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Urban Science
Special Issues
Urbanization Dynamics, Urban Space, and Sustainable Governance
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Urbanization Dynamics, Urban Space, and Sustainable Governance

A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Planning and Design".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2026 | Viewed by 1257

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yongyong Song

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Guest Editor
School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
Interests: urban and regional development; regional transition and spatial governance; coupling mechanisms and simulation of social–ecological systems
Prof. Dr. Pingjun Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Geography Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Interests: urban and regional development; economic geography; human geography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Meimei Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Interests: human geography; land Use/land cover changes; urban and regional development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The acceleration of global urbanization processes and the deepening of industrialization are reshaping the spatial patterns of urban and regional development, and are also simultaneously triggering a series of complex and interrelated challenges. Rapid urban population growth, increasing pressures on resources and the environment, uncontrolled spatial expansion, the emergence of urban shrinkage, and increasing social stratification all pose significant challenges to sustainable urban development. These challenges not only compromise urban livability and competitiveness but also exert profound impacts on the achievement of global sustainable development goals.

Against this backdrop, determining how to scientifically advance urbanization, foster inter-city and urban–regional collaborative development, optimize functional urban layouts, implement urban renewal in an orderly manner, and mitigate spatial inequalities have become critical research questions that require urgent solutions. An in-depth exploration of these cutting-edge issues holds significant theoretical and practical importance pertaining to the achievement of high-quality urban development, and the construction of sustainable urban and regional development systems.

This Special Issue will focus on the frontiers of urban geography and regional planning and, in so doing, will adopt interdisciplinary perspectives to analyze key topics such as urbanization and urban space, urban industries and urban society, urban shrinkage and urban renewal, urban transition and spatial governance, and the multidimensional effects of the development of urban agglomerations. By gathering the latest research findings from scholars, planners, and experts worldwide, the aim is to provide theoretical support and practical roadmaps for sustainable urban and regional development, thereby advancing academic innovation and practical applications in this field. The Special Issue will pay particular attention to the following seven themes:

  1. Mechanisms of urbanization dynamics and the reconstruction of spatial structures.
  2. The measurement of urban shrinkage, the mechanisms of its formation, and appropriate planning responses.
  3. Urban industrial transformation and innovation in relation to spatial governance.
  4. Social spatial differentiation in cities and inclusive development.
  5. The development of urban agglomerations and mechanisms for regional collaborative development.
  6. The utilization of urban and environmental resources and their sustainable management.
  7. Green and low-carbon urban renewal and resilience planning.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Yongyong Song
Prof. Dr. Pingjun Sun
Dr. Meimei Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Urban Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • spatial structure
  • urban shrinkage
  • urban renewal
  • socio-spatial differentiation
  • regional synergy
  • spatial governance
  • sustainability
  • resilient city

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 2497 KB  
Article
Symbiotic Relationship and Influencing Factors of the Entertainment Industry in Xi’an: A Case of Cafés and Gyms
by Yanyan Ma, Dongqian Xue, Yongyong Song, Jiabi Xu and Zheng Zhou
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(12), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9120498 - 24 Nov 2025
Viewed by 454
Abstract
This paper explores the café–gym symbiosis mode in Xi’an and its key influencing factors. Taking 63 sub-districts in the seven main urban districts of Xi’an as an example, based on the Dianping.com data of 753 cafés and 335 gyms and survey data from [...] Read more.
This paper explores the café–gym symbiosis mode in Xi’an and its key influencing factors. Taking 63 sub-districts in the seven main urban districts of Xi’an as an example, based on the Dianping.com data of 753 cafés and 335 gyms and survey data from 492 questionnaires, this paper uses methods such as the symbiotic degree, symbiotic coefficient, and binary logistic regression model. On the basis of evaluating the symbiotic model between cafés and fitness centers, it explores the key factors influencing the symbiotic model of cafés and fitness centers. The results showed that cafés and gyms in Xi’an have a variety of characteristics, including agglomeration, correlation, complementarity, and combination, laying the foundation for a symbiosis between them. Among the subject symbiosis modes in Xi’an, point symbiosis was the main symbiotic organization mode. Simultaneously, the proportion of the point symbiosis mode was higher in the urban–rural transitional area than in other areas (traditional inner-city areas, mature built-up areas, emerging expansion areas). An asymmetric reciprocal symbiosis mode dominated the symbiotic behavior mode of entertainment industry objects in Xi’an. In terms of the total weekly entertainment consumer and the additional entertainment consumer dimensions, in the asymmetric reciprocal symbiosis mode, the proportion of cafés having a large impact on gyms was the highest: 60.00% and 62.86%, respectively. However, from the composite index dimension, in the asymmetric reciprocal symbiosis mode, the proportion of gyms having a large impact on cafés was the highest: 39.13%. From the symbiotic interface, the physical space within urban residential areas, office areas, commercial areas, and other main material spaces was the important basic support force for the symbiotic development of urban culture and the entertainment industry. The influence of the symbiosis mode of the culture and entertainment industry has stability. From the perspective of the symbiotic environment, cultural and creative elements, government policies, and consumer spending on entertainment foster the formation of an asymmetrical mutualistic symbiosis model between cafés and gyms. Conversely, factors such as marketization, globalization, and demographic factors inhibit its development. These findings offer valuable insights for urban planners and businesses, which help optimize the layout of the urban entertainment industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urbanization Dynamics, Urban Space, and Sustainable Governance)
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23 pages, 3742 KB  
Article
Evolution of the Urban Network in the Yellow River Basin: A Corporate Network Perspective
by Xiaofei Chen, Enru Wang, Xiaoling Gao and Yonggui Hu
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(11), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9110465 - 6 Nov 2025
Viewed by 453
Abstract
This study examines the evolution of the Yellow River Basin’s urban corporate network from 2003 to 2023, aiming to understand how intercity connectivity and decision-making authority have developed. Using headquarters–subsidiary linkages of listed firms, we measure connectivity and control of cities within the [...] Read more.
This study examines the evolution of the Yellow River Basin’s urban corporate network from 2003 to 2023, aiming to understand how intercity connectivity and decision-making authority have developed. Using headquarters–subsidiary linkages of listed firms, we measure connectivity and control of cities within the urban system and employ spatial error models to identify their main determinants. The results show that the network has become denser and more geographically inclusive, especially in the middle and lower reaches. However, a clear hierarchy remains, and upstream integration stays limited. Community structures are anchored by capitals, and multi-core patterns strengthen over time. Coastal hubs in Shandong handle the most significant volumes of ties, while interior capitals such as Zhengzhou, Lanzhou, Xi’an, and Taiyuan concentrate authority—a contrast that has intensified since 2013. Connectivity and control often diverge, and disparities in both have increased. Administrative rank remains the strongest predictor of a city’s position, although its influence has decreased as factors such as openness, development, producer services, and innovation have gained importance. Transportation accessibility and human capital consistently support both connectivity and control, while government intervention initially restricts network roles but becomes less influential over time. These findings suggest that intercity corporate linkages have expanded, yet decision-making authority has not dispersed and remains concentrated in a small set of capitals. Governance that coordinates across provinces is necessary to ensure that increasing linkages translate into shared economic opportunities while protecting the basin’s fragile ecological environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urbanization Dynamics, Urban Space, and Sustainable Governance)
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