Stability of Spatial Structure of Urban Agglomeration in China Based on Central Place Theory

This paper brings forward the concept of stability of the spatial structure of urban agglomeration(UA)based on Central Place Theory by introducing centrality index and fractal theory.Before assessment,K=4 is selected as parameter to calculate centrality index and fractal dimension(K represents the quantitive relationship between city and the counties in Central Place Theory),and then found the number of nodes,the type of spatial structure,the spatial allocation of nodes with different hierarchy affecting the stability of spatial structure.According to spatial contact direction and the level of stability,UAs in China are classified into five types.Finally,it is posed as a further question that how to use hierarchical relation K=6 and K=7 in central place system to coordinate with the assessment of stability of soatial structure is brought forward.

Central Place Theory and Distribution of Post Offices in Cities

The feasibility of application of the Central Place Theory in the distribution of post offices in cities is analysed, the grade scale structure and space distribution structure Shijiazhauang of post offices in city are studied, the research results prove the actual value of the Central Place Theory, and the suggestion of adjustment in the space distribution Shijiazhuang of post offices in city is put forward.

SOME EMPIRICAL EXAMPLES OF CENTRAL PLACE MODEL IN CHINA'S RURAL AND URBAN STUDIES

At the beginning of the 1980s, the Central Place Theory(CPT) was introduced into China from the West. The authors of this article are the initiators of applying this model to China's urban and regional planning as well as to the allocation of commercial activities. Since the commodity economy has been developing in China for thousands of years,most of the areas in eastern plains and inland basins of the country show the spatial structure of typical central places scene. During some six years, the authors participatd in a lot of rural, urban and regional planning projects in which the spatial phenomena and relevant internal mechanism proved this medel and its deformation. This paper gives only a few examples of the application of CPT in China. 1. The distribution of rural markets: the empirical study is based mainly on the situation in Shengfang Town and its vicinal area, 2. The spatial combination of urban Systems; problems about city allocation in North China are emphasized, 3. Commercial centres in city and the networks: a crucial study on commercial distribution of the metropolis Beijing is done by using the central place model.

Impact of Shipping Distance on Online Retailers' Sales:A Case Study of Maiyang on Tmall

Many studies have qualitatively explained that information and communication technology(ICT) has loosened the restrictions of distance and space on retailers' sales. Few empirical studies, however, have explored the impact of shipping distance on online retailers' sales. This study examined the Maiyang(M-Y) store on Tmall in China as a case study to investigate the relationship between shipping distance and sales. The results showed that sales volume in 2014 at the county level did not strictly obey the distance decay law. The shipped distance of high-priced commodities may not be much longer than that of low-priced commodities. Within the scope of investigation, the relationships between income, cost, and net profit curves do not follow central place theory. Goods have neither thresholds nor ranges. The key factor in the spatial discrepancy of sales is the size of market. The impact of shipping distance on sales is not as strong as that of traditional retailers in Information Era.

Evolutionary model of the central place hierarchical system

Central place theory is one of the two theoretical cornerstones of geography, yet it cannot be connected with other spatial structure models, fails to provide definite time-space parameter conditions, lacks an evolutionary process model, and does not easily enable construction of a complete theoretical system of regional spatial structure. This paper gives an in-depth analysis of the process and mechanism for production and evolution of central places of different grades, and constructs an evolutionary model of the central place hierarchical system. The results of deduction, analysis and simulation show that production and evolution of the central place hierarchical system may be divided into five stages. These stages are the embryonic, formative, improvement, maturation, and advancement stages. Affected by spatial location and centricity, central places have obvious differences in scale and functional structures. There are great differences in the scale of same-grade central places. However, low-grade central places could have larger scales than high-grade central places, and the central places of a central location may form the agglomeration area of central places. Based on the hypothesis condition of an isotropic plain, the research shows that it is possible not only to form proportional functional structures of central places, but also to produce non-proportional scale structures of central places, and thus to complete the transformation from rationalistic deduction of spatial equilibrium mode to an explanation and demonstration of an unbalanced practical model.

URBAN GROWTH, TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND COMMERCIALNETWORK OF BEIJING

In this afticle, three uopt problems on the developlnent and plabong of Beijing metropolis are expounded (1) Having analyzed the process of urbanlzation dunng 45 years, the autihor divides it into three Stages :city expansion, qrban sprawl and fonmation of centnpotal urban nngr. Then a rank-number-size law is pLif fotward to predict the development and allocation of satellite towns (2) Having looked back on the change of urban transpoftation nforork, the atlthor points out its merits and demerits.According to the increases of traffic flow, improving measures for the urban road systems are demonstrated. (3) Having reviewed the llistory of commercial distnbution and referred to previous lnodels, the author roprds the spatial structure of business as a combined network from central place and idealized stnucture of lnetropolitan area. The trade and service orgaluzation in n1ain urban area and peripheral zone can be planned with defferent ways. The atlthor predicts a rational network of commerce and service of Beijing with a strong BCD Which is accepted by some trade authorities