Extended Metropolitan Region

Pacific Asia has been the fastest growing region of the world in 1980-2000. Amidst hectic growth, rapid 'regional urbanization' appeared around their major cities, often the national capitals and port cities. Such a pattern of concentrated growth has led to the formation of a new mega urban region - the extended metropolitan region (EMR). This article explores the formation and dynamics of the EMR using China's EMRs as examples. Since it has adopted the Opening and Policy in 1978, China has registered continuous and rapid economic growth as the country has become increasingly integrated into global capitalist economic processes. Within this period, the most rapidly growing areas have been the three EMRs. The article first discusses the concept of the EMR and deliberates on the method of their delimitation. It then maps out the increasing significance of these regions in the Chinese economy and the important roles of global economic processes in their rapid growth. The article concludes that concentrated growth in the form of the EMRs will continue, and that further attention to improve the EMR concept and the related study methods will enhance our understanding on urban regional development under intensified economic globalization.