Abstract:

As the scales of population and economy growing up continually, China’s regional development is facing a greater concrete challenge from its resources supply and environmental protection. Our intent is to place the changing pattern of man-land relationship in China’s regional development. A lengthy time perspective is combined with a cross-element approach—five basic natural resources and environment—and addressed through two general models. The findings are salutary. First, the resource and environment base of the seven regions are very diversified. Secondly, rapid economic growth is the determining factor to promote the polarization of the man-land relationship in China’s regional development. Finally, Northeast China is the last hope for the country’s future development when the over-intensity of human activities in most parts of East and Central China, and the over-fragile environment in West. The implications of such findings for China’s sustainable development and environmental management are enormous.

Key words: economic development, man-land relationship, resource and environment