Abstract: Urbanization develops with industrialization, which in turn can promote the development of urban area. The scale and the construction of urban will be different in different stages of industrialization. The relationship will vary from dual structures to a transforming one and to a merged one in the end. The different flowing ways of factors in different stages of city expansion will play different role in affecting the development of city and rural area as well as the regional distribution of industries. This paper analyzes the pattern of city center and its rural area of Ningbo city based on its unique location and regional backgrounds, and points out the problems in relation to the industrial spatial division and competitions between the city center and the rural area. The horizon urban system of Ningbo city has affected the functions of the center city. Proposals have been given, such as establishing the logistic center, enhancing functions of the center city, and the net development of the towns etc.

Key words: metropolis, development of the city center and the rural area, division, industrial competition, center city