Search Results (22)

As a World Cultural Heritage site, the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal is lined with historic and cultural cities that bear abundant historical and cultural connotations. It is of vital importance to address the issues of landscape homogenization, the disconnect between conservation measures and public needs, and other related challenges in the development of these cities. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative research. By integrating subjective landscape evaluation with eye tracking analysis, the ancient city of Taierzhuang along the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal was selected as the research subject to conduct an in-depth investigation into the visual experience and preferences for different types of landscapes in this area. The study yielded the following findings: There are significant differences in visual experiences among various types of landscapes in Taierzhuang Ancient City. Among them, participants exhibited the highest level of attention toward canal landscapes and the lowest toward heritage site landscapes. In terms of visual distribution differences, eye tracking heatmaps revealed that attention was primarily concentrated on architectural structures and water surface reflections. In the subjective evaluation analysis, canal cultural landscapes received the highest comprehensive score (4.39 points), followed by historical architectural landscapes (4.02 points), historical street landscapes (3.93 points), modern commemorative landscapes (3.72 points), and heritage site landscapes (3.69 points). Additionally, a significant correlation was found between eye tracking data and subjective evaluation results, validating the scientifically effective relationship between subjective assessments of historical cultural landscapes and eye tracking analysis. The findings of this study not only provide a scientific basis for landscape improvement and optimization in other canal-related historical and cultural cities but also offer new research methods and perspectives for the protection and development of other heritage landscapes. Full article

As a crucial component of the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal’s hydraulic engineering, the Jiangnan Canal has historically played a pivotal role in China’s development as a key hydraulic infrastructure. This water conservancy project, connecting northern and southern water systems, not only facilitated regional economic integration but also nurtured unique cultural landscapes along its course. The Jiangnan Canal and its adjacent cities were selected as the study area to systematically investigate 334 tangible cultural heritage (TCH) sites and 420 intangible cultural heritage (ICH) elements. Through integrated Geographical Information System (GIS) spatial analyses—encompassing nearest neighbor index, kernel density estimation, standard deviation ellipse assessment, multi-ring buffer zoning, and Geodetector modeling, the spatiotemporal distribution features of cultural heritage were quantitatively characterized, with a focus on identifying the underlying driving factors shaping its spatial configuration. The analysis yields four main findings: (1) both TCH and ICH exhibit significant spatial clustering patterns across historical periods, with TCH distribution displaying an axis-core structure centered on the canal, whereas ICH evolved from dispersed to clustered configurations. (2) The center of gravity of TCH is primarily around Taihu Lake, while that of ICH is mainly on the south side of Taihu Lake, and the direction of distribution of both is consistent with the direction of the canal. (3) Multi-ring buffer analysis indicates that 77.2% of TCH and 49.8% of ICH clusters are concentrated within 0–10 km of the canal, demonstrating distinct spatial patterns: TCH exhibits a gradual canal-dependent density decrease with distance, whereas ICH reveals multifactorial spatial dynamics. (4) Human activity factors, particularly nighttime light intensity, are identified as predominant drivers of heritage distribution patterns, with natural environmental factors exerting comparatively weaker influence. These findings provide empirical support for developing differentiated conservation strategies for canal-related cultural heritage. The methodology offers replicable frameworks for analyzing heritage corridors in complex historical landscapes, contributing to both applied conservation practices and theoretical advancements in cultural geography. Full article

(1) Background: Identifying ecological security patterns and restoring the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in Shandong is vital for future ecological conservation and maintaining ecosystem sustainability. (2) Methods: The study area was selected, and the InVEST3.9.0 model was used to assess natural-environment ecosystem services. An optimal evaluation approach based on the Minimum Cumulative Resistance model was developed to define the ecological security pattern. (3) Results: There were 20 ecological source areas in the lower and east portions of the study area, mainly grasslands, forests, and water areas. Additionally, 40 ecological corridors, 48 ecological pinch points, and 75 ecological barrier points were generated, densely distributed in the east. The area was divided into five core functional zones. (4) Conclusions: Establishing ecological function zones and considering landscape changes from high-frequency human activities in spatial planning can lead to a more reasonable division of ecological restoration areas. Ecological function zone construction can enhance understanding of implementing ecological security patterns in national land planning and support national ecological security goals. Full article

