走向 (zǒuxiàng) as a noun means 'direction, trend', especially for abstract developments (market trend) or the linear course of something (highway, geological layer). It differs from 方向 (fāngxiàng), the general word for any direction or orientation, and 方位 (fāngwèi), which focuses on compass-point position. In geology, 走向 also means 'strike' (angle of inclination).