Intercity asymmetrical linkages influenced by Spring Festival migration and its multivariate distance determinants: a case study of the Yangtze River Delta Region in China

Understanding intercity linkage patterns is of great importance to understanding urbanization. With advancements in transportation, communication technology, and the availability of big data, the "death of distance" concept has gained significant attention. This paper analyzes the asymmetric spatial intercity linkage network in China's economically developed YRDR based on big data derived from Spring Festival (SF) migration. The aim is to explore the determinants of these linkages considering multivariate distance factors. The findings indicate a notable pattern of asymmetry in the intercity linkage network of the YRDR between core and non-core cities. The spatial decay effect of geographic distance on intercity asymmetry linkage is observed. Despite technological advancements, geographic distance remains the most influential and decisive factor in determining intercity asymmetric linkages. While other attribute distances also play a positive role, their effects become complex when controlling for geographic distance. Understanding these attribute distances is essential in comprehending the decay effect. This study contributes to the empirical investigation of the "death of distance" debate and provides a practical analytical framework for analyzing the drivers of intercity linkage patterns. It enhances our understanding of intercity spatial linkages within the context of urbanization in China and offers valuable insights for formulating development policies in the YRDR.