IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v14y2025i3p602-d1611299.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Defining Rural Types Nearby Large Cities from the Perspective of Urban–Rural Integration: A Case Study of Xi’an Metropolitan Area, China

Author

Listed:
  • Xiji Jiang

    (College of Architecture, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, China)

  • Jiaxin Sun

    (School of Future Technology, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, China)

  • Tianzi Zhang

    (College of Architecture, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, China)

  • Qian Li

    (College of Architecture, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, China)

  • Yan Ma

    (College of Architecture, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, China)

  • Wen Qu

    (College of Architecture, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, China)

  • Dan Ye

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
    Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China)

  • Zhendong Lei

    (College of Architecture, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, China)

Abstract

Urban–rural integration (URI) is essential to achieving sustainable development. However, the rural areas surrounding large cities typically have a large scale and significant differences in development conditions. It is necessary to formulate rural development policies by category to better promote the integrated development between urban and rural areas, stimulate rural vitality, and create more significant opportunities for rural development. This study constructs an evaluation system for rural areas under URI, using the Xi’an metropolitan area as a case study. A clustering algorithm enhanced by the random forest (RF)–principal component analysis (PCA)–partitioning around medoids (PAM) method is applied to evaluate rural integration comprehensively. Key findings in this study include the following: (i) URI should be decoupled from administrative divisions, considering the complex impacts of multi-town functional spillover; (ii) ecological environment, economic development, public service allocation, and construction land supply are key factors influencing URI; (iii) the overall URI index in the Xi’an metropolitan area presents a “high in the center, low in the east and west” pattern. The rural areas with high URI index are around Xi’an and Xianyang, while other cities show insufficient communication with neighboring villages; (iv) rural areas can be categorized into four types of integration: ecological, ecological–economic, ecological–social–spatial, and ecological–economic–social–spatial, which exhibit an outward expansion of layers and extension along the east–west axis in the spatial structure of integration. Finally, differential development policies and suggestions for promoting urban–rural integration are put forward because of the different types of rural villages. This paper provides a framework for formulating rural development policies, significantly deepening urban–rural integration.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiji Jiang & Jiaxin Sun & Tianzi Zhang & Qian Li & Yan Ma & Wen Qu & Dan Ye & Zhendong Lei, 2025. "Defining Rural Types Nearby Large Cities from the Perspective of Urban–Rural Integration: A Case Study of Xi’an Metropolitan Area, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:3:p:602-:d:1611299
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/3/602/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/3/602/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Edward L. Glaeser & Janet E. Kohlhase, 2004. "Cities, regions and the decline of transport costs," Advances in Spatial Science, in: Raymond J. G. M. Florax & David A. Plane (ed.), Fifty Years of Regional Science, pages 197-228, Springer.
    2. Cyriac, Susan & Firoz C, Mohammed, 2022. "Dichotomous classification and implications in spatial planning: A case of the Rural-Urban Continuum settlements of Kerala, India," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    3. Ping Zhang & Weiwei Li & Kaixu Zhao & Yi Zhao & Hua Chen & Sidong Zhao, 2023. "The Impact Factors and Management Policy of Digital Village Development: A Case Study of Gansu Province, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-32, March.
