Metropolitan Areas

by Li Zhuoxi

City clusters are the main forms of urbanization and important platforms to support national economic growth， promote regional coordinated development and participate in international competition and cooperation.

Metropolitan areas are regions in city clusters， encircling a big city and usually affording an hour commute or less. China aims to build several metropolitan areas with global influence by 2035， according to the guidelines released by the National Development and Reform Commission.

The concept of actively building metropolitan areas is not new for many developed countries， which have been able to improve the influence of big cities in the city clusters and strengthen coordination between cities and surrounding suburbs in many ways.