009. Theory and Practice of Industrial Development and Planning. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
[28]	Zhang W Z, Dong K G, Tian S C, 2009. Development and evolution of spatial distribution of Chinese petrochemical industry.Geographical Research, 28(5): 1378-1388. (in Chinese) doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-00205-2_9

Category	Large base		Medium base		Small base
Standard	Output value (10⁸ yuan)	National proportion (%)	Output value (10⁸ yuan)	National proportion (%)	Output value (10⁸ yuan)	National proportion (%)
1985	>600	>1	170-600	0.3-1	<170	<0.3
2000	>2300	>1	650-2300	0.3-1	<650	<0.3
2010	>7000	>1	2000-7000	0.3-1	<2000	<0.3

Province	City
Shanxi (2)	Datong (68.53%^③); Yangquan (88.33%^③)
Liaoning (4)	Benxi (89.58%^①); Liaoyang (83.24%^①); Chaoyang (71.12%^①); Huludao (65.21%^①)
Heilongjiang (4)	Mudanjiang (44.73%^④); Jiamusi (67.64%^④); Jixi (54.42%^③); Yichun (38.56%^④)
Anhui (5)	Huaibei (49.02%^③); Huainan (71.22%^③); Wuhu (55.44%^②); Ma’anshan (66.56%^①); Anqing (48.28%^①)
Jiangxi (1)	Pingxiang (74.09%^①)
Henan (2)	Hebi (63.69%^③); Anyang (61.40%^①)
Hubei (4)	Huangshi (72.00%^①); Xiangyang (53.94%^②); Jingzhou (40.93%^④); Shiyan (81.35%^②)
Hunan (2)	Xiangtan (42.19%^①); Shaoyang (36.65%^④)
Guangdong (1)	Maoming (83.76%^①)
Guangxi (1)	Liuzhou (60.15%^②)
Sichuan (4)	Zigong (44.42%^①); Panzhihua (74.87%^①); Luzhou (52.18%^④); Leshan (59.4%^①)
Guizhou (2)	Zunyi (39.93%^④); Liupanshui (61.55%^③)
Shaanxi (1)	Baoji (47.37%^①)
Gansu (3)	Jiayuguan (93.53%^①); Jinchang (97.97%^①); Baiyin (67.96%^①)

Influencing Factor	Small	Medium	Large
Influencing Factor	Light industry led	Basic materials industry led	Equipment manufacturing led
Natural resources	◎◎◎	◎◎	◎
Location	◎	◎◎	◎◎
Infrastructure	◎◎	◎◎	◎◎
Labor	◎	◎◎	◎◎
Market	◎◎	◎◎	◎◎
Science & tech	◎	◎◎◎	◎◎◎
Globalization	◎	◎◎	◎◎◎
Capital	◎	◎◎	◎◎
Policies & systems	◎	◎	◎◎