Abstract
Located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in Sichuan Province of southwest China, Panzhihua, a prefectural-level city, was the first Special Zone selected for resource development in China after 1949. This Special Zone city has been developed based on its rich mineral resources. After more than 60 years of struggle, Panzhihua has been transformed from an industrial city dominated by mineral resource–related industries into a diversified economy. This article traces the historical development of Panzhihua and examines how various versions of urban planning have been employed as effective tools to reshape the city’s built environment to promote economic growth. It also discusses the latest efforts undertaken by the City Government of Panzhihua for industrial transformation and economic growth against the background of global economic recession and local resource exhaustion. The lessons and experiences learnt from the case of Panzhihua city serve as lessons for other resource-reliant cities trapped in the middle of urban transition towards sustainable development.
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