Walking toward a sustainable future: Reconnecting rural China and the Netherlands

Harry den Hartog walked along a fragrant road bordered by osmanthus in northern Zhejiang Province. As industrial facilities faded into the background, the inherent beauty of the countryside became apparent.

- By Li Xueqing

In the past two years, the Dutch urban designer has traversed 1,800 kilometers on foot, exploring around 200 villages in the Yangtze River Delta region to gather insights on sustainable rural development.

Walking into real life

Den Hartog has been teaching at Tongji University in Shanghai since 2012. One of his research projects focuses on rural revitalization in China.

This project, initiated by Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, explores a critical question: How can sustainable goals be achieved for small towns and rural regions?

Den Hartog's colleagues in the Netherlands have observed significant disparities between urban and rural areas, particularly in the northern regions. Many decisions are made in offices and conferences, often lacking a genuine connection to the realities of daily life in rural communities.

While large industrial parks, data centers, and power plants in rural areas may stimulate the economy, den Hartog argues that they harm the countryside and fail to meet local needs.

“We are searching for a new sustainable future for the development of rural areas,” he stated.

He hopes to find solutions in the Yangtze River Delta region, particularly in Zhejiang Province, which shares many similarities with the Netherlands.

As one of China's most economically developed provinces, Zhejiang is at the vanguard of rural revitalization, driven by “common prosperity” programs and the “Two Mountains Theory,” which emphasizes the significance of environmental conservation alongside economic progress.

Den Hartog said that its economic level is closer to that of Western European countries.

Zhejiang's rural areas are also conveniently located near major urban centers such as Shanghai and Hangzhou.