Abstract
With the rapid advancement of digital technologies, geographical research is undergoing a profound transformation from traditional physical space toward digital space, giving rise to a new paradigm of “digital spatial geography” characterized by virtual–real integration. This study systematically reviews the applications and evolution of key technologies such as the metaverse and digital twins in spatial production, behavioral reconstruction, and governance mechanisms, and critically compares their differences and commonalities in spatial attributes, ontological foundations, and human–environment relations, revealing a dynamically coupled and complex system formed through the processes of mapping, augmentation, integration, and feedback between virtual and real spaces. The analysis further highlights major challenges confronting current scholarship and practice, including the restructuring of spatial power dominated by digital platforms, algorithm-driven social stratification, and the widening digital divide. Looking ahead, digital geography should integrate multidimensional mixed methods, advance theoretical framework innovation, strengthen ethical and governance-oriented research, and promote the development of “synthetic geography” and “algorithmic justice.” By constructing a theoretical framework and practical pathways for virtual–real integration, this article aims to provide a systematic perspective and guidance for the geographical community, thereby supporting theoretical breakthroughs in spatial science and evidence-based policy making in the digital era.
