Cities form complex connections through economic, social, and cultural interactions. Advancements in technology and infrastructure have led to networked connections, shifting from hierarchical structures. Population flows, particularly evident in China's Spring Festival migration, are key indicators of intercity linkages. The "death of distance" concept suggests that technology minimizes geographic barriers, but this is debated, with some arguing that geographic distance and pre-existing social ties remain influential. This study examines the intercity linkage network in the YRDR using Spring Festival migration data to investigate the impact of multivariate distance factors on linkage asymmetry. The YRDR's integrated development and rapid growth make it an ideal case study for understanding intercity cooperation and regional coordination within China's national development strategies.

Spatial autocorrelation and spatial dependence have been studied since the 1970s, with research highlighting the influence of geographic distance on intercity linkages, often following a distance decay principle. Tobler's First Law of Geography emphasizes the relationship between proximity and relatedness, extending beyond geographic space to include socioeconomic attributes like administrative divisions, city classifications, industrial structures, and economic scales. Administrative boundaries can act as barriers, while city hierarchy influences spillover effects. Larger cities tend to attract factors from smaller cities, and industrial structure similarity can strengthen linkages. Ultimately, the proximity in both geographic and multivariate spaces determines the degree of asymmetry in intercity linkages.

This study uses a conceptual framework illustrating how multivariate distance (geographic, time, cost, institutional, hierarchical, economic, and structural) influences intercity linkages and their asymmetry. The linkage symmetry index measures asymmetry. The research uses a Multivariate Regression Quadratic Assignment Procedure (MRQAP) analysis. The dependent variable is the intercity asymmetric linkage index, and independent variables are the various distance measures. The study area is the YRDR, using data from Tencent Migration, a Location Based Service (LBS), which provides detailed information on Spring Festival migration patterns. The core-periphery structure of the network is analyzed to identify core cities. The MRQAP model accounts for potential correlations between variables. The equation used is: A_ij = β₀ + β₁GD_ij + β₂TD_ij + β₃CD_ij + β₄ID_ij + β₅HD_ij + β₆ED_ij + β₇SD_ij + ε_ij, where A_ij represents the linkage asymmetry index between city i and j, and GD, TD, CD, ID, HD, ED, and SD represent geographic, time, cost, institutional, hierarchical, economic, and structural distances respectively.

The core-periphery analysis identified nine core cities in the YRDR. The asymmetry of linkages between core and non-core cities was classified into five degrees (A-E), with A and B occurring at short geographic distances and D and E at long distances. MRQAP analysis revealed that the model explained 85.7% of the variance in intercity asymmetric linkage network distribution. Geographic distance was the most significant factor influencing asymmetry, supporting spatial autocorrelation. Other factors, in descending order of influence, were cost distance, economic distance, structural distance, time distance, institutional distance, and hierarchical distance. Time and cost distances positively influenced asymmetry, although the effect of time distance was less than cost distance. Economic distance indicated that greater economic disparity leads to more asymmetry. Structural distance showed that greater disparity in industrial structure leads to higher asymmetry. Institutional and hierarchical distances had minimal impact. Analysis of asymmetry across different geographic distance categories showed complex interactions among attribute distances, particularly beyond a certain geographic distance threshold.

The findings challenge the "death of distance" hypothesis, showing that geographic distance remains crucial despite technological advancements. The study provides empirical evidence for the continued relevance of geographic distance in shaping intercity linkages. The framework developed can be applied to other regions, contributing to the broader understanding of urban interactions and regional integration. The multidimensional approach to distance, incorporating spatial and attribute distances, provides valuable insights for policy and management. The study highlights the limitations of simply dismissing the role of geographic distance in today's interconnected world.

This paper uses Spring Festival migration data to analyze intercity linkage asymmetry in the YRDR. Geographic distance remains the most crucial factor, challenging the "death of distance" concept. The study shows complex interactions among various distance factors, particularly beyond certain geographic distance thresholds. Policy implications include strengthening intercity coordination, improving infrastructure, and fostering industrial complementarity to promote balanced regional development.

The study acknowledges limitations, including potential biases in the Tencent Migration data and the lack of detailed socioeconomic attributes of migrants. Future research should address these limitations by incorporating more granular data and exploring the impact of cultural differences on intercity linkages, especially considering the linguistic diversity within the YRDR.