Basin: The Regional Landscape and Development of the Fuchun River Basin

This Chapter focuses on the Fuchun River Basin and examines the formation of its regional landscape and its decisive influence on regional urban and settlement development from a basin-scale perspective. Through an analysis of topography, hydrological systems, and ecological foundations, the chapter elucidates the coupled landscape structure formed by mountains, plains, and dense water networks. On this basis, case studies of historical cities such as Suzhou City, Shaoxing City, Hangzhou City, Nanjing City, and Yangzhou City are employed to illustrate the adaptive strategies through which ancient Chinese cities developed in response to basin-scale natural conditions. The chapter emphasizes the role of natural landscapes as integral components of regional defense systems, transportation networks, and ecological frameworks, while also examining the regulatory function of human interventions, such as city wall construction, hydraulic engineering, and water network management in the evolution of the basin landscape. By synthesizing the spatial relationships between mountains, water, and cities, it argues that urban form is not an isolated product, but rather the outcome of long-term interactions within a broader regional landscape system. The study demonstrates that the regional landscape of the Fuchun River Basin not only provided the essential natural foundation for urban emergence and prosperity, but also profoundly shaped the spatial configuration, boundaries, and landscape structures of ancient Chinese cities, offering important insights into basin-scale regional development and urban formation.