Abstract:
Intercity connection is the base for regional cooperation. The closer the intercity connection within the region is, the better the intercity cooperation will be. Based on the literature review, research on intercity connection is an important basic content of Macao regional cooperation, and previous studies of intercity connections between Macao and the other cities within Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area are mostly carried out by qualitative analysis. In this article, quantitative analysis methods and indicators such as gravity model, social network analysis, impulse response function analysis and Baidu index are employed to figure out the characters of intercity connection between Macao and the other cities within Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The research findings include: (1) the intercity economic connection within Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has become closer and closer in the 20 years since the return of Macao; (2) in spite of the small economic scale, Macao show its important economic influence in the region; (3) the economic connection between Macao and the cities(Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, etc.) located in the west of Pearl River Estuary(PRD) are stronger than that between Macao and the cities(Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou, etc.) located in the east of PRD, but the calculation results also reflect that there is a large space for cooperation between Macao and the PRD east coast metropolitan area; (4) Macao has a prominent image as a tourism and leisure city in the eyes of residents of the Greater Bay Area, which means that the tourism can help improve the function of Macao in the region taking advantage of this character. According to the findings, we put forward several suggestions to improve the city function of Macao by enhancing intercity connection, such as promoting Macao's integration into the Greater Bay Area through innovative cooperation mechanism, enhancing Macao's city features by cooperating with neighboring cities to develop tourism, and strengthening Macao's technical innovation links with the Greater Bay Area using the platform.