SPATIAL AUTOCORRELATION FUNCTION ANALYSIS OF URBAN POPULATION IN THE BEIJING-TIANJIN-HEBEI REGION

FU Meng, CHEN Yan-guang

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (2) : 59-69.

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HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (2) : 59-69. DOI: 10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.02.007
POPULATION

SPATIAL AUTOCORRELATION FUNCTION ANALYSIS OF URBAN POPULATION IN THE BEIJING-TIANJIN-HEBEI REGION

  • FU Meng, CHEN Yan-guang
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Abstract

Significant progress has been made in studying the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban system, yet its spatial correlation characteristics and evolution mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This paper examines spatial autocorrelation patterns of urban population using road distance and county-level census data from 2000 to 2020, with spatial autocorrelation function graphs as the main method. Results show that: there are three characteristic correlation distances, 190 km, 300 km, and 500 km. Urban population exhibits strong cumulative autocorrelation, while density autocorrelation is weak. Over the study period, the strength of spatial autocorrelation gradually increased, but the overall pattern remained stable. Specifically, there is high population correlation within 190 km, spatial clustering within 300 km, and a maximum correlation range around 500 km. Despite intensifying correlations, no qualitative changes in autocorrelation dynamics are observed. The analysis further reveals weak intercity population correlation across the region, with no evident diffusion from large cities and limited interaction among smaller peripheral cities. The study emphasizes the need to enhance the integrity of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban system. These insights can inform further research on spatial interaction and planning in the region, with the research methods offering inspiration for spatial analysis endeavors among academic colleagues.

Key words

Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei / urban system / highway transportation / computational human geography (CHG)

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FU Meng, CHEN Yan-guang. SPATIAL AUTOCORRELATION FUNCTION ANALYSIS OF URBAN POPULATION IN THE BEIJING-TIANJIN-HEBEI REGION[J]. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY. 2026, 41(2): 59-69 https://doi.org/10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.02.007

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