Abstract:

Locational characteristics of star warehouses are of key importance to optimizing urban warehouse spatial configuration and allocating storage land resources. Using data of 237 sample star warehouses in China from 2008 to 2014 and location relationship identification, distance measurement, and representative case study methods, this study examined the relationship between the location choice behaviors of star warehouses and regions and service objects and functions. Through the analysis of differences between the scope of warehouse space, logistics functions, traffic networks, and location of star warehouses in cities of different levels and scales, the statistical result and internal mechanism are revealed. The results show that: (1) The selected warehouses are distributed in 4 municipalities, 22 provincial-level cities and sub-provincial-level cities, 37 prefecture-level cities, and 24 counties with a ratio of 16.5: 4.77: 1.84: 1.67, which formed a distribution pattern of upside-down triangle compared to the city size hierarchy. Star warehouses for general uses were scattered, and specialized warehouses showed concentrated distribution, with both co-agglomeration and spatial separation characteristics. (2) The location choice behaviors of star warehouses are driven by supply and demand side factors. Star warehouses of provincial capital and above cities with public service functions are often located in the suburbs and the exurb areas. Star warehouses of prefectural-level cities with self-serving functions are often located in central and peripheral areas. (3) Distance of star warehouses shows a positive correlation with the level of cities. Constrained by the location of parent companies, suburbanization of warehouses with joint public-private ownership and proprietary lagged behind real estate leasing and public warehouses.

Key words: star warehouses, locational characteristics, hierarchical differences, distance, suburbanization, China