Abstract: Abstract：Introducing spatial interpolation technique and the rank-size rule, this paper discussed the spatial variation patterns and rank-size distribution evolution of cities competitiveness in Urban Agglomeration in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River based on the factor analysis method. The results show that : (1) The standard deviation of comprehensive competitiveness of cities in Urban Agglomeration in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River assumes to expand, and the relative differences show a trend of wavelike decrease. The spatial patterns present three core-periphery plates structure on the whole and the intra-plate differentiation is obvious, as well as the temporal evolution shows a character of global stability, accompanied with local variation. (2) Each principal factor of comprehensive competitiveness of cities has a dramatic spatial variation. Only city size and economic strength patterns couples well with comprehensive cities competitiveness. The spatial variation patterns of other factors are notably different and affected by urban infrastructure, government, industries, environment, etc. In addition to the track of the first and third principal factor gravity center moving toward geometric center, the rest of factors showing a strong deviation tendency. (3) The size distributions of comprehensive competitiveness of cities in Urban Agglomeration in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River and three sub-urban agglomerations generally accord with the rank-size rule, and the evolutions of them are consistent with the spatial variation patterns. The types of size distribution are all rank-size distribution except Wuhan Metropolitan Area, and the fractal features of three sub-urban agglomerations are superior to the whole.

摘要： 摘 要：构建城市竞争力多指标体系，从空间分布与等级规模分布两个视角，对长江中游城市群城市竞争力的空间格局与等级规模结构演变进行定量分析，发现：（1）长江中游城市群城市综合竞争力绝对差异持续扩大，相对差异动态下滑，空间格局整体呈三大“核心（一主两副）—边缘”板块结构，且保持时间惯性和空间惰性，时空演变呈“总体锁定，局部变动”特征，各板块内部分异明显。（2）5个主因子空间分异显著，除城市规模和经济实力格局与综合竞争力耦合良好外，其余因子空间分异格局迥异，受基础设施、政府、产业、生态环境等因素耦合影响显著；主因子重心迁移轨迹中，除第一、第三主因子趋向几何中心“均衡点位”外，其余主因子离心化偏移特征明显，跃迁尺度规模大；（3）长江中游城市群及三个子城市群城市综合竞争力等级规模分布总体符合捷夫位序—规模法则，等级结构发育趋于优化和有序，三大板块竞争力分形发育优于城市群整体；除武汉城市圈呈现首位型分布外，其它以位次型特征为主，且位序—规模分布及演化规律与其空间格局演化规律总体吻合。