{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,26]],"date-time":"2025-12-26T13:13:21Z","timestamp":1766754801976,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,23]],"date-time":"2022-11-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1669161600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["52078115"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["52078115"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJGI"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The role of small towns in regional development is being emphasized, especially in developing countries, where small towns are driving regional spatial integration and optimization from the \u2018bottom up\u2019. In the context of further refinement of regional governance, it is important to identify the characteristics of regional small towns and explore the spatial pattern and structure of their development to achieve regional strategic goals. Taking the Yunnan section of the China\u2013Laos Economic Corridor as an example, this study integrated small towns and regional high-quality development needs, constructed a regional small-town classification and evaluation index system, used various quantitative analysis methods to explore the spatial differentiation of regional small towns\u2019 development levels, and constructed a spatial pattern of regional small towns. Our results reveal that: (1) Small towns in the Yunnan section of the China\u2013Laos Economic Corridor showed large variations in the scores of the four indicator types, which were spatially distributed as \u2018core-edge\u2019 and \u2018peripheral core\u2019. (2) There was spatial autocorrelation in the classification assessment results of small towns, where small towns with similar levels of development were spatially adjacent and dominated by hot spot agglomerations, but with different agglomeration patterns and distribution locations. (3) The spatial pattern of regional small towns was composed of various elements such as points, lines, axes, rings, and clusters, which can meet the diversified development needs of the region. (4) Our study found that the horizontal transportation links of the Yunnan section require strengthening and suggested the construction of a \u20181 + 3\u2019 regional transportation network.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijgi11120586","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,23]],"date-time":"2022-11-23T03:15:24Z","timestamp":1669173324000},"page":"586","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Regional Small Towns Classification Assessment and Spatial Pattern Integration: A Case Study of the Yunnan Section of the China\u2013Laos Economic Corridor"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Jing","family":"Han","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China"}]},{"given":"Yue","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5219-2230","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Xingping","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-9957.1954.tb00021.x","article-title":"Economic Development with Unlimited Supplies of Labour","volume":"22","author":"Lewis","year":"1954","journal-title":"Manch. Sch. Econ. Soc. Stud."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"76","article-title":"The small town agents-their policies and strategies","volume":"16","year":"1995","journal-title":"Reg. Dev. Dialogue"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1177\/095624780301500111","article-title":"The links between urban and rural development","volume":"15","author":"Tacoli","year":"2003","journal-title":"Environ. Urban."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Van Leeuwen, E. (2009). Urban-Rural Interactions, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-7908-2407-0"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.1016\/j.habitatint.2015.08.017","article-title":"Development and transition of small towns in rural China","volume":"50","author":"Gu","year":"2015","journal-title":"Habitat Int."},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"27","article-title":"Promoting small towns for rural development: A view from Nepal","volume":"10","author":"Bajracharya","year":"1995","journal-title":"Asia-Pac. Popul. J."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.2307\/214328","article-title":"Towns and small cities in developing countries","volume":"73","author":"Rondinelli","year":"1983","journal-title":"Geogr. Rev."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1080\/00420980220112748","article-title":"Small towns and regional development: Major findings and policy implications from comparative research","volume":"39","author":"Hinderink","year":"2002","journal-title":"Urban Stud."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1016\/j.habitatint.2019.02.003","article-title":"Contemporary perspectives of small towns in India: A review","volume":"86","author":"Guin","year":"2019","journal-title":"Habitat Int."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"453","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1468-2427.2008.00794.x","article-title":"The role of small towns in regional development and poverty reduction in Ghana","volume":"32","author":"Owusu","year":"2008","journal-title":"Int. J. Urban Reg. Res."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"62","article-title":"The Path Selection for High Quality Development of China\u2019s Small Towns in Post-industrialization Period","volume":"37","author":"Wang","year":"2019","journal-title":"China Ind. Econ."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1016\/j.habitatint.2017.12.008","article-title":"Development of characteristic towns in China","volume":"77","author":"Wu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Habitat Int."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1060","DOI":"10.1080\/02723638.2018.1433926","article-title":"Searching for a new dynamic of industrialization and urbanization: Anatomy of China\u2019s characteristic town program","volume":"39","author":"Zou","year":"2018","journal-title":"Urban Geogr."