从巨型城市区域视角审视粤港澳大湾区空间结构

Abstract

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is one of the most urbanized city regions in the world. This study aimed to understand the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by applying the theoretical framework of mega-city region. We regarded the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a mega-city region and analyzed its spatial structure from four dimensions: intraregional boundaries, functional network, core area, and regional infrastructure integration. Four development trends were identified: (1) Boundary effect is reducing remarkably and border areas will grow rapidly inside the Greater Bay Area. (2) Industrial clusters become functional areas in a functional network, replacing cities to be the basic unit in global competition. (3) Two core areas can be identified, including the Guangzhou-Foshan core area and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen core area. (4) Rail transit station density tends to increase and a global transportation hub is emerging, which make it convenient for people in the Greater Bay Area to share transportation hub and public service facilities. In the end, the article presents a vision of spatial structure for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, concluding that this mega-city region will form a new structure of 'two cores and functional areas.'