## 5 Discussion
### Implications for Urban Planning and Policy Development  
The findings of this research carry significant implications for urban planning and policy development. Firstly, it is essential for urban planners to not only assess the current distribution of urban vitality but also to consider long-term developmental trajectories and potential shifts in urban vitality. Secondly, this study identifies various influential factors,including the spatial configuration of rail transit, urban topography, road network density, building density, and the distribution characteristics of commercial POIs, all of which significantly affect the distribution and enhancement of urban vitality. This necessitates that policymakers take into account the long-term implications and interconnections of these factors when devising policies. Lastly, given the representative nature of the selected commercial POIs, whose distribution changes serve as indicators of urban vitality fluctuations, it is crucial for urban planners and policymakers to engage in ongoing monitoring and evaluation of these dynamics. This will ensure the rational allocation of diverse urban activities and promote equitable development. Such efforts may involve revising planning strategies, leveraging new technologies to track changes in urban spaces, or implementing innovative economic policies to foster the growth and equilibrium of urban vitality. Lanzhou currently operates a limited number of urban rail lines, and the broader impact of rail construction on the city--beyond its economically prosperous areas--remains insufficiently explored. Furthermore, Lanzhou's urban rail transport system has been in operation for a relatively short duration, resulting in the absence of a comprehensive statistical data system for construction and maintenance costs. Consequently, potential challenges arising from its ongoing use and development have yet to fully materialize. Urban rail transport construction requires collaboration beyond urban planners, especially in strip-shaped cities such as Lanzhou. Its development must account for practical factors, including government policies and funding availability. These realities underscore the complexity of advancing urban rail infrastructure in such contexts. In conclusion, the results of this study offer an in-depth understanding of the changes in the distribution of urban vitality after the completion of urban rail transit in the particular urban planning form of strip-shaped cities and provide empirical evidence for urban planning and policy formulation. Future research can continue to explore other potential influencing factors or verify the universality and applicability of these findings in different urban environments. Through these efforts, we can better comprehend the evolution mechanism of the distribution of urban vitality around metro stations and explore new paths for the sustainable development of urban vitality in strip-shaped cities. Conceptualization, Y.Q. and M.Y. ; methodology, Y.Q. and M.Y. ; software, Y.W. ; validation, M.Y., Y.W., and X.L. ; formal analysis, Y.W. ; investigation, X.L. ; resources, X.L., X.W. and Y.Q. ; data curation, X.W. ; writing--original draft preparation, Y.W. ; writing--review and editing, X.W. and X.L. ; visualization, Y.W. ; supervision, Y.Q. and M.Y. ; project administration, Y.Q. and X.W. ; funding acquisition, Y.Q. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. This work was supported in part by the 2025 Gansu Provincial Department of Education Excellent Graduate Students \"Innovation Star\" Program (2025 CZX-645); National Natural Science Foundation of China Western Program (72361017; 52362047; 71861024); Gansu Provincial Key R&D Program (21 YF5 GA052); Gansu Provincial Natural Science Foundation Program (18 JR3 RA119; 23 JRRA904); Gansu Higher Education Institutions Industrial Support Program in 2021 (2021 CYZC-60); Gansu Provincial Department of Education Key Project of \"Double First-class\" Scientific Research (GSSYLXM-04). Not applicable.