Abstract: The spatiotemporal evolution of the coordinated development of urbanization and resource-environment carrying capacity is one of the most important topics in ecology, geography, economic sociology. It is of great significance for promoting the sustainable development of cities and towns. To clarify the spatial distribution of the coordination of urbanization and resource-environment carrying capacity in Hexi Corridor at the county scale, the spatial heterogeneity and dynamic evolution of the coordination level of urbanization and resource-environment carrying capacity in this region were examined by nuclear density analysis, exploratory analysis, and spatiotemporal data model. The results showed that: From 2000 to 2018, the peak values ofcoordination degree between urbanization and resourceenvironment carrying capacity of Hexi Corridor ranged from 0.35 to 0.42, showing a trend of first decreasing and then increasing, and mainly uncoordinating at the present stage. The spatial distribution of coordination level of regional urbanization and resource-environment carrying capacity was unbalanced, with the northwest being higher than the southeast, and with spatial agglomeration and spatial autocorrelation. The hotspots were mainly distributed in Jiuquan, Jiayuguan and other traditional industrial areas, whereas the cold spots were mainly distributed in Wuwei in the southeast. The coordination level of regional urbanization and resourceenvironment carrying capacity was mainly affected by environmental protection investment, industrial structure, and development efficiency. Our findings are of great significance for promoting the coordinating development of urbanization and ecological environment in Hexi Corridor and for achieving the sustainable development of cities and towns along the Silk Road Economic Belt.

Key words: urbanization, resource-environment carrying capacity, coordinating development, spatial pattern, Hexi Corridor.