Spatial structures of Chinese Urban Agglomerations in the "Silk Road Economic Belt"

Northwest China lies in the strategic "Silk Road Economic Belt and the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road." However, the level of urbanization in northwest China is relatively poor. The non-formed spatial structure of urban systems restricts regional development. Using spatial data of urban land monitored via remote sensing and spatial transportation data as real connection distance, a commonly used gravity-based urban interactive model is modified to analyze the spatial structures of two important urban clusters in this area. The results show that urban cluster in Guanzhong is strongly centralized and require a rank-balanced spatial structure. Developing the cities of Baoji and Tongchuan can improve the spatial structure of urban cluster in Guanzhong, and that of medium-small cities of Yangling and Chengcheng. Urban cluster on the north slope of the Tianshan Mountains is scattered and need overall developing. These results offer ideas for optimizing the spatial structure of urban agglomerations along the "Silk Road Economic Belt."