A Study on the Spatiotemporal Patterns and Influencing Factors of Urban–Rural Integrated Development: A Case Study of the Chengdu Plain Economic Zone

Abstract

Urban-rural integration is essential for China’s modernization, aiming to bridge the urban-rural divide and promote common prosperity. The Chengdu Plain Economic Zone, accounting for 63.2% of Sichuan’s GDP, faces challenges such as a 39.3 percentage point urbanization gap and industrial homogenization. This study assesses integration from 2012 to 2021 across economic, social, spatial, and demographic dimensions, using the entropy method and geographical detector model. Results reveal an 8.65% annual growth in integration, with a spatial pattern of “high in the center, low in the southwest.” Chengdu leads consistently, while De yang and Mian yang progress via industrial upgrades; Ya an and Leshan lag due to geographical constraints. Key drivers include urbanization rate (q=0.62), per capita GDP (q=0.58), and income gap (q=0.45). The proposed policy framework advocates multi-center collaboration, industrial complementarity, infrastructure connectivity, and talent sharing to achieve “value symbiosis,” providing a model for less-developed regions in Western China.