Research on the Spatial Pattern and Driving Mechanism of Urban Agglomeration in the Upper Reaches of the Yellow River: A Perspective of Integrated Development

As an important economic growth pole and ecological security barrier in western China, the urban agglomeration in the upper Yellow River has significant strategic significance for regional coordinated development. This research combines the exploratory geographic analysis method, stepwise regression analysis and geographic detector model to reveal the spatial pattern and driving mechanism of the linear river valley urban agglomeration and the band-shaped overall pattern of the urban agglomeration in the upper Yellow River from the perspective of integrated development. The research shows that the integrated development of the urban agglomeration in the upper reaches of the Yellow River presents the spatial characteristics of multi-point linkage and point-axis superposition. The core cities such as Lanzhou, Xining, and Yinchuan drive the multi-dimensional linkage of regional economy, transportation, and ecology, and promote the coordinated development of economy and ecology in the region. High-value areas are concentrated in provincial capitals and areas rich in ecological resources, while edge city cities are in urgent need of policy support due to insufficient infrastructure and resource endowment and low level of development. Progressive regression analysis and geographic detector analysis show that seven factors, such as resource endowment, natural conditions and traffic accessibility, are the key driving forces of regional integrated development, and the research results provide theoretical basis and empirical support for promoting the sustainable development of regional ecology and economy in western China.