Guide
On September 8, the 13th session of the 2024 China Urban Planning Annual Conference "Urban-Rural Integration, Shared Development" was successfully held in Hefei. At the meeting, Zhang Li, Secretary-General of the Small Town Planning Branch of the Society and Associate Professor of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University, gave an invited keynote report entitled "Small Towns in East (South) Asia in the Post-epidemic Era: New Observations from the Perspective of Urban-Rural Integration 2024".
Number of characters: 4586 characters
Reading time: 14 minutes
Zhang Li
Secretary-General of the Small Town Planning Branch of the Society, Associate Professor of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University
Jump out of China to see China.
This report is based on my team's visits to foreign urban and rural construction plans in the summer of 2024, and is an observation and reflection on the new phenomena, new problems, and new goals of urban-rural integration development in East and Southeast Asian countries after the epidemic. Whether it is the successful experience of the first-mover countries in East Asia or the difficulties and countermeasures of the same developing countries, we can form a comparison with the experience of the mainland, which will help us to grasp the stage of urban and rural development more clearly.
01
The conceptual category of small towns in East (South) Asia
Understanding the administrative systems of different countries is the basis for benchmarking foreign situations with the realities of mainland development.
1. Administrative divisions of Japan
Japan's administrative districts are divided into two levels, the first level is the capital, province, prefecture, and prefecture, and the second level is the district, city, town, village, and district. The municipalities of the second-level administrative divisions correspond to the concept of small towns. Among them, a town is equivalent to a township, and a village is equivalent to a township. As of October 2023, there are currently 1,718 municipalities in Japan. There are three large-scale mergers in Japan, namely the Meiji (1888~1889) merger, the Showa (1953~1961) merger, and the Heisei (1999~2010) merger. The expedition focused on Tama New Town and Hibara Village in the western part of Tokyo, and Nagayama City and Chiba New Town in the east.
2. Administrative divisions of Korea
Korea's administrative division system is divided into three levels, each with its own domain. The first level is called the Metropolitan Government and includes 1 Special City (Seoul), 1 Special Autonomous City (Sejong), 6 Metropolitan Cities, 6 provinces (excluding the "North 5 Provinces"), and 3 Special Autonomous Provinces (Jeju, Sejong, and Gangwon), for a total of 17 provinces. The second level is the basic local government, which includes 73 municipalities, 86 counties, and 69 autonomous regions. The third level is the grassroots self-government, which matches the concept of small towns in the mainland, including noodles, eup, and dong, facing Yingxiang, Yi corresponding to the town, and Dong corresponding to the street of the city. Under the surface, yi, and cave can also be divided into li and tong. The Korea expedition departed from Busan and spanned three provinces: South Gyeongsang Province, North Jeolla Province, and North Chungcheong Province.
3. Administrative divisions of Indonesia
Indonesia's administrative regions are divided into five levels: country-province-city-district-village, of which the city/regency level corresponds to China's prefecture-level cities and county-level cities, and the sub-districts correspond to towns and sub-districts. The village is the most basic administrative unit of the Indonesian government, which is divided into two categories: urban villages and rural villages, with civil servants serving as civil servants. The study of Indonesia originated in the late 80s when Canada scholar McGee proposed the phenomenon of Asian urban-rural integration (Desakota). At present, Indonesia's per capita GDP has reached 5,000 US dollars, and the urbanization model has gradually changed. The main objective of this study is to observe whether there is a new model of urban-rural integration in Indonesia 30 years after the Desakota hypothesis was proposed. The survey focused on the Jakarta-Bandung metropolitan area, and visited the industrially developed Karawang Regency, Padaralang and Dekarur along the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, as well as villages with relatively slow development and more significant agricultural characteristics.
02
A New Observation of Urban and Rural Areas in East Asia
1. Rural revitalization of Hibara Village in Japan
I visited Hibara Village at the end of 2016, and this visit is the first time in eight years that I have come to know and think again. Hibara Village is a typical agricultural area located to the west of Tokyo and partly bordered by Kanagawa and Yamanashi prefectures; It covers an area of 105 square kilometers, and 93% of the total area is forested, with very little flat land. As of January 1, 2024, there are 190 households in Hibara Village with a population of 1,986. In 2022, the ageing rate (the proportion of people aged 65 and over) was 52.2%, which is basically the same as eight years ago, and the population size has even increased slightly. In 2016, Hihara Village was a relatively decadent and hopeless mountain village, but when we visit it again in 2024, it has shown a healthier state of development, and the village industry has unearthed local products such as toys, potatoes, and shochu. In order to solve the problem of the increase in vacant housing due to the aging population, local organizations have helped to clean up the dwellings, sublet and resell them, and attract new people to move in, and these efforts have also achieved some success. Comparing the construction of Hihara Village in 2016 and 2024, we can see the changing trend of its refinement and regularization, and the rural area will further develop for the better after the economy is developed.