Hangzhou was the political and economic center of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279 AD) and also the southern end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368–1644 AD). This historical position allowed the city’s economy to develop rapidly and influenced the form of its polychrome paintings with the imperial official style of the north China. However, due to the high temperature and rainy natural preservation conditions, southern polychrome paintings have always been a weak link in Chinese architectural polychrome painting craftsmanship. This study focuses on two well-preserved official-style architectural polychrome paintings in the grand halls from the late Qing period in Hangzhou. Through multi-techniques such as optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microprobe with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis (SEM-EDX), micro-Raman spectroscopy, micro-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR), and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), it was found that there is a significant difference from the reported common non-ground architectural paintings in the south, typically having four-layer structures with a white base and ground plaster layer in preparation for painting. The appearance of pigments such as artificial ultramarine (Na₆Al₄Si₆S₄O₂₀) and emerald green (Cu(C₂H₃O₂)₂·3Cu(AsO₂)₂) indicates that the paintings were made at least after the 1830s, and the use of malachite green dye and copper phthalocyanine blue (PB 15:X) suggests that unrecorded restorations were also performed after the 20th century. All samples are coated with a layer of alkyd resin, which may have been added during the repairs in the latter half of the 20th century, leading to the black discoloration of the present paintings, especially in areas where emerald green was used. This study provides an important case for the study of the official style of polychrome painting craftsmanship in the southern region of China and also offers important references for the future protection and restoration of traditional architectural polychrome painting. Full article

Vessel traffic is an important source of global greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon emissions from ships in the canal network are directly linked to the environmental performance of China’s inland waterway transportation, contributing to the achievement of global carbon reduction goals. Therefore, systematically assessing the carbon emission reduction levels of ships in canal networks is essential to provide a robust foundation for developing more scientific and feasible emission reduction strategies. To address the limitations of current evaluations—which often focus on a single dimension and lack an objective, quantitative representation of the mechanisms driving carbon emission and their synergistic effects—this study took a comprehensive approach. First, considering the factors influencing ship carbon emissions and emission reduction strategies, an evaluation index system was developed. This system included 6 first-level indexes and 22 s-level indexes, covering aspects such as energy utilization, technical equipment, and economic benefits. Second, a novel combination of methods was used to construct an evaluation model. Qualitative weights, determined through the interval binary semantic method, were integrated with quantitative weights calculated using the CRITIC method. These were then combined and assigned using a game-theory-based comprehensive assignment method. The resulting evaluation model, built upon the theory of matter-element topology, represents a significant methodological innovation. Finally, the evaluation method was applied to the empirical analysis of ships operating in Jiangsu section of the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal. This application demonstrated the model’s specificity and feasibility. The study’s findings provide valuable insights for improving carbon emission reduction levels for inland ships and advancing the sustainable development of the shipping industry. Full article

Recently, frequent water shortages and reductions in water flow have been observed in the northern segment of the Yellow River within the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal. In response, a water replenishment program has been initiated. This study is focused on the section of the Grand Canal north of the Yellow River and uses the GSFLOW model to examine interaction between surface water and groundwater, as well as the effect of water replenishment. The results indicate that, after the water replenishment, the efficiency of water replenishment was highest in the Xiao Canal (64.30%), followed by the Wei Canal (39.09%), the South Canal (12.11%), and the North Canal, which exhibited the lowest efficiency (5.75%). This variation can be attributed to greater water loss with increasing distance from the replenishment source, leading to lower replenishment efficiency. Surface water recharge to groundwater was extended by 32 days, with replenishment effects persisting even after the water supply ceased. The maximum influence distance on either side of the canal reached 5.73 km, with an average impact distance of 1.48 km, resulting in a total affected area of 974.7 km², accounting for 2.2% of the study area. Water replenishment positively influenced the recovery of groundwater levels along the Grand Canal. Full article

