How to Develop into An International Metropolis in the Context of the Silk Road Economic Belt —— A Case Study of Xi’an〔*〕

Chen Weifeng，Qian Xiaoping

(Business College Xi’an University，Xi’an Shaanxi710065)

Ⅰ．The current situation of Xi’an in the context of the Silk Road E-conomic Belt

1．Necessity

Xi’an explicitly proposes the strategic development plan of building international metropolis in 2010，becoming the third city undertaking international metropolis construction after Beijing and Shanghai．It is in a brand-new development phase．

Xi’an is a historical and cultural city of China．As the largest city of northwestern China，it boasts unique regional advantage．It is the start of the ancient Silk Road，one of the four greatest ancient cities and world-class tourism city．It has modern transportation network and is the most important transportation junction in northwestern China．Besides，the preliminary formation of western triangle economic circle and the enlargement of urban framework have offered necessary conditions for the construction of an international metropolis．

Xi’an itself also boasts great advantages of long history and splendid culture．As one the four great ancient cities of the world，it is the cradle of Chinese civilization and the carrier of Chinese culture．It has many places of interest and scenic spots．It also boasts great education and science power，ranking the third in the nationwide after Beijing and Shanghai．It is one of the three educational and scientific research centers．It is both the requirement of national development strategy and the inexorable trend of its development to build it into an international metropolis．

2．Current situation

The current process of building Xi’an into an international metropolis boasts distinctive development system．The construction of Fengwei new town and Jingwei new district is growing vigorously．The great Xi’an under construction includes Xi’an，Xianyang，Yangling，Fuping，Fufeng，Huangling，Tongchuan，Weinan，Huayin and Zhashui，involving Chengdu，Chongqing，Wuhan，Zhengzhou，Taiyuan，Baotou，Yinchuan and Lanzhou．Xi’an has become world-leading tourist destination，the regional commercial and trade convention center and the world city of culture．The core city，the main urban area of great Xi’an，three sub-center cities，Yanliang，Lintong and Huxian，eight new towns，Zhouzhi，Lantian，Gaoling，Jingyang，Sanyuan，Fuping，Changning and Hongqing，seek coordinated development．

3．Evaluation index system

The project of building Xi’an into an international metropolis is in the early stage．The primary goal of the“13th Five-Year plan”of Xi’an is building it into an international metropolis．Shaanxi provincial government and Xi’an municipal government have designed a series of evaluation system concerning the construction of a regional and professional international metropolis．

In order to build Xi’an into the central city of the Silk Road economic belt and international metropolis，the evaluation system of the“13th Five-Year plan”of Xi’an includes 20 anticipated?targets and nine obligatory targets，namely eight indicators of economic development，four indicators of education of science and technology，ten indicators of resource and environment，seven indicators of people’s life，adding up to 29 indicators of four categories．

Ⅱ．Regional economic development of Xi’an

1．Economic development of the three old districts

The old districts of Xi’an include Old City District，Beilin District and Lianhu District，the three core districts whose economic development started at early time in Xi’an．The three old districts are the earliest components of Xi’an urban area as well as the core zone of Xi’an．The name of“old Xi’an”refers to the three districts，which play an important role in the process of building Xi’an into an international metropolis．The three old districts have established perfect commercial service industry，modern industry and tourism industry in the course of the development of district economy in Xi’an．

2．Economic development of the three new districts

The new three districts of Xi’an include Yanta District，Weiyang District and Baqiao District．With the enlargement of urban framework and the increasing of urban population，Xi’an has gradually developed into the northern，southern and eastern part of the core zones．The current three new districts have already become important parts of Xi’an urban area as well as the important engine of the economic development of Xi’an．

Yanta District，located in the southern suburbs of Xi’an，is known as the“city of culture”of Xi’an because of the large quantity of colleges，universities and scientific research institutes．

Weiyang District，located in the northern suburbs of Xi’an，is the new administration center of Xi’an．Great changes have taken place in Weiyang after years of development，which has transformed this distant suburb into the financial ecological zone of China．

Baqiao District is located in the eastern suburbs of Xi’an，the eastern gate of Xi’an．It is called as the textile city because of numerous textile industries in the zone．

The new zones of Xi’an，which are the major components of the main urban area，have witnessed rapid development and unique economic development mode．

3．Economic development of the three suburban districts

The newest districts of Xi’an are three suburban districts，namely Chang’an District，Yanliang District and Lintong District．