The investigation of Hihara Village can form the following understanding: First, after eight years of efforts, the construction of facilities has been further improved, and the industrial development has gradually activated the vitality of the village, avoiding the continuous shrinkage of the rural population. Although the decline of the native rural population may be irreversible, it can be planned and practiced to maintain a certain steady state of rural size and vitality. Second, under the condition of good natural conditions, Hibara Village has not built holiday residences, because it is related to the buyer's expectations of the housing market. This is also a warning to the current housing market in mainland China, if there is no expectation of an increase in the housing market, then the market for second homes is very limited.
Hibara Village in 2016
Hibara Village in 2024
2. Japan's Tama New Town Regeneration Plan
Located in the Tama Hills in the southwestern part of Tokyo, Tama New Town is the only new town in Tokyo, and it can also be said to be a sleeping castle, which is connected to the city center by rail. It takes about 40 minutes from Tama Center Station to Shinjuku Station. Shinjo in Japan is very common to cross administrative districts, often crossing multiple municipalities. Since Shinjo in Japan is a region, not an independent administrative body, long-term interaction between the upper and lower levels of the government and support from higher levels may be necessary for Shinjo.
Tama New Town was planned and constructed in 1965, and in 1971 the Suwa and Nagayama areas of Tama City were initially occupied, and subsequent development and construction in the area was carried out. Today, we are facing the problem of aging facilities and an aging population. The renovation and maintenance of facilities and the seismic renewal of old buildings require a lot of investment. Therefore, Tama New Town has taken advantage of the road to the railway, strengthened its connection with the central city, and sought more development opportunities. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is also supporting Tama New Town by formulating a regeneration plan for housing, ·, education, and · jobs.
Community facilities in Tama New Town in 2024
3. Adjustment of the planning of Chiba New Town in Japan
Chiba New Town is located about 25~45km east of central Tokyo, 2~3km from north to south, and about 18km from east to west, and is divided into 6 blocks. It also spans multiple administrative regions, and the plates are scattered. As of the end of May 2024, Chiba New Town has 45,200 households and a population of 109,200. The spatial pattern of Chiba New Town is closely organized around the transportation line, with rail transit and expressways as the central axis, which is a true TOD model. The common practice of drawing a square around a site in China does not practice the true concept of TOD.
The planning and construction of Chiba New Town also reflects one of the common problems in the development of new towns. After the economic bubble in Japan in the 90s, the planning of Chiba New Town has undergone continuous adjustment and maintenance, adjusting the layout plan according to the development priorities of different periods. At the current stage of development, Chiba New Town has chosen to focus on the development of a big data center based on its location, geology, and facilities, and positions it as a data center between the center of Tokyo and Narita Airport. There are currently many financial institutions that have data centers located in the new city, such as Google, Amazon and other global IT-related companies, which involve a limited number of human resources and will not create many jobs, but because the property tax has increased by an order of magnitude, they can be used to fund community development, such as education, childcare and infrastructure development.
The planning and layout of Chiba New Town
4. Korea Agricultural Returnee Support Center
The Gaochang County Agricultural Returnee Resource Center helps young farmers settle down through financial subsidies for agricultural production. In terms of financial assistance, it is supported by the state for a period of three years. Subsidy of 1.1 million won per month for the first year; Subsidy of 1,000,000 won per month for the second year; The subsidy for the third year is 900,000 won/month. After three years, the local government will provide 500,000 won per month to young farmers over the next two years. Ninety percent of the successful applicants for the program are young farmers. In addition, the government also provides assistance in the areas of housing subsidies, rental of agricultural tools, and agricultural production training, so as to attract urban youth and rural migrants to return to their hometowns to engage in agricultural production and supplement the vitality of rural areas. In addition, the community has set up farmers' associations, women farmers' organizations and specialized technical guidance associations to provide educational and financial support.
Agricultural machinery facility storage room at the Agricultural Return Resource Center in Gochang-gun, Korea
Discussion at the Agricultural Returnee Resource Center in Gochang-gun, Korea
5. A comfortable haven for rural youth in Korea
The construction of a youth rural shelter in Socheon-gun is part of the "Youth Rural Home" project launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Korea in 2019 to help young people settle in rural areas. The project is mainly designed for young rural householders, including young farmers, aged 8~39 years old. Attract city dwellers. The project requires a large capital investment, and a total of 9.375 billion won was spent during the three-year construction period, of which 4.012 billion won was provided by the state, 1 billion won by the province, and 4.3625 billion won by the county, so the input-output ratio is a key factor to consider in the maintenance of the project.
A rural comfort nest for young people in Shuchuan County
6. Urban renewal in Korea
The visit investigated two modes of urban renewal: state-led and residents' self-organization. Among them, Gongju City Urban Renewal is led by the state, and in 2014, it launched the urban open regeneration project, and plans to invest 350.77 billion won in 10 years (2020-2029) to promote 14 projects, including the restoration and maintenance of Xiongjin King Fortress, the creation of the Baekje-dong World Heritage Site Exploration Base, and the verification and maintenance of the Baekje-dong World Heritage Site. At present, it is progressing in phases and phases. After the start of urban renewal, the improvement of municipal and public service facilities to meet the needs of residents for daily use, but the value of real estate has not increased significantly, and there is a lack of funds to manage and maintain the operation of community facilities after the completion of the project, and the leadership, operation and management part is completely vacant.
