The　development　level　of　urban-rural　integration　is　an　important　prerequisite　to　the　investigation　of　the　evolution　of　urban-rural　relations.　In　this　study,　we　use　a　hybrid　method　to　analyze　the　spatiotemporal　evolution　of　the　urban-rural　integration　development　levels　of　27　central　cities　in　the　Yangtze　River　Delta　for　the　period　between　2003　and　2018.　The　results　show　that　the　urban-rural　integration　development　level　(urban-rural　integration　degree)　in　the　region　has　significantly　improved　during　the　research　period;　yet,　the　imbalance　between　cities　is　still　prominent.　Areas　with　a　high　integration　degree　are　concentrated　in　the　central　and　eastern　parts　(including　Suzhou,　Wuxi,　Nanjing,　Shanghai,　Changzhou,　and　Hangzhou),　and　the　degree　decreases　in　surrounding　areas.　The　main　influencing　factors　(the　corresponding　influence　degree　value)　are　the　ratio　of　nonagricultural　employment　(11.86%-12.91%),　urban　and　rural　unemployment　insurance　coverage　(11.87%-12.78%),　and　urban　and　rural　endowment　insurance　coverage　(10.24%-11.27%).　Urban　space　expansion,　urban　and　rural　Engel　coefficient,　and　dual-contrast　coefficient　are　concentrated　between　6.32%　and　7.89%.　The　strategy-oriented　development　suggestions　are　put　forward　based　on　the　SWOT　strategic　analysis　map　for　further　development.　The　research　results　of　this　paper　can　also　serve　as　useful　tips　for　achieving　urban-rural　integration　in　other　countries　and　regions.　©　2023　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.