The accurate prediction of total phosphorus (TP) is crucial for the early detection of water quality eutrophication. However, predicting TP concentrations among canal sites is challenging due to their complex spatiotemporal dependencies. To address this issue, this study proposes a GAT-Informer prediction method based on spatiotemporal correlations to predict TP concentrations in the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal Basin in Changzhou City. The method begins by creating feature sequences for each site based on the time lag relationship of total phosphorus concentration between sites. It then constructs spatiotemporal graph data by combining the real river distance between sites and the correlation of feature sequences. Next, spatial features are extracted by fusing node features using the graph attention (GAT) module. The study employs the Informer network, which uses a sparse attention mechanism to extract temporal features efficiently for simulating and predicting total phosphorus data of the sites. The model was evaluated using R², MAE, and RMSE, with the experimental results yielding values of 0.9619, 0.1489%, and 0.1999%, respectively. The GAT-Informer model exhibits enhanced robustness and superior predictive accuracy in comparison to traditional water quality prediction models. Full article

The Grand Canal, the world’s longest artificial waterway, is a cultural treasure deeply embedded in China’s historical traditions. This study emphasizes the importance of safeguarding, preserving, and revitalizing this invaluable heritage to ensure its relevance. Guided by the “Regulations on the Protection and Management of the Grand Canal Heritage”, this research analyzed 276 cultural relics protection units within the Jiangsu section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (Jiangsu-BHGC). By applying spatial geographic analysis techniques, including point density analysis and gravity shift models, the study mapped the historical evolution, spatial distribution, and typological characteristics of these relics. Additionally, using ArcGIS and geographic detectors, the research explored factors influencing the distribution of these units, pinpointing critical determinants. This rigorous approach provides an in-depth understanding of the spatial arrangement of cultural heritage sites along the canal, supporting its coordinated development. By examining distribution patterns and key attributes, the study offers theoretical insights and data-driven guidance for optimizing the sustainable use of this cultural heritage. Full article

A comprehensive understanding of water-quality spatiotemporal variations is essential for the long-term management of aquatic environments. However, the absence of indicators that fully capture the extent of eutrophication, the lack of long-term water-quality monitoring data, and the complexity of water pollutants sources have limited research on pollution characteristics and eutrophication assessments in plain river network areas. In this study, based on the monitoring data of water-quality indicators in the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal (Changzhou section), the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of nutrient salts, as well as the eutrophication status of the water body, were revealed by using the comprehensive trophic level index (TLI) method. Meanwhile, the main sources of water pollutants were defined, and targeted control measures were proposed. The results showed that water-quality deterioration is more pronounced during the non-flood season, with significantly higher concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) and total phosphorus (TP) compared to the flood season. Additionally, the analysis of the nitrogen-to-phosphorus (N:P) ratio suggested that some sampling sites exhibited phosphorus limitation. The eutrophication assessment indicated that most sections are eutrophic, with S8 and S2 being the most heavily polluted and at risk of cyanobacterial blooms. The primary sources of pollutants were identified as agricultural runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial discharges. To address these issues, it was recommended to reduce external pollution sources while focusing on internal control (1. Enhance the management of livestock and poultry farming; 2. Upgrade wastewater purification facilities; 3. Establish ecological protection zones along the riverbanks) and enhance aquatic ecosystem restoration. A coordinated and watershed-wide approach is crucial to improving water quality in this region. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for the protection of the water environment and pollution control in plain river network areas. Full article

