中文摘要：

湖北省是中国中部崛起的重要支点,但其支点作用的发挥有赖于其空间结构的战略性选择。经济地理学理论分析表明：联结武汉、宜昌、襄阳、荆门、十堰、恩施5个极核城市所构成的＂A型点轴结构＂是湖北省区域发展的最佳空间结构。空间数据分析证明：＂A型点轴结构＂的轴线沿线是湖北经济社会发展的精华地带,＂A型点轴结构＂中极核城市之间的梯度差异反映了整个湖北东、中、西部的地区差异。应用＂A型点轴结构＂来统筹湖北未来的区域发展,其空间意象具有鲜明的＂星座＂、＂脊梁＂、＂巨梯＂和＂飞箭＂特征。

英文摘要：

Hubei province is an important fulcrum for the rise of Central China, but the play of fulcrum role depends on the strategic choice of its spatial structure. Applying the growth pole theory, point axis system theory, grade development theory and city constellation theory, we analyzed the spatial structure of Hubei province, and the research indicates that, the A-shaped point-axis spatial frame, which connects five polar cities of Wuhan, Yichang, Xiangyang, Jingmen and Yichang and takes the line of Wuhan-Xiangyang-Shiyan as its upper axis, Wuhan-Yichang-Enshi as its lower axis, and Xiangyang-Jingmen-Yichang as its vertical axis, is the best spatial structure for the regional development in this province. Using statistical data, we analyzed the major economic and social total quantity and density indicators in Hubei in 2008, and found that, regions along the ＂A-shaped point-axis structure＂ are the essence of social and economic development in Hubei, and the gradient variations between polar cities along ＂A-shaped point-axis structure＂ reflect the variations among the eastern, central and western parts of Hubei. Using ＂A-shaped point-axis structure＂ to coordinate the regional development in Hubei in the future, the static spatial mental image is ＂A-shaped frame, Hubei＇s constellation＂ and ＂A-shaped frame, Hubei＇s backbone＂; the dynamic spatial mental image is ＂ladder extending west, gradient advancing＂; the overall spatial mental image is ＂three wheels driving, one arrow taking off＂.