Urban Sustainable Development of the Yangtze River Delta Area

The Yangtze River Delta Area, renowned for its vigorous economic development, has actually had a strong demonstration effect on other surrounding regions or areas. On the basis of analysis of these three principal factors in terms of economy, society, and environment, this paper attempts to set up a synthetic index system measuring the sustainable development capacity of the 16 central cities located in the Yangtze River Delta Area and then makes an overall evaluation accordingly by applying the method combining grey fixed weight clustering with leveled eigenvalue. Results from the quantitative methodology employed herein disclose some problems existing in these cities such as the lower proportion of the tertiary industry in GDP, unreasonable economic growth pattern, deteriorating environment, and unbalanced development between these cities. Subsequently, the authors from regional perspective raise constructive strategies and suggestions as to how to totally improve the sustainable development ability of the Yangtze River Delta Area.