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The global concern for the level and sources of urban surface soil pollution has been increasing. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of the environmental magnetic method in identifying the sources of urban surface soil pollution in Ningbo, a prominent city in China. To achieve this, magnetic and geochemical measurements were performed on surface soil samples collected from 114 designated sites， supplemented by polarizing microscope observations. The mass-specific magnetic susceptibility values (χ lf) exhibited a wide range, spanning from 25.45 to 1903.85 × 10−8m3kg−1, with an average of 295.45 × 10−8m3kg−1. Notably, lower magnetite concentrations were identified in the urban center, contrasting with higher values observed in the peripheral industrial areas. The average concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Ca were much higher than the background values. Anthropogenic sources such as traffic emissions, construction dust, and industrial processes emerged as the predominant contributors to surface soil pollution in Ningbo. Fuzzy cluster analysis was employed to discern possible relationships between magnetic properties and pollution sources. The results indicated three categories of pollution. Cluster 1 is related to natural (lithogenic and pedogenic) magnetic mineral sources, and the samples contained abundant quartz or feldspar. Notably, these samples are largely unpolluted. Cluster 2 is associated with a combination of natural and anthropogenic sources. Cluster 3 is dominated by spherical magnetic particles formed by high-temperature combustion. In Cluster 3 topsoil samples, ascertained to be contaminated through magnetic analysis, a significant Spearman correlation was observed between magnetic parameters and Cu, Cr, and Fe. In conclusion, magnetic properties provide a swift and effective method for characterizing surface soil pollution in Ningbo, enabling the tracing of sources for trace metals in the surface soil. • Magnetic methods aid in distinguishing the topsoil pollution in port city. • Anthropogenic inputs are the most important sources of surface soil pollution in Ningbo. • Magnetic spheroids were observed in the soil particles from traffic and industrial source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 19th century, China's socioeconomic geography experienced unprecedented spatial changes. Through these spatial transformations, which were caused by the penetration of western capitalism, Chinese cities morphed into epicenters of international trade between Western powers and China. By examining the major transformations having taken place in 19th century Chinese cities, the author investigates unexplained or neglected transformations in three areas: (1) the decline of interdependent inland cities connected by waterways; (2) the simultaneous rise of independent port cities under the influence of the capitalist world-economy; and (3) the forging of port city–hinterland relationships in connection with the capitalist world-economy. It helps to understand the role that port cities have played in the development of China's historical capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the turn of the millennium, waterfront redevelopment has been a new phenomenon in the coastal port cities of China and has become an important component of a global wave. In the context of urbanisation and globalisation, waterfront redevelopment provides not only various opportunities but also unprecedented challenges for the Chinese port cities. From a sustainability perspective, addressing the challenges requires thoroughly analysing the factors driving waterfront redevelopment and discovering the issues facing those coastal port cities. After reviewing the historical process of port development, based on the case of the eastern Dalian port areas, this paper attempts to explore the key factors behind the redevelopment and to discover the main issues facing Dalian cityport. The results show that forces at the global, national and local levels jointly drive redevelopment activities and that some national factors, such as aggressive real estate development in the past decade, play a remarkable role in this phenomenon. Consequently, timing on redevelopment, historic building conservation, reconnection of the waterfront to the city, and building a democratic decision-making process together challenge the sustainable future of redeveloped waterfronts in Dalian cityport and in other historic port cities in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land transportation systems in a port city could contribute to the competitiveness of the port and the economic development of the city. However, in port cities the land transportation system, which includes many interrelated factors, is complex. A system dynamics approach was applied to analyze the land transportation system, which was divided into economy, transport network and transportation investment subsystems. Then, system dynamics models were built to simulate the interactive relationship between the land transportation system in a port city and the economy in the port. The proposed system dynamics models analyze the impact of different transportation levels and the proportion of road and railway investment on the land transportation systems in a port city. Finally, the research takes Tianjin city as an example for numerical analysis, and analyzes the impact of different combinations of transport investment on the land transportation system in a port city. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article describes the development of a long-term economic strategy for Ningbo, which is the largest non-container and fourth-largest container port in China. During the period of ‘reform and opening up’, the port expanded rapidly and there was large-scale growth of port-related industries. Since the turn of the century there has been a move to a more diversified economy emphasizing service industries. Following a review of the experience of other first- and second-tier port cities around the world, a strategy for Ningbo’s economic transformation has been drawn up, with three main strands: achieving industrial transformation (the core objective), advancing the regional position of Ningbo among adjacent cities (the major programmes), and urbanization (the driving force). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]