    4. de Bellefon, Marie-Pierre & Combes, Pierre-Philippe & Duranton, Gilles & Gobillon, Laurent & Gorin, Clément, 2021. "Delineating urban areas using building density," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    5. Zhao, Pengjun & Wan, Jie, 2021. "Land use and travel burden of residents in urban fringe and rural areas: An evaluation of urban-rural integration initiatives in Beijing," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    6. Jing Wang & Ying Wang & Geng Lin, 2024. "Study on Rural Classification and Resilience Evaluation Based on PSR Model: A Case Study of Lvshunkou District, Dalian City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-19, August.
    7. You Zhou & Yuxin Yao & Zhen Chu & Zheng Lei & Yun Zheng, 2024. "A New Approach to Rural Classification Based on the Filter-Method System: An Empirical Study in Nanning, South China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-25, November.
    8. Lingling Dai & Weifeng Qiao & Ting Feng & Yuanfang Li, 2022. "Research on Village Type Identification and Development Strategy under the Background of Rural Revitalization: A Case of Gaochun District in Nanjing, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-17, June.
    9. Yang, Yuanyuan & Bao, Wenkai & Liu, Yansui, 2020. "Scenario simulation of land system change in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    10. Wang, Ge & Li, Xiaoqiu & Gao, Yingjie & Zeng, Chen & Wang, Bingkun & Li, Xiangyu & Li, Xintong, 2023. "How does land consolidation drive rural industrial development? Qualitative and quantitative analysis of 32 land consolidation cases in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    11. Crouch, Geoffrey I. & Ritchie, J. R. Brent, 1999. "Tourism, Competitiveness, and Societal Prosperity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 137-152, March.
    12. Zehong Li & Xinran Miao & Mengyuan Wang & Shuguang Jiang & Yuxian Wang, 2022. "The Classification and Regulation of Mountain Villages in the Context of Rural Revitalization—The Example of Zhaotong, Yunnan Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-19, September.
    13. Stephen J. Meardon, 2001. "Modeling Agglomeration and Dispersion in City and Country: Gunnar Myrdal, François Perroux, and the New Economic Geography," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(1), pages 25-57, January.
    14. Ao Sun & Yong Huang & Li Yang & Chen Huang & Hengling Xiang, 2023. "Assessment of the Impact of Basic Public Service Facility Configuration on Social–Spatial Differentiation: Taking the Zhaomushan District of Chongqing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-23, December.
    15. Zhou, Yang & Li, Yamei & Xu, Chenchen, 2020. "Land consolidation and rural revitalization in China: Mechanisms and paths," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    16. Yongzhen Wang & Xianzhong Cao, 2022. "Village Evaluation and Classification Guidance of a County in Southeast Gansu Based on the Rural Revitalization Strategy," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, June.
    17. ., 2024. "Introduction: measurement error in economics," Chapters, in: On the Inaccuracies of Economic Observations, chapter 1, pages 1-31, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    18. Siyuan Wang & Minmin Zhao & Weicui Ding & Qiang Yang & Hao Li & Changqing Shao & Binghu Wang & Yi Liu, 2024. "Ecological Suitability Evaluation of City Construction Based on Landscape Ecological Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-16, October.
    19. Tian, Yasi & Qian, Jing & Wang, Lei, 2021. "Village classification in metropolitan suburbs from the perspective of urban-rural integration and improvement strategies: A case study of Wuhan, central China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    20. Kai Ren, 2021. "Following Rural Functions to Classify Rural Sites: An Application in Jixi, Anhui Province, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-35, April.
    21. François Perroux, 1950. "Economic Space: Theory and Applications," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 64(1), pages 89-104.
    22. Xiaowen Li & Yiming Tan & Desheng Xue, 2022. "From World Factory to Global City-Region: The Dynamics of Manufacturing in the Pearl River Delta and Its Spatial Pattern in the 21st Century," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-19, April.
    23. Batara Surya & Agus Salim & Hernita Hernita & Seri Suriani & Firman Menne & Emil Salim Rasyidi, 2021. "Land Use Change, Urban Agglomeration, and Urban Sprawl: A Sustainable Development Perspective of Makassar City, Indonesia," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-31, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jing Zhang & Bingbing Huang & Xinming Chen & Congmou Zhu & Muye Gan, 2022. "Multidimensional Evaluation of the Quality of Rural Life Using Big Data from the Perspective of Common Prosperity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-21, October.
