Connectivity and centrality: Geovisualization of express networks in China

Abstract

Express delivery volume is an important indicator of intercity e-commerce trading activities, offering a new vision for glimpsing the intercity linkages. However, it has been a challenge to reveal the spatial distribution of intercity express flows due to the limitations on the use of express parcel data by most companies. The study maps the spatial pattern of intercity express connection intensity and identifies the urban centrality, supported by waybill data from China. Intercity express connections form a triangular corridor centred on the ‘Pearl River Delta–Yangtze River Delta–Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei’ urban agglomerations. Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Jinhua, Shanghai, Beijing, Quanzhou, Xingtai, etc., exhibit higher centrality for their strong consumption power or commodity production capacity. These cities also develop relatively strong connections with national central cities (Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Tianjin, etc.) and provincial capitals (Changsha, Urumqi, Hulun Buir, etc.). The cities on the western side of the Hu-line present low centrality and weak connections with the eastern cities and form sub-network with the provincial capital cities as the core.