The ancient Zhaoqing was originally a hub of water transportion linking the Pearl River Delta and the Central China. Due to its typical location and favourable transport conditions

Zhaoqing was once established as a provincial capital administrating both Guangdong Province and Guangxi Province during the Ming dynasty and Ching dynasty. The development of Zhaoqing was declined after and Ching dynasty. The development of Zhaoqing was declined after the building up of the Railroad Canton-Wuhan and the Railroad Hunan-Guangxi in its surrounding area because the city’s hinterlands were divided by those railroads. The Railroad Sanshui-Maoming and the Xijiang Bridge are recently built pass through Zhaoqing. It is believed that the city’s transportation linkage with its hinterlands will therefore be improved and the growth of this city will be accelerated. The corresponding changes in the city’s functions and land use pattern are finally predicated and several measures which should be taken in the city’s planning are proposed.