ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Sustain. Cities
Sec. Urban Transportation Systems and Mobility
Spatial and Functional Evolution of Urban Rail Transit Station Areas in Mountainous Cities: A Case Study of Daping Station, Chongqing
Yuyi Zhu 1
Yunyun Chen 2
Yuqing Yang 3
1. School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
2. Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing, China
3. Chongqing Energy College, Chongqing, China
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Abstract
Background: Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) has been widely adopted to promote compact and integrated urban growth. However, in mountainous cities, the spatial transformation of urban rail transit station areas (URTSAs) is constrained by steep topography, limited developable land, and fragmented vertical urban forms, which challenge the effective implementation of TOD principles. This study investigates the spatiotemporal functional evolution of the Daping Station area in Chongqing, China, over a decade (2014–2024), with a specific focus on the spatial coordination between transit infrastructure and adjacent land use. Methods: A mixed-method approach was employed, combining space syntax analysis, Points of Interest (POI)-based kernel density estimation, and spatial information entropy modeling to uncover structural transformation patterns and underlying spatial mechanisms. Results: Three key challenges are identified: 1) persistent misalignment between station facilities and urban functions, characterized by linear commercial corridors with inadequate clustering; 2) a vertically dense but spatially fragmented urban core lacking coherence; 3) enhanced network connectivity and limited pedestrian integration and vitality. Conclusion: Drawing on these findings, a three-dimensional intensification strategy is proposed, encompassing the optimization of vertical circulation systems, reorganization of mixed-use zones, and integration of fragmented public spaces. The study provides practical insights for adapting TOD strategies to complex urban terrains and contributes to policy-oriented planning in mountainous cities.
Summary
Keywords
Mountainous city, spatial and functional evolution, Sustainable urban development, TOD, urban rail transit station areas
Received
26 September 2025
Accepted
19 January 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Zhu, Chen and Yang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Yuyi Zhu; Yuqing Yang
Disclaimer
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