FENG Zhang-xian, WANG Shi-jun, WANG Xue-jun
Dalian, Shenyang, Changchun and Harbin are four central cities in Northeastern China and dominate the development of Northeastern China not only for their huge scale of economy and large population, but also for their high development of modern industry, competence of innovation and regional influence ability. However, the increasing competition, gaming, integration and coordination among cities that occur during the development of market economy, have brought about the breakthrough of traditional functional relationship among the four cities while the new and organized functional relation is still being formed. The lack of efficient organization and coordination causes conflicts in the functions among the four cities in many fields. To seek the main functions of the four cities, this paper uses Nelson means to classify the functions of each city. The quantitative analysis reveals that although the industrial function is significant, the main functions of the four cities are multifunction as central cities, especially commerce, service, transportation, storage and post industry, etc.
This paper argues that it is vital to orient and coordinate the four cities' functions and relationship. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive consideration should be taken into, including functional background, present conditions and opportunities before the main functions and relation of the four cities could be identified objectively. In the following 15 years, Shenyang, with good historical reserve and inertia, will still be the central place in politics, culture and information. Confronted with competition from other cities' quick development, however, the leading position of Shenyang, especially the role of economic center will be degraded relatively. Dalian will emerge at a high speed by owning excellent sea port and transport conditions, open-up advantages, industrial strength, effects of being a brand city and professional service system, etc. Particularly, the integration of different functions will enable Dalian to be another leading city gradually and the Northeast to have a "double-core" structure. Changchun and Harbin will keep their positions as sub-regional centers (in the mid and north of Northeastern China), but with more clarified and stronger main functions. They will be centers of auto industry and optoelectronic industry, modern base for agriculture industrialization, center for heavy equipment manufacturing, ice-snow tourism, and trade center with Russia. Within the framework of function orientation and relation of the four cities, ordered competition and coordinating development will lead to the formation of growth centers, innovation centers, and open-up frontiers in Northeastern China that will bring the fully-revitalized regional economy and society.