The study of the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of ecosystem service values (ESVs) is an important basis for the coordinated development of the regional nature, economy, and society and the optimization of the ecological environment. The ecological zone is an important component of the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal cultural belt. Ecosystem services are a concrete manifestation of land use structure and function. A thorough study of the value of ecosystem services in areas along the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal is important for promoting the long-term and stable sustainable development of the regional economy. Based on a revised equivalent factor table, this study selected land use data from 1991, 2006, and 2021 to analyze the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of ESVs along the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal. The results show that (1) the ESVs along the Grand Canal first increased and then decreased from 1991 to 2021. The reason for this is the change in land use along the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal. Specifically, the conversion of land use types from farmland to water areas contributed to the increase in the value of ecosystem services, while the conversion of farmland and grassland into construction land led to a decrease in the service value of the region. (2) the value of individual ecosystem services along the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal from 1991 to 2021 varied greatly. The ESV provided by hydrological regulation was the largest and the ESV provided by maintenance nutrients was the smallest. (3) the areas along the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal exhibited a specific pattern in terms of the value of ecosystem services, with the regions centered in Beijing and Tianjin showing relatively low values, while the middle section of the Grand Canal demonstrated relatively high ESV. According to the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and the leading factor for the changes in ESVs, appropriate policies can be formulated in respective regions to implement ecological protection and land use planning, thereby providing a reference for the adaptation and restoration strategies of the ecosystem along the Grand Canal. Full article

Various methods for evaluating the visual quality of landscapes have been continuously studied. In the era of the rapid development of big data, methods to obtain evaluation data efficiently and accurately have received attention. However, few studies have been conducted to optimize the evaluation methods for landscape visual quality. Here, we aim to develop an evaluation model that is model fine-tuned using Scenic Beauty Evaluation (SBE) results. In elucidating the methodology, it is imperative to delve into the intricacies of refining the evaluation process. First, fine-tuning the model can be initiated with a scoring test on a small population, serving as an efficient starting point. Second, determining the optimal hyperparameter settings necessitates establishing intervals within a threshold range tailored to the characteristics of the dataset. Third, from the pool of fine-tuned models, selecting the one exhibiting optimal performance is crucial for accurately predicting the visual quality of the landscape within the study population. Lastly, through the interpolation process, discernible differences in landscape aesthetics within the core monitoring area can be visually distinguished, thereby reinforcing the reliability and practicality of the new method. In order to demonstrate the efficiency and practicality of the new method, we chose the core section of the famous Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal in Wujiang District, China, as a case study. The results show the following: (1) Fine-tuning the model can start with a scoring test on a small population. (2) The optimal hyperparameter setting intervals of the model need to be set in a threshold range according to different dataset characteristics. (3) The model with optimal performance is selected among the four fine-tuning models for predicting the visual quality of the landscape in the study population. (4) After the interpolation process, the differences in landscape aesthetics within the core monitoring area can be visually distinguished. We believe that the new method is efficient, accurate, and practically applicable for improving landscape visual quality evaluation. Full article

Land use is an embodiment of human socio-economic activities and represents a bridge between these activities and natural systems. Rural residential land represents a space for rural residents to reside in and exhibits spatial characteristics that evolve over time, which is proof of rural socio-economic development. As one of the most developed regions in China, cities along the Beijing–Hangzhou Canal experienced significant changes in rural residential land use from 1990 to 2020. This paper analyses the spatial differentiation of rural residential land in 21 cities on the Grand Canal. Then, it explores the driving factors of this land using spatial grid analysis and the geographic detector model. According to the spatial differentiation characteristics and the driving factors of rural residential land, the study proposed an improved potential model for rural residential land improvement. Lastly, it proposes three different forms of rural residential land based on the results. The study found that (1) the change in rural residential land in the northern part of the Grand Canal was more volatile than that in the southern part. The change in rural residential land from 1990 to 2020 conformed to the pattern of cultivated land–rural residential land–urban construction land. (2) Based on the driving factors of rural residential land, the land is divided into one-dimensional cities, two-dimensional cities, and three-dimensional cities. Circular, linear, and scattered cities of different sizes were affected by socio-economic factors, transportation accessibility, and the natural environment, respectively. (3) Based on the potential scale of rural residential land consolidation, different types of development strategies were proposed through research, including constructing large-scale villages, relocating and reconstructing new villages, and constructing high-quality villages, respectively. Enhancing the scientific planning of rural residential land and its efficiency and tapping into the potential of land consolidation can offer the protection of agricultural land and the integration of urban and rural areas in the new era. Full article

