Abstract: From the aspects of resources and environment carrying capacity,development intensity and development potentiality,an index system for regional development priority zoning is established and a comprehensive methodology for the zoning is put forth based on the state-space theory.The method is applied to zoning of the 14 cities at prefectural level of Hunan Province as basic spatial unit.Results show that except for various legally established nature reserves that are dotted outside the cities,all the provincial key and priority development zones are distributed mainly in the eastern and central parts of Hunan Province,while restricted development zones in the western part.The application of the state space method to the zoning truthfully not only reveals overall carrying capacities of the regions and provides scientific basis for strategic decision-making in optimizing regional spatial structure and arrangement and in programming sustainable development of the regions,but also sets up an example for development priority zoning in China.

Key words: development priority zone, state space method, index system, carrying capacity