Abstract: The level of urban and rural development and its degree of coupling and coordination affect regional social stability. In this study we construct the urban and rural comprehensive development level index, and use the exploratory spatial data analysis method (ESDA) to analyze the spatial and temporal evolution process of urban and rural development in the 42 counties and cities in Tarim Basin from 2004 to 2014. The main conclusions are shown as follows. 1) The urban and rural development level of the basin increased during the study period, but it is still low; and the characteristic of the development level was high in the east and south and low in the west and north. 2) Coupling degree (C_coupling) was generally fluctuating:Kizilsu was always in a low coupling area, Bayangol was in a high-value state, and the C_coupling of Hotan City and Yutian County reduced at the most rapid speed. The coordinated development degree (C_coordination) was generally on the rise and was fluctuating or declining only in a few areas. 3) The C_coordination was spatially positively correlated, the high-value agglomeration and hotspots were mainly located near Korla, and the low-value agglomeration and cold-spot areas were chiefly located at the junction of Kashgar and Hotan. The pattern of the low-value agglomeration and cold-spot areas remained basically unchanged during the two periods between 2004-2009 and between 2009-2014. This study finally proposes to improve the development pattern in the aspects of infrastructure investment, industrial optimization, education investment, embedded development, and social stability.

Key words: urban-rural development, coupling coordination degree, spatiotemporal pattern, Tarim Basin