Spatiotemporal Characteristics of “Urban-Suburban-Rural” Interaction in Shanghai Metropolis: A Perspective on Commuting Mobility

As urbanization progresses, the flow of population, capital, and other resources between urban and rural areas accelerates, leading to evolving urban-rural interactions. This study examines the spatiotemporal characteristics of the “urban-suburban-rural” interactions in the Shanghai metropolis from 2017 to 2020, focusing on commuting flows. The results indicate that interactions among urban, suburban, and rural areas in Shanghai metropolis have generally strengthened, characterized by increasingly distinct commuting structures and more pronounced strong connections. Urban commuting patterns predominantly rely on intra-urban flows, while suburban and rural areas demonstrate varying degrees of employment dependence on urban areas. Notably, rural areas exhibit stronger dependence on suburban areas than on urban centers. Despite these interactions, significant differences persist in the commuting structures among the three areas. The development of employment centers, such as the central city, urban peripheries, new towns, and industrial parks, has enhanced connections within urban areas, as well as between urban and suburban areas and between urban and rural areas. However, the commuting structures within rural areas and between rural and suburban areas have shown little change, reflecting lagging functional development in these areas. Shanghai metropolis should focus on unlocking the potential of suburban and rural areas by advancing functional development and establishing employment centers.