Abstract: Urban agglomeration in the middle Yangtze river plays an increasingly prominent role in national development, the pattern of networked urban system has been gradually developed and improved. In light of the effects of various factors and time dimension, this study aims to investigate the temporal changes of network connectivity and degree centrality of urban agglomeration in the middle reach of Yangtze river between 2001 and 2016, employing Krugman index and AHP method (Analytic hierarchy process) to determine the city comprehensive “quality” based on economic, and social factors and to measure city link costs based on geometry, highway and railway elements. The findings highlighted that with the economic and social development and the construction of urban links, urban network system in the middle Yangtze river have been gradually formed and deepened, in which Wuhan-Changsha-Nanchang identified as the network center. With the increasing influence of Wuhan-Changsha city clusters, more and more cities were attracted to join the urban network, showing balanced development. The findings also indicated that: (1) regional network characteristics are becoming more and more prominent, and depth and intensity of connections is gradually emerging. It is very important to build a large channel to improve regional connections and promote infrastructure interconnection. (2) Central cities have been significantly strengthened, and secondary layer of cities need to be improved. The formation of a multi-center, hierarchical, and deep-level urban system also requires strengthening the cooperation of the top layer and the development of the bottom layer. (3) The network and hierarchy of city clusters in the middle Yangtze River are improving. An innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared city system requires the guidance of central cities, but also requires more cities to actively deepen, participate, and promote.