Abstract: This study establishes a comprehensive evaluation index system for the urbanization level in prefecture cities in terms of four aspects of urbanization connotation:population, economy, society, and landscape. The spatial and temporal characteristics and the formation mechanism were analyzed systematically by using the methods including entropy, united nations, quadrant map, and geographical detector technique. The results are shown as follows. 1) Population and economy are the two dominating factors reflecting the comprehensive urbanization level, while society and landscape are the subordinate factors, which have a little effect on the comprehensive urbanization level. 2) There exist significant spatial correlation and agglomeration of comprehensive urbanization scores, and the differentiation patterns are featured by the administrative grade and the spatial agglomeration. 3) The relationships between urbanization rate and urbanization quality in prefecture-level cities can be divided into seven types. 4) There are many factors affecting prefecture-level city urbanization, including total retail sales of consumer goods, outstanding obligation, fiscal expenditure, and urban fixed asset investment. In the development of urbanization, effects of the market force and administration force have weakened. However, the effects of the financial force and exterior force have gradually enhanced.

Key words: urbanization, entropy method, comprehensive evaluation, influencing factor, cities at prefecture level and above, China