Shanghai-Nanjing-Hangzhou area has the most developed economy and highest urbanization in China,and it is also the largest urban agglomerationin China.This region includes Shanghai Municipality, 40 Municipalities and 50 counties of Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province.It covers a total area of 99,300 Km² and has a population of 20,950,000,and its urbanized degree is as high as 38%.This region has advantageous geographical location,high intensified agriculture,flourishing commodity economy,accessible transportation and developed manufacturing industries.Based on the open and reform policy,it has been absorbing foreign capitals and developing modern export-oriented economy,which promote the development of urban agglomeration.In recent years,infrastructural facilities such as Power,transportation and communication are enhanced which increase the urban growth and modernization.
With the growth of industrialization and urbanization,two characteristics of urban spacial expansion appear.On the one hand,the city continues its polarization which results in intedsified urban landuse and modern overpass transportation;on the other hand,the relations among cities, and between city and rural areas are increased,and urbanized areas expand, while stepping to the 21th century,Shanghai-Nanjing-Hangzhou area urban agglomeration will show its modern urban functions just like those in developed countries, such as central linkages, modernized and internationalized Megalopolics, and promote other cities in the region to form multiple functional, intensified, close-interrelated, export-oriented urban agglomeration.