The Emergence and Economic Restructuring of Two Global Super Megacity-Regions in China: Comparing the Pearl River and Yangtze River Deltas

Abstract

The Pearl River Delta (PRD) and Yangtze River Delta (YRD) have taken different paths and entered into different episodes of development during their emergence as global super megacity-regions. By reviewing studies on the underlying forces shaping the pathways of the two deltas, this chapter discusses the rise of the PRD, the “catching-up” of the YRD, in the past and their recent development trajectories. Their economic transition follows similar trends evolving from trade-related activities, manufacturing industries, to the rise of producer services and innovation-oriented industries. Their spatial transformation is characterized as a shift towards more polycentric and networked geographical patterns. The dissimilarities of their development trajectories are attributed to the economic reform and opening-up in China in a gradual manner, in both geographical and institutional senses, and combined efforts of multilevel and multi-sector stakeholders.