Spatial distribution and influencing factors of cultural and educational facilities in Beijing: A POI-based analysis using MGWR

Cultural and Educational Facilities are essential public resources that contribute to urban development and residents’ cultural engagement. As the capital of China, Beijing serves multiple functions as a political decision-making center, a cultural and educational highland, and a historical heritage core. This study applies spatial analysis based on POI data from 2012, 2018, and 2024 to examine spatial clustering patterns and their temporal evolution. A Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) model is used to assess the influence of urban infrastructure factors on the spatial distribution of various facility types. Results show that Cultural and Educational Facilities are predominantly concentrated in central urban districts, including Dongcheng and Xicheng. Over time, policy interventions have promoted dispersion, with increasing facility presence in urban subcenters. The spatial distribution has also become more balanced, with reduced clustering in the main urban areas and accelerated development in the Tongzhou and Chaoyang districts. Furthermore, bus stop density, subway station density, and hotel density significantly impact the spatial distribution of these facilities. However, their effects vary between different types of facility, demonstrating substantial spatial heterogeneity. The findings expand our understanding of the spatial dynamics in these facilities. They also provide new insights for optimizing urban facility planning.