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1687","DOI":"10.18306\/dlkxjz.2020.10.008","article-title":"Quantitative attribution of national key town layout based on geodetector and the geographically weighted regression model","volume":"39","author":"Han","year":"2020","journal-title":"Prog. Geogr."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"535","DOI":"10.1080\/00343400902926375","article-title":"Dilemmas for Regional Development in the Concepts Seeking to Develop Poland\u2019s Spatial Structure","volume":"44","author":"Banski","year":"2010","journal-title":"Reg. Stud."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116","DOI":"10.1080\/09654313.2015.1054792","article-title":"Impact of Polycentric Urban Systems on Intra-regional Disparities: A Micro-regional Approach","volume":"24","author":"Maly","year":"2016","journal-title":"Eur. Plan. Stud."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"43","article-title":"Commuting circle-based spatial structure optimization of megacities: A case study of Wuhan central city","volume":"43","author":"Guo","year":"2019","journal-title":"City Plan. Rev."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"39","article-title":"Research on the Evolution of Regional Economic Pattern and the Optimization of Spatial Strategic Structure in Hunan Province","volume":"40","author":"Li","year":"2020","journal-title":"Econ. Geogr."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Clark, P. (2002). Small Towns in Early Modern Europe, Cambridge University Press."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jrurstud.2008.10.005","article-title":"Changes in small town social capital and civic engagement","volume":"25","author":"Besser","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Rural. Stud."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Alpermann, B. (2013). Small Town China: Rural Labour and Social Inclusion. China Q., 477\u2013479.","DOI":"10.1017\/S030574101300043X"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"242","DOI":"10.2478\/euco-2021-0017","article-title":"Social and Spatial Relation between Small Towns and Villages in Peripheral Regions: Evidence from Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia","volume":"13","author":"Jaszczak","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur. Countrys."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1007\/s11769-005-0006-x","article-title":"Sustainable land use planning based on ecological health-Case Study of Beiwenquan Town, Chongqing, China","volume":"15","author":"Shao","year":"2005","journal-title":"Chin. Geogr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jrurstud.2022.01.009","article-title":"Planning for small town reorientation: Key policy choices within external support","volume":"90","author":"Powe","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Rural. Stud."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.1007\/s11205-011-9921-7","article-title":"Developing Small Cities by Promoting Village to Town and its Effects on Quality of Life for the Local Residents","volume":"110","author":"Rezvani","year":"2013","journal-title":"Soc. Indic. Res."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1014","DOI":"10.1080\/03003930.2020.1864334","article-title":"Who is at the table? Civic engagement in small town housing decision-making","volume":"47","author":"Odeyemi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Local Gov. Stud."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105998","DOI":"10.1016\/j.landusepol.2022.105998","article-title":"The development of small towns and towns of well-being: Current trends, 30 years after the change in the political system, based on the Warsaw suburban area","volume":"115","author":"Majewska","year":"2022","journal-title":"Land Use Policy"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.2298\/IJGI1703297V","article-title":"Does Agglomeration Process Exist in Small Provincial Urban Centers? Evidences from Sverdlovsk Region","volume":"67","author":"Vukovic","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Geogr. Inst. Jovan Cvijic Sasa"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"804","DOI":"10.2112\/SI93-113.1","article-title":"Planning Method of Spatial Evolution Layout of Industrial Economy in Coastal Towns with Characteristics","volume":"93","author":"Chen","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Coast. Res."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1080\/09654313.2020.1804532","article-title":"Recoding of an industrial town: Bioeconomy hype as a cure from decline?","volume":"29","author":"Albrecht","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur. Plan. Stud."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Dickson, K.B. (1971). The Ghanaian Town: Its Nature and Function, Ghana University Press."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1177\/0956247810362846","article-title":"Migratory patterns in small towns: The cases of Mazabuka and Kalomo in Zambia","volume":"22","author":"Nchito","year":"2010","journal-title":"Environ. Urban."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1111\/rurd.12046","article-title":"Spatio-functional determinants of small towns: A case study of selected Indian small towns","volume":"28","author":"Alam","year":"2016","journal-title":"Rev. Urban Reg. Dev. Stud."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"91","article-title":"Does the Process of Shrinking Concern also Small Towns? Lessons from Poland","volume":"38","author":"Bartosiewicz","year":"2019","journal-title":"Quaest. Geogr."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"843","DOI":"10.1007\/s11205-020-02465-x","article-title":"Exploring the Urban Strength of Small Towns in Romania","volume":"152","author":"Stoica","year":"2020","journal-title":"Soc. Indic. Res."