Urban tensions in the Yangtze river Delta

Until mid last century the urban development in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) was dominated by water. A very efficient and ingenious maze of waterways contributed crucially to urban and economic growth. Besides being China's economic heart, also a wide range of problems can be found here. Today it gives is a huge discrepancy between urban and rural. Urban settlements and industries are mushrooming with worrisome consequences for environment, food security and water security. Local authorities consider scarcity of land as the key problem, often for economic reasons. Can the YRD urbanize further without compromising quality of life? Is land reclamation a proper solution? Are there 'limits of growth' for this urban field? This paper discusses the interdependencies within the YRD and searches possible new directions.