From central place to central flow theory: an exploration of urban catering

ABSTRACT

The research shift from central place theory to central flow theory has demonstrated the influence of information technology on cities. The study explores this shift at the city scale of urban catering industry in Nanjing, China. A comprehensive set of indicators of E-WoM for the catering industry has been established. Based on this, the spatial distribution patterns of catering industry in Nanjing, China have been discussed to examine the relationship of restaurants distribution and the central place theory or the central flow theory using a data analytical approach. The results revealed that the spatial distribution of restaurants’ density in Nanjing follows a traditional central place theory, but the spatial distribution of restaurants’ E-WoM in Nanjing rather follows the central flow theory. In addition, different characteristics could be found in different types of restaurants’ E-WoM distribution. Mainstream cuisine follows central place theory but is inconsistent in urban business districts, which demonstrate some characteristics of central flow theory. The distribution of E-WoM of non-mainstream cuisine is similar to the E-WoM distribution of overall restaurants, showing a central flow pattern. Finally, the implications of the study are drawn.

摘要

从中心地理论到中心流理论的研究转向表明了信息技术对城市的影响。本研究探讨了中国南京城市餐饮业的这种转变。研究建立了一套基于网络口碑度的餐饮评价指标。基于此, 对南京餐饮业的空间分布格局进行了研究, 探讨了餐饮分布与中心地理论或中心流理论的关系。结果表明, 南京餐饮的空间分布遵循传统的中心地理论, 但餐饮的网络口碑度遵循中心流理论。此外, 不同类型的餐饮呈现不同的网络口碑分布。主流餐饮主要遵循中心地理论, 但在城市商业区却部分体现了中心流理论的特点。非主流餐饮网络口碑的分布则类似于餐饮业整体的网络口碑分布, 呈现出中央流模式。本文最后提出一些实践对策。

KEYWORDS:

• Central place theory
• central flow theory
• catering industry
• spatial distribution
• data analytical approach
• Nanjing

关键词:

• 中心地理论
• 中心流理论
• 餐饮业
• 空间分布
• 数据分析
• 南京

Acknowledgments

The project is partly funded by Chinese National Nature Science Foundation (41571133; 41571146;41711530650), Central University Fundmental Research (2242017S10005; 2242015R30020) and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2017M611781). We would like to thank the three anonymous referees for their advices for this paper. Thanks also go to Dr. Felix Below for his help when preparing this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. ‘Master Plan of Nanjing (2011–2020)’ is the latest master plan of Nanjing prepared by the Nanjing Municipal Planning Bureau, and is used to determine the hierarchy of business centers in Nanjing.

2. http://www.dianping.com/aboutus.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Fundamental Research Funds for Central University [grant number 2242015R30020], [grant number 2242017S10005]; Chinese National Nature Science Foundation [grant number 41571133], [grant number 41571146], [grant number 41711530650]; China Postdoctoral Science Foundation [grant number 2017M611781].

Notes on contributors

Feifei Xu

Feifei Xu, PhD, is a professor in the School of Humanities, Southeast University, China. Her main research interests include tourism in protected areas, cross-cultural issues in tourism, as well as e-tourism.

Feng Zhen

Feng Zhen, PhD, is a professor in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University, China. His main research interests include the impacts of Information communication and technology (ICT) on urban space and smart city theory.

Xiao Qin

Xiao Qin, PhD, is an assistant researcher in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University, China. His main research interests include the application of big data in urban planning.

Xia Wang

Xia Wang, PhD, is an associate professor in the School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, China. Her main research interests include the tourism geography and smart tourism.

Fang Wang

Fang Wang, PhD, is a professor in the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Peaking University, China. Her main research interests include the cultural landscape and Geo-Architecture.