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Analysis of the Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Shrinking Cities in China: Evidence from Nighttime Light

Author

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  • Qi Wang

    (School of Law, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Zhongling Xin

    (Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    The College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Fangqu Niu

    (Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    The College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

Since the 1980s, rapid urbanization in China has been accompanied by city shrinkage. Identifying shrinking cities and clarifying the spatial and temporal patterns are of great significance for formulating policies and realizing smart shrinkage. City shrinkage characterized by population loss is a difficult challenge for urban planning and regional development policy-making. This paper uses 2012–2020 nighttime light (NTL) data to identify the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of shrinking cities in China and excavates the shrinking cities’ trend of agglomeration and dispersion further. The following results are obtained. (1) About 34.9% of prefecture-level cities are shrinking across the country but most severely in northeast and northwest China; (2) the number of shrinking cities fluctuates over time (2015 and 2020 are the peak shrinkage years). Shrinking cities in China show a northeast-to-southwest spatial distribution. (3) From 2012 to 2020, the aggregation degree of shrinkage continuously decreased (Low-Low) and the aggregation degree of growth continuously increased (High-High), indicating that shrinkage in northeast China was slightly alleviated and that the radiative effect of the growth pole was further enhanced. These findings help us better understand the trend of city shrinkage in China. Future work needs to be focused on the potential causes of the shrinkage. Furthermore, long-term trends also need to be investigated.

Suggested Citation

  • Qi Wang & Zhongling Xin & Fangqu Niu, 2022. "Analysis of the Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Shrinking Cities in China: Evidence from Nighttime Light," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:6:p:871-:d:834476
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yihao Jiang & Zhaojin Chen & Pingjun Sun, 2022. "Urban Shrinkage and Urban Vitality Correlation Research in the Three Northeastern Provinces of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Yuanshuo Xu & Yiwen Zhu & Yan Wu & Xiaoliang Wang & Weiwen Zhang, 2022. "The Population Flow under Regional Cooperation of “City-Helps-City”: The Case of Mountain-Sea Project in Zhejiang," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, October.
    3. Wei Liu & Yao Tong & Jing Zhang & Zuopeng Ma & Guolei Zhou & Yanjun Liu, 2022. "Hierarchical Correlates of the Shrinkage of Cities and Towns in Northeast China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Na Jiang & Andrew T Crooks & Hamdi Kavak & Wenjing Wang, 2024. "Leveraging newspapers to understand urban issues: A longitudinal analysis of urban shrinkage in Detroit," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 51(5), pages 1089-1103, June.

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