Activities
Activity 1
On a map of China, find Shanghai, the Huangpo river, and Pudong.
On a map of the Far East, find the other main cities of the Asian Economic Corridor: Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
Activity 2
The recent rapid development within the Asian Economic Corridor means that other areas in less favoured locations could be left behind. Discuss what consequences this might have. It may help to think in terms of similar problems in the UK, where rapid growth in the south-east has disadvantaged other regions.
Activity 3
Using what you have learned from the programme, your own research and the information in these Net Notes, list the commercial and industrial activities that you think affect the way the city of Shanghai grew and developed in the past, the way it is developing now, and the way it may develop in the future.
Activity 4
List five factors which have contributed to the recent regeneration of the Pudong area.
Activity 5
Discuss any similar urban regeneration projects that you know of in your own country (for example, inner-city renewal, the development of docklands in many cities, and new developments in transport and communications).
Are there any factors in common with the redevelopment of Pudong?
Activity 6
Below is a list of statements. Working in pairs, choose the six statements with which you most strongly agree. Rank them in rough order of importance.
- A. New freeways are necessary to keep traffic flowing.
- B. Transport planning must make a priority of public transport because private car use is not sustainable in large cities.
- C. It is important to design cities which will attract high levels of foreign investment.
- D. Innovative architecture raises the profile of a city.
- E. Property development is important because it fuels economic growth.
- F. Rapid development gives rise to property speculation, which can siphon off funds which would be better used for more productive investment.
- G. Development must be sensitive to the needs of local people.
- H. It is important for people to live within easy reach of their work.
- I. Redevelopment should involve a balance of expensive and cheap housing to create a mixed community.
- J. Where slum clearance is necessary, the benefits of new housing outweigh the disadvantages of breaking up established communities.
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Once you have decided on your six most important statements, use them to think about how Shanghai is being developed. Does it fit in with your ideas or not? Why?
Activity 7
Pudong will be particularly strong in what are known as ‘service industries’. One example of a service industry is banking. How many other service industries can you identify?
Why are they important in modern economies?
Activity 8
Use the ‘development compass rose’ (see the Introduction section of these Net Notes) to organise your knowledge. Are your answers to the questions on the diagram any different after watching the programme? Why?
