Core Insights - The article discusses the importance of road network density as an indicator of urban vitality and health, with a target set by the Chinese government to achieve an average road network density of 8 km/km in urban built-up areas by 2023 [1][3]. Group 1: Road Network Density - As of 2024, the average road network density across 36 major cities in China is 6.6 km/km, with only Shenzhen, Xiamen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Fuzhou meeting the 8 km/km standard [1]. - In 2024, cities with the highest growth in road network density include Hangzhou, Hefei, Shanghai, and Wuhan, each increasing by 0.3 km/km, while Zhengzhou, Changsha, Nanjing, and Changchun increased by 0.2 km/km [3]. - Hefei has emerged as the "growth champion" over five years, with its road network density rising from 7.0 km/km to 7.9 km/km, a cumulative increase of approximately 15.2% [6]. Group 2: Urban Vitality and Traffic Conditions - There is a linear relationship between road network density and urban vitality; higher density areas tend to attract more people and logistics, enhancing urban activity [9]. - Hefei's continuous push for technological and industrial innovation has led to a sustained increase in urban development momentum, with its resident population surpassing 10 million in 2024, making it the 18th city in China to reach this milestone [9]. - In 2024, seven cities are classified as severely congested, with average peak speeds below 18 km/h, including newly added Shenzhen and Harbin, indicating increasing traffic pressure in major cities [13].

Core Insights - The article discusses the importance of road network density as an indicator of urban vitality and health, highlighting recent government goals to increase this metric in Chinese cities [1][3]. Group 1: Road Network Density Goals - In 2016, the Chinese government set a target for urban road network density to reach an average of 8 km/km² by 2020, which was reiterated in a 2023 announcement [1]. - As of 2024, the average road network density across 36 major cities in China is 6.6 km/km², with only a few cities like Shenzhen, Xiamen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Fuzhou meeting the 8 km/km² standard [1]. Group 2: City Performance in Road Network Density - In 2024, cities such as Hangzhou, Hefei, Shanghai, and Wuhan saw an increase of 0.3 km/km² in road network density, while Zhengzhou, Changsha, Nanjing, and Changchun increased by 0.2 km/km² [3]. - Hefei has emerged as the "growth champion" over five years, with its road network density rising from 7.0 km/km² to 7.9 km/km², a cumulative growth of approximately 15.2% [6]. Group 3: Relationship Between Road Network Density and Urban Vitality - Zhao Yixin, a senior engineer, noted a linear relationship between road network density and urban vitality, indicating that higher density facilitates better traffic flow and attracts more people and logistics [9]. - Hefei's continuous push for technological and industrial innovation has led to a significant increase in urban vitality, with its population surpassing 10 million in 2024, making it the 18th city in China to reach this milestone [9]. Group 4: Traffic Congestion Issues - In 2024, the number of severely congested cities (with peak average speeds below 18 km/h) increased to seven, including newly added Shenzhen and Harbin, alongside major cities like Beijing and Shanghai [15]. - The article also highlights that cities like Harbin and Urumqi are facing challenges due to increased travel demand from a booming tourism market, which adds pressure to urban transportation systems [17].