Revealing the Spatial Effects of New-Type Urbanization on Urban Ecological Resilience: Evidence from 281 Prefecture-Level Cities in China

Enhancing urban ecological resilience (UER) is essential for achieving sustainable urban development, as it fosters balanced urbanization while ensuring long-term ecosystem stability. New-type urbanization (NU) plays a pivotal role in sustaining urban sustainable development; however, the mechanisms through which NU affects UER remain insufficiently understood. This study seeks to bridge this knowledge gap by analyzing panel data from 281 prefecture-level cities in China spanning the period from 2000 to 2022. Composite indices for NU and UER are constructed using the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method. The relationship between NU and UER is empirically examined through fixed-effects models, mediation analysis, and a spatial Durbin model. The findings reveal a general upward trend in both NU and UER over time, albeit with some fluctuations. NU significantly enhances UER through direct effects, indirect pathways, and spatial spillovers. The magnitude and nature of this impact vary across geographic regions and resource endowments. Resource-based cities, in particular, demonstrate a stronger capacity to optimize land resource allocation, improve land use structures, and reduce environmental pollution—thus contributing more effectively to UER enhancement. Furthermore, while NU has a positive effect on UER across all regions, the impact is more pronounced in central and western cities, where major national development strategies—such as the Western Development Strategy and the Rise of Central China Plan—are actively implemented. Among them, cities in the central region with higher levels of urbanization experience more substantial benefits from NU compared to those in the western region, where urbanization is progressing more gradually. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the spatial effects of NU on UER and offers valuable policy implications for enhancing ecological resilience through sustainable urbanization pathways.