Abstract: The ancient city of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province, linking both the ‘Ancient Tang-Tibetan Road’ and the ‘Silk Road’, has been a crucial fort for regional trade cooperation, and it was also the Islamic culture gathering place since ancient times. Based on the historical morphological evolution, this paper analyzes the spatial structure change of Linxia Ancient City and its status and role as a core in the overall urban spatial structure by space syntax and POI data kernel density analysis. The characteristics of traditional commercial pattern of Linxia and its development in urban evolution are discussed, especially the internal relationship between traditional commercial pattern and urban function, structure and national culture. On this basis, specific strategies are put forward to promote the spatial integrity and diversity of the ancient city, so as to enhance the vitality of the ancient city, further protect and develop the traditional commercial culture and historical, and provide a foundation for the protection and sustainable development of cities with ethnic characteristics in the future.