张謇与南通“中国近代第一城”

Zhang Jian and NanTong—The First City of Modern Times in China

张謇在兴实业、办教育的同时 ,致力于城市建设 ,创造性地构筑起南通“一城三镇”的空间布局 ,以谋求城、镇、乡三者的整体协调发展。与同时期的西方城市相比 ,张謇建设的南通足与霍华德所经营的新城 (莱奇华斯Letchworth与韦林Welwyn)相媲美 ;张謇的城市区域思想不仅与盖迪斯的提出的“区域观念”(regionalconcept)、“组合城市” (Conurbation)理论有暗合之处 ,同时张謇还是将城市建设与地区发展作综合考虑的这一城市建设思想的实践者。与同时期的中国其他城市相比 ,南通堪称“中国近代第一城”。这一论断的要义在于 :南通是中国早期现代化的产物 ,它不同于租界、商埠或列强占领下发展起来的城市 ,是中国人基于中国理念 ,比较自觉地、有一定创造性地、通过较为全面的规划、建设、经营的第一个有代表性的城市。张謇对城市建设的认识是超前的 ,业绩是杰出的 ,中国城市史及世界城市史都应给这位先驱者以应有的地位 ,这同样有利于人们以更高的“远见、创新和毅力” ,迎接当今中国城市发展的“黄金时代”

Zhang Jian develops the urban construction creatively and constructed the space pattern of 'one city and three towns' in order to seek the whole development of cities, towns and rural areas harmoniously. NanTong is regarded as 'the first city of modern times of China', the definition of which mainly means that NanTong is the result of China's early modernization. It is different from the cities of concessions, commercial ports and the developed cities under the capture by big powers. On the contrary, it is the first representative city that it is planed, constructed and managed all-sidedly, conscientiously and creatively according to Chinese ideas.