Spatial association patterns of restaurant locations in Chinese and American megacities: A comparison of Shanghai and New York

Abstract

The restaurant location illuminates the contours of urban space and the daily life. Utilizing comparative urban studies to analyze the spatial association patterns of restaurant locations can provide insight into the similarities and differences of urban spaces, attempting to observe and understand the spatial connections and cultural connotations of urban functional zones in different cities. This paper explores the spatial association patterns of restaurants in Chinese and American megacities by the bivariate Ripley's K-function and the Colocation Quotient, based on the Point of Interest data of Shanghai and New York. The results show that the spatial associations of restaurant locations with different functional zones in Shanghai and New York become more obvious with the expansion of the spatial coverage. The global distribution of restaurant locations is scattered across the different functional zones in both Shanghai and New York. The local spatial associations of restaurant locations show differences in scope, structure and strength between Shanghai and New York, with a notable example being that restaurants in Shanghai are attracted by commercial zones, while those in New York are attracted by workplaces. This research may provide insights into the site selection of restaurants in Chinese and American megacities.