How do the mountains and coastal lowlands shape settlement patterns in Zhejiang?

In Zhejiang, settlement patterns are defined by a sharp contrast between the densely populated lowlands and the sparsely populated mountainous regions.1

• Coastal Lowlands and Plains: The majority of the population is concentrated in the fertile Yangtze River delta and along the coastal region of Hangzhou Bay. These areas, which include the capital city of Hangzhou and major port cities like Ningbo, serve as the primary hubs for urban development and commerce. County seats and municipalities are also predominantly located on these agricultural plains and valley bottoms, where the land is level and suitable for intensive farming.12
• Mountainous Uplands: In contrast, the interior of the province is largely mountainous, with hills and mountains occupying the bulk of the land surface. Consequently, these regions are sparsely populated compared to the coastal plains. While these areas support specialized activities like tea cultivation in well-watered hilly zones, they do not sustain the same density of urban centers found in the low-lying delta and coastal regions.213