Abstract It is accepted by the economic geography relational paradigm that learning, path dependence and custom are the bases of interpreting technological innovation and regional competitive, co-evolution of several element. Therefore, it is reasonable to select the historical path critically and coordinates the relationship between institution, territory and industry. This paper takes Shantou, the central city of East Guangdong urban agglomeration, as an example, and chooses textile and garment industry which has a traditional advantage. It builds the analysis framework integrating of economic geographical paradigm and the evolutionary paradigm. It analyzes Shantou's historical path of the production and organizations of textile and apparel industry and the current status in the regional production network respectively by the use of obtained history information through deep interviews and the industrial enterprises in 2009 Relational data. It brings forward the future upgrade path selection of textile and apparel industry in Shantou. It comes to conclusions about textile and apparel industry as follows:(1) Shantou should harmonize its production relations with the other cities and towns in East Guangdong province urban agglomeration, and build regional production networks based on urban classification and their special resources; (2) Shantou should develop such advantages as talent, knowledge, transportation, infrastructure and information in urban agglomeration, so as to improve its states and added value in global value chains; (3) Shantou should inherit critically past organizational paths, do path creation followed by market demanding and characteristics of the times, so as to realize the transformation from material production networks to innovation networks. This paper conducts a trial to explore how urban industrial development and planning learns a new theory of western economic geography.
2011, Vol. 26 
