Format compositions and spatial distribution characteristics of central districts in megacities: People’s Square and Shanghai’s Lujiazui District

Central urban areas have become more complex and comprehensive over the last several decades. Today, the study of these areas must include an understanding of urban spatial structure and morphology. However, the predominant research perspective comes from the current interdisciplinary quantitative discussion of the spatial form of urban space structures, rather than from the use of formats to quantitatively examine urban centers or business districts. The business mode is an important aspect of research in central areas and is more reflective of the core characteristics of the urban center. This study provides an in-depth examination of the industrial morphology of urban centers, especially that of megacities. To do so, the study utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methods of case choice and kernel density analysis to link urban industrial form data with urban spatial structure. The purpose of this research is to determine the association between urban industrial form data and the relationship between urban spatial structure and urban morphology, as well as summarize the related characteristics from data and spatial statistics results. In exploring this relationship, this study addresses significant research gaps while contributing to spatial planning and related policy-making in the central urban district.