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| A STUDY ON THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF TOWNS ALONG THE SILK ROAD |
| JIA Bai-Jun, LI Jian-wei, WANG Xu-hong |
| College of Urban and Environment Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China |
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Abstract As a civilization exchanges link between the east and the west, the Silk Road is a world famous trade corridor of Eurasia in ancient times, along which many towns are distributed. Based on the field investigation, analysis of literature and combining site conditions,this paper analyzed the spatial distribution of regional characteristic, morphological characteristics and evolution characteristics systematically along the Silk Road town. The three significant regional characteristics are concluded as these: geographic unit limit the development space of towns, the ecological environment decided to the existence of towns, and the changes of a river control spatial structure of towns. The formation and development of these towns are deeply influenced by the natural environment, especially, The water resources is the main influencing factors of the spatial distribution of towns along the Silk Road above all. According to different stages of the town development by its dynamic mechanism in depth, the three basic spatial distribution models--the scatter, groups and networks--were proposed. With the comprehensive studying of political, economic, environmental, and cultural elements, the three basic characteristics of the town spatial evolution were also proposed. The characteristics are as follows: differences in spatial, mobility in the center town and livability in the town site. All in all, the spatial distribution characteristics along the Silk Road town above evolved with the development of regional economy continuously. In the macro level, due to the different of geographical unit, these characteristics performed for the spatial development differences of towns. In the medium level, they showed as the inflexion of the changes of regional center towns caused by the motive force of the social-economic development. In the micro level, they performed for the hydrophilic of the changes of towns' site caused by the limitations of natural environment. No matter from the town size, functions or in terms of the types of towns, the research have scientific significance to understanding the historical development and to guide the urbanization and new rural construction along the Silk Road town currently.
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Received: 03 December 2011
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2012, Vol. 27 