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in China became a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2014, and the water quality of this ancient man-made canal has increasingly attracted societal attention. This study focuses on monitoring the water quality of the Beijing section of the Grand Canal (BGC) using remote sensing technology. Analysis of the comprehensive trophic level index (TLI) indicates that the water in the Canal was predominantly light eutrophic from 2016 to 2022. The annual average results of the TLI reveal that the water quality in the Kunming Lake and North Canal of BGC is generally good, characterized by some mesotrophic waters, and others are in light eutrophication. The TLI for the entire BGC water body decreased from 64.7 in 2016 to 60.3 in 2022, indicating an improvement trend in water quality. Notably, the proportion of good water with TLI less than 60 increased from 50% in 2016 to 83% in 2022. This improvement of water quality may be attributed to the reduced use of fertilizers and pesticides and the implementation of various environmental policies by Beijing Municipal government. These findings offer valuable insights for the management and protection of the water resources of the BGC, and further contribute to the evaluation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.4. Full article

With the proposal of the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal Cultural Belt, the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal has become an indispensable component of China’s economic development pattern. Despite relatively high regional-economic-development levels along the canal, there still exists a common imbalance in regional development which will hinder the high-quality collaborative development of the region, highlighting the importance of measuring this disparity. This study adopts the district and county as spatial scales and selects five dimensions: economic growth, livelihood benefits, green ecology, innovation drive, and food guarantee in order to construct a comprehensive socio-economic index. Entropy weight method, Moran index, and Theil index analyses are used to examine the recent ten-year evolution laws in regional socio-economic spatial patterns along the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal. Results indicate that socio-economic indicators designed for each dimension effectively measure both individual districts’ and counties’ economic situations as well as those of entire regions. In 2021, limited significance was observed regarding the level of regional economic agglomeration along the Grand Canal region, suggesting a tendency towards fragmented development rather than forming a well-coordinated model. Over the decade from 2011 to 2021, there was an increase in social and economic agglomeration. From a city unit perspective, developmental disparities among districts and counties within cities follow three distinct patterns. Cities at different stages of development can learn from each other’s models to enhance integration cooperation and collectively promote high-quality economic advancements in the Grand Canal region. Full article

As an exquisite asset of Chinese traditional culture, traditional opera occupies a place of high esteem within the world’s cultural and artistic treasury. The impact of emerging cultures has threatened the future of traditional opera culture, necessitating a thorough examination of the historical context of the Grand Canal and traditional opera. There is insufficient research on the spatial evolution of the traditional opera culture along the Grand Canal; thus, this study takes ancient opera stages, a representative cultural relic of traditional opera, as an entry point and employs methods such as kernel density analysis and standard deviation ellipse analysis to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of the traditional opera culture along the Grand Canal. The results showed that: (i) Nationwide, opera stages in the areas along the Grand Canal exhibit a significant clustering characteristic. (ii) The changes in the number and locations of opera stages in the areas along the Grand Canal are closely related to the rise and fall of the Canal. The opera stages emerged along the Canal, gradually prospered with the development of the Canal, and finally clustered in a band-like cluster along the Grand Canal. (iii) From the Ming Dynasty to the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the opera stages in the areas along the Grand Canal spread in the “southeast–northwest” direction, which was consistent with the main direction of the Grand Canal, indicating its driving influence. (iv) On the centennial scale, from the 14th century to the 20th century, the evolution characteristics of the distribution centroid of opera stages in the areas along the Grand Canal were closely related to the key time nodes of Grand Canal construction and basin expansion. This study reveals the relationship between the Grand Canal and the spatial pattern evolution of traditional opera culture, aiming to promote the construction of the Grand Canal cultural belt. Full article