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105590","DOI":"10.1016\/j.landusepol.2021.105590","article-title":"Are small towns really inefficient? A data envelopment analysis of sampled towns in Jiangsu province, China","volume":"109","author":"Yin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Land Use Policy"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zagroba, M., Pawlewicz, K., and Senetra, A. (2021). Analysis and Evaluation of the Spatial Structure of Cittaslow Towns on the Example of Selected Regions in Central Italy and North-Eastern Poland. Land, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/land10080780"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"537","DOI":"10.2478\/rara-2020-0032","article-title":"Functional classification of small towns in Germany. A methodological comparison","volume":"78","author":"Gareis","year":"2020","journal-title":"Raumforsch. Raumordn.-Spat. Res. Plan."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"480","DOI":"10.1007\/s11769-022-1272-6","article-title":"Elaborating Spatiotemporal Associations Between the Built Environment and Urban Vibrancy: A Case of Guangzhou City, China","volume":"32","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Chin. Geogr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_40","first-page":"5","article-title":"The talks on paper of the study of the spirit of the fifth plenary session of the 19th central committee of the communist party of China","volume":"12","author":"Cai","year":"2020","journal-title":"China Ind. Econ."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"177","DOI":"10.1142\/S2377740018500161","article-title":"Navigating China\u2019s Economic Development in the New Era: From High-Speed to High-Quality Growth","volume":"04","author":"Heng","year":"2018","journal-title":"China Q. Int. Strateg. Stud."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1007\/s11769-022-1263-7","article-title":"Measurement and Evolution of High-quality Development Level of Marine Fishery in China","volume":"32","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"Chin. Geogr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_43","unstructured":"Han, J. (2020). Identification of development types and preliminary exploration of differentiation paths of National Key Town. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Northwest University]."},{"key":"ref_44","first-page":"146","article-title":"Study on Development Model of Towns and Villages Based on Potential Vitality Evaluation: A Case Study of Zuowei Town in Hebei Province","volume":"39","author":"Ren","year":"2020","journal-title":"Areal Res. Dev."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106239","DOI":"10.1016\/j.landusepol.2022.106239","article-title":"Shedding light on unnoticed gems in India: A small town\u2019s growth perspective","volume":"120","author":"Tripathi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Land Use Policy"},{"key":"ref_46","first-page":"113","article-title":"Application of Improved Entropy Method in Henan Sustainable Development Evaluation","volume":"26","author":"Qiao","year":"2004","journal-title":"Resour. Sci."},{"key":"ref_47","first-page":"272","article-title":"Spatial-temporal characteristics and influencing factors of coordination between economic and environmental development of three major urban agglomerations in China","volume":"39","author":"Zhang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Geogr. Res."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"408","DOI":"10.1080\/14616688.2014.997279","article-title":"Inter-regional agglomeration effects in tourism in Poland","volume":"17","author":"Majewska","year":"2015","journal-title":"Tour. Geogr."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.habitatint.2013.10.003","article-title":"Extended urbanization in small and medium-sized cities: The case of Cirebon, Indonesia","volume":"42","author":"Fahmi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Habitat Int."},{"key":"ref_50","first-page":"674","article-title":"A review of Chinese urban development policy, emerging patterns and future adjustments","volume":"33","author":"Fang","year":"2014","journal-title":"Geogr. Res."},{"key":"ref_51","first-page":"5","article-title":"Exploring the Way to Develop Small Towns in China","volume":"36","author":"Cui","year":"2018","journal-title":"Dev. Small Cities Towns"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"266","DOI":"10.37040\/geografie2012117030266","article-title":"Contemporary tendencies of the development of spatial pattern on the local level in Czechia: Towards higher fragmentation of the spatial pattern?","volume":"117","author":"Blazek","year":"2012","journal-title":"Geografie"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1060","DOI":"10.1007\/s11442-020-1770-3","article-title":"Mega-towns in China: Their spatial distribution features and growth mechanisms","volume":"30","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Geogr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"237","DOI":"10.1080\/09709274.2013.11906571","article-title":"Growth of urban agglomeration nodes in Eastern Africa","volume":"41","author":"Ruhiiga","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Hum. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_55","unstructured":"Lu, X. (2014). The Spatial Structure of Chinese History, Guangxi Normal University Press."},{"key":"ref_56","first-page":"52","article-title":"Small town development in peripheral areas","volume":"13","author":"Horeczki","year":"2021","journal-title":"DETUROPE Cent. Eur. J. Tour. Reg. Dev."}],"container-title":["ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2220-9964\/11\/12\/586\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T01:24:45Z","timestamp":1760145885000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2220-9964\/11\/12\/586"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,23]]},"references-count":56,"journal-issue":{"issue":"12","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,12]]}},"alternative-id":["ijgi11120586"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijgi11120586","relation":{},"ISSN":["2220-9964"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2220-9964"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,23]]}}}