    2. Kim, Ho Yeon, 2012. "Shrinking population and the urban hierarchy," IDE Discussion Papers 360, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    3. Kollai, István, 2019. "Elszegényítő központi régiók? A területi egyenlőtlenség lehetséges mozgatórugói Szlovákiában [Core regions impoverished? Spread and backwash effects on territorial inequality in 21st-century Centra," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(11), pages 1125-1144.
    4. Shiwei Lu & Yaping Huang & Xiaoqing Wu & Yichen Ding, 2022. "Evaluation, Recognition and Implications of Urban–Rural Integration Development: A Township-Level Analysis of Hanchuan City in Wuhan Metropolitan Area," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Honorata Howaniec & Marcin Lis, 2020. "Euroregions and Local and Regional Development—Local Perceptions of Cross-Border Cooperation and Euroregions Based on the Euroregion Beskydy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    6. Yujun Zhou & Jingming Liu & Xiang Kang, 2022. "Market-Driven Rural Construction—A Case Study of Fuhong Town, Chengdu," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-19, May.
    7. Ho Yeon KIM & Petra de Jong & Jan Rouwendal & Aleid Brouwer, 2012. "Shrinking population and the urban hierarchy [Housing preferences and attribute importance among Dutch older adults: a conjoint choice experiment]," ERSA conference papers ersa12p350, European Regional Science Association.
    8. Kaiming Li & Kaishun Li & Yong Liu & Liying Yue & Xiji Jiang, 2023. "Transition Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Rural Settlements in Suburban Villages of Megacities under Policy Intervention: A Case Study of Dayu Village in Shanghai, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-26, October.
    9. Xiaojuan Yang & Weiwei Li & Ping Zhang & Hua Chen & Min Lai & Sidong Zhao, 2023. "The Dynamics and Driving Mechanisms of Rural Revitalization in Western China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-26, July.
    10. Fanqi Meng & Li Dong & Yu Zhang, 2023. "Spatiotemporal Dynamic Analysis and Simulation Prediction of Land Use and Landscape Patterns from the Perspective of Sustainable Development in Tourist Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-21, October.
    11. Edward L. Glaeser & Giacomo A. M. Ponzetto, 2010. "Did the Death of Distance Hurt Detroit and Help New York?," NBER Chapters, in: Agglomeration Economics, pages 303-337, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    12. Arun Natarajan Hariharan & Arindam Biswas, 2020. "A Critical review of the Indian knowledge‐based industry location policy against its theoretical arguments," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(3), pages 431-454, June.
    13. Armindo Frias & João Cabral & à lvaro Costa, 2015. "Logistic optimization in tourism networks," ERSA conference papers ersa15p1451, European Regional Science Association.
    14. Olena Borodina & Ihor Prokopa & Serhiy Kyryziuk & Viktor Yarovyi, 2020. "Rural Areas Development Fund as a Financial Instrument for Spatial Justice in Land Use and Sustainable Rural Development," Oblik i finansi, Institute of Accounting and Finance, issue 3, pages 122-130, September.
    15. Pengyu Zhu, 2013. "Telecommuting, Household Commute and Location Choice," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 50(12), pages 2441-2459, September.
    16. Marta Aloi & Joanna Poyago-Theotoky & Frédéric Tournemaine, 2022. "The Geography of Knowledge and R&D-led Growth [Real effects ofacademic research: comment]," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 22(6), pages 1149-1190.
    17. Bono, Pierre-Henri & David, Quentin & Desbordes, Rodolphe & Py, Loriane, 2022. "Metro infrastructure and metropolitan attractiveness," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    18. Yang, Yong, 2012. "Agglomeration density and tourism development in China: An empirical research based on dynamic panel data model," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 1347-1359.
    19. Stephan Heblich & Stephen J Redding & Daniel M Sturm, 2020. "The Making of the Modern Metropolis: Evidence from London," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 135(4), pages 2059-2133.
    20. Yunhui Wang & Yihua Chen & Zhiying Li, 2024. "Escaping poverty: changing characteristics of China’s rural poverty reduction policy and future trends," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:3:p:602-:d:1611299. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.