Unit 1 - Shenzhen, China - Megacity

Question 1

Where is Shenzhen located?

Answer 1

• South-East China
• on the eastern bank of the Pearl River
• near the China South-East Ocean and the river, so convenient to transport and trade
• close to the border with Hong Kong (well developed, which helps Shenzhen’s economy)

Question 2

What was the Chinese Government’s aim forming the SEZs in 1980?

Answer 2

• in 1980, four SEZs were established, including Shenzhen → was an attempt to encourage foreign companies to invest in China
• to develop links between Chinese companies and foreign companies
• to introduce foreign technologies into China
• to attract foreign money as investment into China
• to establish experimental areas of capitalism within China
• to employ many young people who were waiting for jobs

Question 3

How is the population in Shenzhen?

Answer 3

• large number of undocumented workers who had come to Shenzhen and working without official papers
• dependency ratio at 10.62%
• establishment of hundreds of new factories led to huge demand for labour → majority of population are migrants
• more female than male residents
• economically-active group is over 90%

Question 4

What are the challenges of the megacity?

Answer 4

• high population density causes lack of housing and homelessness
• limited land
• shortage of energy and water
• demographic pressures and environmental contamination
• only high-rise housing blocks to accommodate the population

Question 5

What is a megacity?

Answer 5

• a very large city metropolitan area, typically with a population of more than 10 million people