北魏中期開始，以迄隋唐，政區與治所展開長期調整的趨勢，其間依稀可見一個不變的主軸，即國家通過對地域社會的整編，深化其控制。此期政區安排與治所選擇，一定程度上是以這個目標進行由上而下的調整。在這個過程裡，早先基於軍事目的而存在的要塞型城巿，因軍事化程度逐漸降低，面臨調整的需要。一部分要塞型城巿仍能憑藉其地理與經濟流通的位置，成功轉型為行政城巿；另一部分要塞型城巿則逐步退出歷史舞臺。上述轉變始於北魏孝文帝改鎮為州(或郡)，中經北齊調整，至周隋平定山東後展開大規模制置，不斷在政治空間結構上進行點和面的重新組合。至隋煬帝大業時期，除了仍處於開發狀態的東部濱海與北部幽州地區外，河北地區大抵已建立穩定的政治空間體系，唐承隋，河北的行政城巿網絡大體底定。隋及唐前期奠定的行政城巿網絡，成為容納唐宋間地域社會經濟拓展的空間架構。

From the middle of the Northern Wei (386-534) period, the central government began to adjust the division of administrative districts and the location of the prefectural governments. The trend shows that the central government aimed at a tightening control over local administration. During the process of adjustment, military administrative areas lost their importance. But some military spots, if still controlling a key-position, changed their administrative meaning and became administrative centers. Such change started during the Northern Wei period, when demographic and economic structures underwent a great transformation. Hebei was a less developed area and showed a significant military character. The above mentioned reorganizing process can be clearly seen there.