Abstract:

Application of the concepts of alter-based centrality and power has become a focus in the research on city networks in recent years. In this paper, the conditionality of recursive theory utilization to city networks is analyzed from the perspective of network topology structures. In addition, an urban network is constructed on the basis of Baidu migration data and measured using the complex network method, improved alter-based centrality, and the power method. The results show, in the first place, that the use of recursive theory for the analysis of urban networks has specific data structure requirements, suitable for tree structure, but not for the local existence of complete network structure measurements. Secondly, small world phenomena and spatial patterns of population mobility exhibit obvious core-periphery structures at national and regional scales. This means that the national urbanization development strategy and important transport facilities play key roles in enabling the population mobility network. In this context, the Harbin-Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Dali line exhibits a significant network of spatial differences in terms of boundary divisions. Thirdly, the use of alter-based centrality and power reveal hierarchical characteristics, differences in the urban network, and the influence of different effects, including spatial ones, on the identification of network city resources. In this case, the network includes not just Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Guangzhou, high power quintessential cities with high centrality, but also a number of smaller lower power hub cities, including Wuhan, Taiyuan, Guiyang, and Fuzhou, as well as gateway cities that exhibit both low centrality and high power, such as Lanzhou and Yinchuan. Thus, the concepts of centrality and power are of great significance in broadening our understanding of complex urban diversification.

Key words: alter-based centrality and power, city network, population flow, recursion, China