PROGRESS IN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2016, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (1): 108-117.doi: 10.18306/dlkxjz.2016.01.012

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Rank-size distribution and evolution of passenger and freight flows in the Pearl River Delta

Tao LI1(), Xiaoshu CAO2,3,4,*(), Wenyue YANG3   

  1. 1. School of Geography and Tourism, Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, Guangzhou 510320, China
    2. Institute of Transport Geography and Spatial Planning, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
    3. Center for Urban & Regional Studies, SunYat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
    4. Northwest Land and Resources Research Center, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
  • Online:2016-01-31 Published:2016-01-31
  • Contact: Xiaoshu CAO E-mail:taoli-2008@163.com;caoxsh@mail.sysu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41501120

Abstract:

Passenger and freight flow distribution and dynamic change are the characteristic index of regional transport patterns. This article analyzes passenger and freight flow rank-size distribution and regional patterns between 1980 and 2010 in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) area using the rank-size distribution theory. The results show that: passenger and freight flow q values were greater than 1, in line with rank-size distribution, but the distribution was more in line with the size of the passenger rank-size distribution. Passenger q value decreased and then increased, showing non-equilibrium-relative equilibrium-disequilibrium evolution characteristics. The q values of freight flow decreased, showing non-equilibrium-relatively balanced evolution characteristics. With regard to the spatial pattern, passenger flow shifted from a single center to multi-centers, with a macro scale “point shaft” and mesa-scale “hub and spoke” regional system. Freight flow showed a long-term pattern of monocytes leading to the macro and mesa scale “hub and spoke” system. Convergence of industrial structure in the PRD, light industry-dominated industrial structure, coupled with the single center (Guangzhou) radial transport network determined the spatial pattern of monocyte freight flow.

Key words: passenger and freight flows, rank-size, Zipf law, regional distribution, Pearl River Delta