Spatial evolution and agglomeration trends in urban clusters

Research on urban agglomerations often models population density attenuation from centers to peripheries, yet some traditional methods overlook spatial interactions. This study examines China’s 14 national urban agglomerations, tracing their evolution from monocentric to polycentric structures and strengthened inter-core collaboration, reflecting expanded resource agglomeration. It quantitatively identifies three key mechanisms: new core emergence, core diffusion, and spatial scale expansion, while also noting cases where collaboration remains limited.