As　urbanization　progresses,　efficient　land　resource　management　is　essential　for　sustainable　urban　development.　While　existing　studies　emphasize　the　positive　impact　of　urban　economic　linkages　(UEL)　on　urban　land-use　efficiency　(ULUE),　they　often　assume　equal　partnerships,　overlooking　the　asymmetric　nature　of　UEL.　This　study　uses　a　modified　gravity　model　and　super-efficiency　SBM　model　to　explore　the　impact　of　unequal　economic　linkages　within　the　UEL　network　on　ULUE　across　284　Chinese　cities　from　2002　to　2021.　The　findings　reveal　that　ULUE　increased　until　2017　but　declined　thereafter.　Cities　in　the　southeastern　coastal　regions　show　higher　ULUE,　while　those　in　the　northeast　exhibit　lower　efficiency.　The　Tobit　model　analysis　indicates　that　cities　with　greater　dominance　in　the　UEL　network　tend　to　have　higher　ULUE,　while　those　more　dependent　on　external　economies　experience　lower　ULUE.　Robustness　checks　confirm　the　stability　of　these　results　across　different　model　specifications.　The　study　underscores　the　importance　of　fostering　more　balanced　economic　linkages　and　advocates　for　policy　reforms　aimed　at　enhancing　urban　economic　integration　to　improve　ULUE　across　cities.