Abstract: The paper examines size structure and evolution characteristics of regional services, based on the value- added data in service industry during 2000-2010 of prefecture-level cities in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Metropolitan Region, Pearl River Delta megalopolises and Yangtze River Delta megalopolises under rank-size rule and fractal theory. The results are shown as follows. (1) Distribution of services size based on the value-added data of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Metropolitan Region is in line with the rank-size distribution and the coefficient of determination shows a good fit result. (2) According to the fractal dimension, the services size structure of the Yangtze River Delta cities is close to the optimal status and relatively stable. The primate city, Shanghai shows a good radiation effect in the development of regional service industry. Services structure of the Pearl River Delta megalopolises and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Metropolitan Region is unbalanced and it is unlikely to change the fact in short term due to size effect and inertia of primate and significant cities. (3) Guangzhou’s position as a regional service center tends to be weakened. Beijing and Shanghai, respectively, the theoretical position of the regional service center matches the actual position with no trend to be weakened. Meanwhile, Beijing shows its strong concentration effect.

Key words: China, fractal theory, rank-size rule, services, size structure, urban system