Abstract: The spatio-temporal characteristics of Taobao village development level were evaluated, and its influencing factors were explained using the entropy weight-TOPSIS method and spatial analysis technology. The results showed that, from the perspective of spatial development level, the overall development in the northern and southern regions of Jiangxi Province was better than that in the central region. High-value and low-value areas of development level in the southern region showed in a “staggered” manner, and medium-level areas were widely distributed, presenting an overall pattern of development radiating outwards from Nanchang City and Ganzhou City as the core. From the perspective of time, in the slow star stage （2013 to 2016）, the development of Taobao villages started slowly and gradually expanded from Hongxing Village, forming four Taobao villages; in the steady growth phase （2017 to 2018）, the number of Taobao villages increased steadily with an annual increment of four; in the recent explosive growth phase（2019 to 2021）, it rapidly increased to 57 Taobao villages. Although the spatial distribution of the nuclear density of the number and development level of Taobao village showed an uneven distribution of “scattered in the whole, relatively concentrated in the local area”, a high-density value area in the shape of a triangle had formed in the north of Jiangxi Province. In the initial stage, spatial diffusion of Taobao villages was dominated by “point-like” independent development; in the mid-stage of diffusion, it relied on professional driving, developing in a “point-line” mode with the point as the core and radiating outwards; in the late stage, it mainly developed through common development and government support, weaving and expanding in a “line-net” mode. In terms of influencing factors, the development of Taobao villages was the result of a combination of factors, with economic fundamentals, transport levels and platform support being the main influencing factors, and service levels, internet levels and information communication having a positive impact on the development of Taobao villages.

Key words: Taobao village, developmental level, spatio-temporal characteristics, diffusion type, regional model, influence factor