In　the　context　of　regional　integration,　it　is　more　than　crucial　to　compare　and　analyze　the　spatial　correlation　network　structure　and　formation　mechanism　of　high-quality　economic　development　in　the　Yangtze　River　Economic　Belt　and　the　Yellow　River　Basin　urban　cities　as　an　attempt　to　strengthen　collaborative　work　on　high-quality　economic　development　in　both　river　basins.　The　paper　measured　high-quality　economic　development　of　the　Yangtze　River　Economic　Belt　and　the　Yellow　River　Basin　from　2010　to　2021.　Then,　it　employed　social　network　analysis　and　the　QAP　method　to　study　the　network　structure’s　characteristics　and　formation　mechanism.　The　conclusion　of　the　research　illustrates　a　few　points　clearly　that　first,　the　high-quality　economic　development　of　the　two　rivers　presents　a　complex　and　multithreaded　network　structure.　Although　the　network　structure　is　hold　at　a　comparatively　stable　state,　the　correlation　degree　needs　improvement.　Second,　cities　such　as　Chongqing,　Wuhan,　Hefei,　Nanjing,　Hangzhou,　Shanghai,　and　Changsha　and　cities　like　Zhengzhou,　Xi’an,　Luoyang,　Yulin,　Hulunbuir,　Ordos,　and　Nanyang　are　at　the　very　central　as　well　as　central　position　of　the　network.　The　spatial　correlation　networks　of　the　Yangtze　River　Economic　Belt　and　the　Yellow　River　Basin　can　be　divided　into　four　plates:　＇agent　plate,＇　＇main　outflow　plate,＇　＇bidirectional　spillover　plate,＇　and　＇main　inflow　plate.＇　Third,　reverse　geographical　distance　and　differences　in　the　digital　economy　attach　great　significance　to　the　spatial　correlation　networks　of　the　two　basins.　The　difference　in　urbanization　level　makes　significant　impacts　only　on　the　spatial　correlation　network　of　the　Yangtze　River　Economic　Belt,　while　the　difference　in　environmental　regulation　and　material　capital　accumulation　only　significantly　influences　the　spatial　correlation　network　of　the　Yellow　River　Basin.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature　2024.