China
What exactly constitutes the spatial extent of the city? For these aggregations, we used the Global Human Settlement Layer Urban Center Database (GHS-UCDB) to define the boundaries of the city. These cities -- or urban centers -- cover areas that are densely populated and built-up, and so may extend beyond the spatial borders of these cities that we may be familiar with. The GHS area is shaded in blue.
View China on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in China as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.01, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 3.05, 3.18, 2.93 and 2.96. Disconnectivity in street construction in China follows a zig-zag trend. In 1991-2000, street construction was most disconnected, while construction was most connected in 1976-1990.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in China spans a total of 1984626 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 2.96, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness.
Effect on the aggregate network: New construction in each period adds to the total stock of streets, but does not change streets that have already been built. Therefore, it has a limited effect on the street network as a whole. The SNDis of the aggregate street network in the respective time periods are 3.05, 3.11, 3.07 and 3.01. The aggregate street network in China increased in disconnectivity initially,but the trend has turned around after 1990.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in China followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease. To get a sense of how street development has changed in China, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Guangdong, Zhejiang and Shandong. Out of the three regions, Guangdong and Zhejiang do not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Guangdong was at its lowest in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Zhejiang peaked in 1976-1990.
How do development practices in China fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in China was the 124th-most disconnected out of the 155 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in China has become more connected. China ranked 65th in 1975, 82nd in 1976-1990, 122nd in 1991-2000 and 124th in 2001-2014.
The largest city in China is Guangzhou, with a population of 40589900 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Guangzhou as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.69, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Guangzhou followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in China is Yangchang with an SNDi of 10.29, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Nanpu with an SNDi of -2.58, which is very well-connected. See trends for these cities: Nanpu, Yangchang
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in China peaked in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in China, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Guangdong, Zhejiang and Shandong. Out of the three regions, Guangdong does not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Guangdong was at its lowest in 1991-2000.
To date, China is the 95th-most disconnected out of the 155 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, the street network in China has become more connected. China ranked 65th in 1975, 79th in 1976-1990, 87th in 1991-2000 and 95th in 2001-2014.
The largest city in China is Guangzhou, with a population of 40589900 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Guangzhou as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.69, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Guangzhou rose steadily.