Spatial mobility characteristics and behavioral patterns of suburban residents in western chinese cities: a case study of Lanzhou

As a transitional space connecting urban and rural elements, peri-urban areas provide an important setting for observing residents’ spatial mobility and the organization of urban–rural linkages. A systematic investigation of peri-urban residents’ mobility patterns is of theoretical and practical significance for understanding observable urban–rural interactions and supporting integrated urban–rural development. Taking Lanzhou as a case study, this research integrates LBS trajectory data with POI data to construct a three-dimensional indicator system comprising mobility generation intensity, spatial agglomeration degree, and average dwell time, and employs the K-means clustering method to identify the spatiotemporal mobility characteristics and mobility profiles of peri-urban residents moving toward the central urban area. The results show that, in the temporal dimension, mobility behavior exhibits regular differentiation, with weekday patterns showing clear morning and evening peaks and non-workday patterns showing delayed and more dispersed peaks. In the spatial dimension, peri-urban mobility presents a pronounced axial corridor-like pattern, characterized by multi-source convergence, movement along the valley corridor, and node-based agglomeration. In addition, cluster analysis identifies three typical mobility profiles—Leisure consumers, Urban commuters, and Polycentric active users—indicating significant intra-group differentiation in observed spatiotemporal mobility characteristics. From the perspective of integrating a special urban form with an urban–rural transitional space, this study deepens the understanding of observable human–land interactions in ribbon-shaped cities and provides empirical evidence and planning references for optimizing regional transportation networks, allocating public service facilities, and formulating differentiated peri-urban development policies.