%0 Journal Article %A Cao Youhui %T ON THE SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF CHANGJIANG RIVER PORT SYSTEM %D 1999 %R 10.11821/xb199903005 %J Acta Geographica Sinica %P 233-240 %V 54 %N 3 %X It has great significance, both theorefically and practically, to study the change of the spatial structure of port system. In the West, Geographers interested in this problem have focused on two aspects the competition of hinterlands or forelands among ports and the degree of traffic concentration in port system. But scholars at domestic have not study this problem from view of change of cargo flow up to now. The main purpose of this paper is to study the dynamic features, formation causes and change tendencies of the spatial structure of the Changjiang River port system. Based on annual cargo throughout of 24 principal ports on the Changjing River from 1952 to 1995, author calculates Gini coefficients of the port system in eight base years. Gini coeffient in 1952 as only 0.209 5 that was rather low, then there appeared an steady tendency to rise. In 1980, Gini coefficient reached its maximum which was 0.528 0. But an evident drop took place at the early of 1980’s. According to above calculating results, author holds that there are four dynamic features of spatial structure of the port system, (1) The spatial structure of the port system has become more concentration from 1952 to 1995 by and large; (2) It is based on much deconcentrated port distributions that the spatial structure tends concentration; (3) There is obvious difference for the change of spatial stracture in 4 phases; (4) An evident deconcentration process took place at the early of 1980’s. A systematic analysis has been carried out on the formation causes of the change of the spatial structure of Changjiang River port system. The paper holds that the following factors have profound implications on its evolution: economies of scale, uneven economic development along the Changjiang River, the change of the prot system’s technological conditions, the development of transport network, and the transformation of the nation’s economic policies. Compared with some port systems in the West, the Changjiang River port system is still in the primary fromation stage. The present spatial state of the port system is unfavourable to elaboration of the whole benefit itself. In the author’s opinion, from now on the basic trend will be continued toward the concentration in the spatial structure but the developing velocity will be slowed down. Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing will grow faster than the other ports. %U https://www.geog.com.cn/EN/10.11821/xb199903005