In order to change the dilapidated state of the community, residents took the initiative to ask the city government for support in urban renewal, prepared a planning proposal, and submitted a project application. In 2018, they successfully secured financial support for urban renewal to establish a community center. The project starts in 2018 and ends in 2024. In terms of housing repairs, the government bears 70% of the funds, residents bear 30%, and the construction of some public facilities is also invested by the government. Although such renewal projects have improved the quality of life, they are mainly supported by the government, and the survey did not find any successful cases of fully market-oriented operation.
← urban renewal of Gongju City
↓ Suncheon Jeonjeon-dong "revitalized" community
03
A New Observation of Urban and Rural Areas in Southeast Asia
1. The current situation of rural development in Indonesia
Indonesia's current urban-rural development is still generally deficient compared to 15 to 20 years ago on the mainland, when the mainland's per capita GDP was comparable to that of Indonesia today. Rural infrastructure is weak, there is a lack of clean water sources, and piped water is not widely available in rural areas, and villagers mainly rely on wells for their water. There is a lack of sewage treatment facilities, sewage is discharged directly, and garbage is everywhere in the river. The construction of road transportation is backward, and the planning and implementation of urban infrastructure development are not integrated. In regional development, there is no priority for infrastructure investment. After the opening of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, the roads from the stations along the way to the countryside have not been built. Lack of convenience. The driving force for the subsequent development of the surrounding area is insufficient. The coverage of public services is also poor, and it is sometimes necessary to rely on the private sector to supplement it.
In terms of labor, the labor force from the countryside has moved to industrial parks. The survey visited and interviewed Karawang Regency, a region around Jakarta that has developed industries and formed high-quality, large-scale industrial parks. The minimum wage in Karawang Industrial Zone is about 2,600 yuan per month, while the daily wage for agricultural workers is about 75 yuan. Because the income of industrial parks is higher than that of agricultural cultivation, and the built environment is significantly better than that of rural areas, the migration of labor force to industrial areas is significant. Only 30 percent of the villagers surveyed are engaged in agriculture and 70 percent work in factories. There is a shortage of agricultural labor, and in order to seek a better livelihood, young people rarely receive agricultural planting education and do not have farming skills. The role of the government in the training of young farmers is also limited.
Rural areas of Karawang Regency
National Industrial Park, Karawang Regency
2. The current state of urban development in Indonesia
Indonesia's built-up areas are highly sprawling, with very high construction density in old towns, and small building scales, most of which are low-rise bungalows. Informal settlements such as urban villages still exist, the government's governance capacity is insufficient to clear slums, and large-scale construction projects such as high-speed rail stations have failed to bring benefits to low-income groups. Although the quality of life in urban villages has improved compared to eight or nine years ago due to higher incomes and self-organized participation of communities, the overall pace of urban renewal is very slow. The total number of idle buildings and low-level construction areas is very large, and the government cannot recover the idle land and renew it in a unified manner.
Traffic problems are a major crux of Indonesia's urban development, and traffic congestion in Jakarta and Bandung is very serious, due to the low level of urban road network construction, especially the lack of expressways or urban trunk roads, so the inefficient transportation on the ground, motorcycles and private cars are the main means of transportation. At the same time, the public transport system is weak, and the subway cannot be built due to geological reasons, and shared minibuses are more common.
The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway built by China
Discussion with village chiefs in Cileunyi District, West East Java, Indonesia
04
Reflection and discussion
Comparing the results of the three countries, it can be seen that Japan attaches great importance to the excavation of resource background, and is good at seizing the opportunities of the times with the times. For example, the innovative use of timber and other resources in the new development stage of Hihara Village has brought impetus to maintain the vitality of the village. Tama New Town and Chiba New Town are constantly adjusting their planning positioning and spatial layout to meet the requirements of the times and ensure healthy development.
In terms of urban renewal, Korea does not overemphasize community participation, but promotes the interaction between the upper and lower levels of government support in an organized manner, and the government's investment is not a one-time fund, but through evaluation to ensure the efficiency of renewal actions. Meticulous financial plans have been made for the activation of grassroots communities, the use of new technologies, and the intelligent transformation of production and life. Resources are not put in place all at once, but cultivated for sustainability.
Although Indonesia has backward construction conditions, there are some excellent parts of the planning work. For example, the construction of a map of the system has been implemented at all levels of government in the country, and when discussing with local planning departments or government departments, you can directly call accurate image maps, status maps and planning maps with accurate coordinates through geographic information software based on ArcGIS, which has been ahead of the mainland.
Discussion with the Director of the Department of Development, Planning and Research, West Java Province, Indonesia
This briefing is mainly a preliminary sharing of recent research information, and further systematic combing will be carried out in the later stage.
(Korea visiting team: Zhang Li, Zhao Min, Wang De and graduate students; Japan visiting team: Zhang Li, Zhao Min, Wang De and graduate students; Indonesian Visiting Team: Zhang Li and Graduate Students)
Contributed by: Small Town Planning Branch of Urban Planning Society of China
This article has been reviewed by the reporter, and the text is collated: Tan Tian, Tongji University.
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