The　aim　of　this　study　is　to　improve　the　medium-long　term　shelter　space　in　old　urban　areas　after　earthquakes　and　enhance　the　benefits　of　emergency　congregate　shelter.　In　order　to　solve　the　problems　of　low　evacuation　efficiency,　prominent　evacuation　disorder　and　unbalanced　distribution　of　evacuation　resources　in　old　areas,　this　paper　first　develops　a　responsibility　area　dividing　method　of　resident　emergency　congregate　shelters　based　on　the　breaking　point　theory　by　considering　the　attraction　relationship　between　shelter　and　evacuees　in　the　emergency　congregate　shelter　stage.　Then　the　optimization　schemes　of　congregate　shelter　space　are　obtained　taking　the　attractiveness　of　the　shelter　as　an　entry　point.　Finally,　the　complex　network　theory　is　applied　to　construct　an　area　evacuation　network　for　comprehensive　analysis.　The　research　results　show　that　the　overall　evacuation　efficiency　of　the　area　can　be　significantly　improved　after　optimizing　the　emergency　congregate　shelter　space　in　the　area,　where　the　evacuation　time　can　be　optimized　to　43　minutes.　Furthermore,　it　is　helpful　not　only　to　achieve　a　balanced　supply　and　demand　of　shelter　resources　in　the　area　after　optimizing　the　scope　of　shelter　responsibility　according　to　the　refuge　attractiveness,　but　also　effectively　improve　the　overall　emergency　congregate　shelter　benefit.　©　2023　Science　Press.　All　rights　reserved.