Chang’an District，located in the southern part of Xi’an main urban area，has distinct geographic advantage．Chang’an District，with its nice ecological environment，is the water source and green ecological barrier of Xi’an．Currently，Chang’an District is enjoying rapid economic growth and constantly upgrading economic structure．Chang’an District，as an important part of Xi’an，proposes the development idea of“plate economy”．

Yanliang District is the aviation industry base of Xi’an．It focuses on aviation industry supplemented by automobile making and innovative materials．Yanliang District is also the trade center and material distribution center in the Weibei Di strict．

Lingtong District is known for the Qin Shi Huang’s Buried Sculpture Legion．The abundant tourism resources have attracted many heads of state and numerous tourists home and abroad．

The three suburban districts of Xi’an，which used to be counties，have their respective emphasis on economic development in the process of building Xi’an into an international metropolis．

4．Economic development of the four counties around Qinling Mountains and Weihe River

The three counties around Qinling Mountains are Nanzhi County，Hu County and Lantian County，and Gaoling County is along the Weihe River．The four counties have gained some economic achievements in the process of building Xi’an into an internationalmetropolis．ZhouzhiCounty，known as“golden Zhouzhi”，is an important national agricultural base and the major source of kiwi fruit．Hu County，known as“silver Hu”，is the renowned painting town of China and has abundant tourism resource．Lantian County，known as beautiful jade，focuses on agriculture and rich tourism resources．Gaoling County，located along the Weihe River，features agriculture．

The four counties used to be suburban districts of Xi’an．They mainly focus on agriculture，which lag behind in economy．With the opening of Qinling Guanzhong loop line，transportation has become much more convenient in the four districts．

Ⅲ．The development path of Xi’an in the context of the Silk Road Economic Belt

On the basis of comparing advantages and exerting the advantages of competitive industries in each county and district，we should make overall plans and take into consideration of all factors in the process of building Xi’an into an international metropolis．The regional restriction should be broken and the innovative route chosen so as to boost the coordinated development of economic society in all districts．

1．The development pattern of“five districts，one international harbor area and two bases”

Effective attempts have been made by the Shaanxi provincial government and Xi’an municipal government in the integration of Xi’an and Xianyang，the construction of Guanzhong-Tianshui economic zone and international metropolis in order to coordinate the urban and rural development and break the restrictions of administrative divisions．Presently，there is a development mode of“five districts，one harbor and two bases”，which takes district advantage the priority and breaks the traditional restrictions of administrative divisions，thus making splendid achievements．

2．The“nine-grid-pattern”economic development

Xi’an downtown shows the pattern of nine grids，which provides necessary conditions for the coordinated development of regional economy．The city wall of the Ming Dynasty is the core area of Xi’an in the process of constructing international metropolis．We should strive to develop modern service industry，and build an international trade center，financial service center，culture center，tourism center and headquarter center to enhance the coordinated development of regional economy．The three old districts and three new districts，as the major center of city development in the future construction，will constantly encourage the outlying development so as to form four groups:Liucunbao in northwestern Xi’an，Changning new district of Chang’an District，Xinzhu near Chanba，Hongqing of Baqiao District，three new towns:Lintong，Yanliang and Jingwei，and four central towns:Zhouzhi，Huxian，Lantian and Gaoling，thus realizing the goal of urban and rural integration．

3．The function-oriented coordinated development of the regional economy

13 counties and districts of Xi’an city have put forward different economic development modes according to different functions．For instance，the new urban areas strive to construct trade and modern service industry plates，and the modern commercial plate of Changle Road strives to develop commercial and financial center and modern logistics center．Lianhu District has built the commercial service center and accelerated the construction of new area．With the aim of building the new town in eastern Xi’an，Baqiao District has accelerated the overall development of textile．Weiyang District，as the core area of Xi’an Xianyang integration，has explored the city space and upgraded city economic structure．Chang’an District aims at constructing a science and education area and serving as the green backyard of Xi’an．Yanliang District aims at constructing a first-class aviation new town of China．Zhouzhi County takes protecting water resource and the ecological environment of Qinling the priority．Hu County strives to develop modern agriculture and plate economy．Gaoling has introduced modern agricultural projects，and made effective attempts to improve the urban construction．All counties and districts have offered development ideas for the coordinated development of the regional economy of great Xi’an．They should further dig out the new economic growth points and contribute to the coordinated development of regional economy．

Notes:

〔1〕张宝通、孙笃信:《西安在关中—天水经济区建设中的龙头带动作用》，《西安财经学院学报》。

〔2〕惠娜:《西安国际化大都市建设路径研究》，西北大学。

〔3〕裴成荣:《西安城市空间布局及国际化大都市发展战略研究》，《人文杂志》。