Distribution Configuration and Spatial Differentiation of Transport Superiority Degree in Northwest China

Two individual indexes, including transport network density and transport infrastructure impact of the 333 counties level administrative units in Northwest China was chosen in this study to analyze the spatial configuration and differentiation characteristics of the transport superiority degree in Northwest China in 2013, and to discuss the spatial relationships between transport superiority degree and natural condition, population and economy. This study reveals that, firstly, the distribution characteristic of transport superiority degree obeys the “partial normal distribution”. Few regions, which merely account for 3.30% of the total number of counties, have prominent transport superiority degree and the traffic environment in these regions is superior for social and economic development. By contrast, 18.62% of all the regions have inferior transport superiority degree and the traffic environment there is poor and impedes local social and economic development. Secondly, it is characterized by a regional differentiation of “high in the east and low in the middle and west”. Guanzhong-Tianshui Economic zone, Yinchuan Plain area, Lanzhou-Xining Economic zone, the three city-and-town concentrated areas and five provincial capitals have significant transport advantages. Thirdly, there is significant linear correlation between transport superiority and population, economic development in counties, and there are four combined types: polarization type, retarded type, advanced type and behind type. The regions of the polarization type concentrate in central cities and their surrounding areas while the behind type concentrate in Junggar Basin, Southern Kumusi and Qinghai Province. The regions of the retarded type have a decentralized distribution in Yinchuan Plain, Northern Shaanxi, Southern Shaanxi, Lanzhou-Xining Economic zone, Hexi Corridor, and the Economic Belt on the Northern Slope of Tianshan Mountains. Besides, there are few counties with inferior transport superiority but have the priority to the development of social economy.