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Arid Land Geography ›› 2025, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (2): 323-332.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2024.158

• Regional Development • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Network pattern of oasis cities in Xinjiang from the perspective of multiple flows

GUO Jiali1,2(), DU Hongru1,2()   

  1. 1. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    2. College of Resources and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2024-03-09 Revised:2024-04-28 Online:2025-02-25 Published:2025-02-25
  • Contact: DU Hongru E-mail:guojiali21@mails.ucas.ac.cn;duhongru@sina.cn

Abstract:

The spatial flow of various elements continues to reshape intercity connections. Compared with urban network research from a single-element perspective, analyzing urban networks through a multi-element flow perspective provides a more comprehensive understanding of urban spatial patterns and better reflects the regional characteristics of these networks. Using Xinjiang, China as a case study, this article examines intercity interactions based on relational data related to aviation, population, railway, logistics, information, and technology, employing social network analysis to evaluate the structural characteristics of the oasis city network. The findings indicate: (1) Influenced by the distribution pattern of oases, the urban network in arid regions exhibits the overall characteristics of “single-core leadership+flat development”, centered on core cities. (2) The primacy of traffic flow and technology flow networks is more pronounced, whereas logistics and information flow networks are less dominated by the primacy city. Urban centrality is more evenly distributed, and the disparity between cities is minimal. (3) The logistics and information flow networks are dense and mature, exhibiting a multi-center network structure. In contrast, the traffic flow, population flow, and technology flow networks are primarily single-centered, displaying a “core-edge” structure. (4) To achieve high-quality development of Xinjiang’s oasis cities and optimize the urban spatial system, fostering regional growth poles, transitioning to a multi-center network structure, and enhancing regional innovation and complementarity should be prioritized.

Key words: multiple element flow, urban network, flow space, oasis city, Xinjiang