Search Results (66)

As an integral component of humanity’s cultural heritage, traditional villages universally confront challenges such as population loss and cultural discontinuity amid rapid urbanization. Cluster-based protection models have increasingly become the international consensus for addressing the survival crisis of such settlements. This study selects the Central Yunnan region of Southwest China—characterized by its complex geography and multi-ethnic habitation—as the research area. Employing ArcGIS spatial analysis techniques alongside clustering algorithms, we examine the spatial distribution characteristics and clustering patterns of 251 traditional villages within this region. The findings are as follows. In terms of spatial distribution, traditional villages in Central Yunnan are unevenly dispersed, predominantly aggregating on mid-elevation gentle slopes; their locations are chiefly influenced by rivers and historical courier routes, albeit with only indirect dependence on waterways. Regarding single-cluster attributes, the spatial and geomorphological features exhibit a composite “band-and-group” pattern shaped by river valleys; culturally, two dominant modes emerge—“ancient-route-dependent” and “ethnic-symbiosis”—reflecting an economy-driven cultural mechanism alongside latent marginalization risks. Concerning construction characteristics, the “Qionglong-Ganlan” and Han-style “One-seal” residential features stand out, illustrating both adaptation to mountainous environments and the cumulative effects of historical culture. Based on these insights, we propose a three-tiered clustering classification framework—“comprehensive-element coordination”, “feature-led”, and “potential-cultivation”—to inform the development of contiguous and typological protection strategies for traditional villages in highland, multi-ethnic regions. Full article

Small towns in mountainous regions face significant challenges in formulating effective landscape zoning strategies due to pronounced landscape fragmentation, which is driven by both the dominance of large-scale forest resources and the lack of coordination between administrative planning departments. To tackle this problem, this study focused on Yuqian, a quintessential small mountainous town in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The town’s layout was divided into a grid network measuring 70 m × 70 m. A two-step cluster process was employed using ArcGIS and SPSS software to analyze five landscape variables: altitude, slope, land use, heritage density, and visual visibility. Further, eCognition software’s semi-automated segmentation technique, complemented by manual adjustments, helped delineate landscape character types and areas. The overlay analysis integrated these areas with administrative village units, identifying four landscape character types across 35 character areas, which were recategorized into four planning and management zones: urban comprehensive service areas, agricultural and cultural tourism development areas, industrial development growth areas, and mountain forest ecological conservation areas. This result optimizes the current zoning types. These zones closely match governmental sustainable development zoning requirements. Based on these findings, we propose integrated landscape management and conservation strategies, including the cautious expansion of urban areas, leveraging agricultural and cultural tourism, ensuring industrial activities do not impact the natural and village environment adversely, and prioritizing ecological conservation in sensitive areas. This approach integrates spatial and administrative dimensions to enhance landscape connectivity and resource sustainability, providing key guidance for small town development in mountainous regions with unique environmental and cultural contexts. Full article

Nomadic heritage villages constitute significant material cultural heritage. Under China’s cultural revitalization and rural development strategies, these villages face spatial degradation driven by tourism and urbanization. Current research predominantly employs isolated analytical approaches—space syntax often overlooks social dynamics while social network analysis (SNA) overlooks physical interfaces—hindering the development of holistic solutions for socio-spatial resilience. This study proposes a multi-scale integrated assessment framework combining social network analysis (SNA) and space syntax to systematically evaluate public space structures in traditional nomadic villages of Xinjiang. The framework provides scientific evidence for optimizing public space design in these villages, facilitating harmonious coexistence between spatial functionality and cultural values. Focusing on three heritage villages—representing compact, linear, and dispersed morphologies—the research employs a hierarchical “village-street-node” analytical model to dissect spatial configurations and their socio-functional dynamics. Key findings include the following: Compact villages exhibit high central clustering but excessive concentration, necessitating strategies to enhance network resilience and peripheral connectivity. Linear villages demonstrate weak systemic linkages, requiring “segment-connection point supplementation” interventions to mitigate structural elongation. Dispersed villages maintain moderate network density but face challenges in visual integration and centrality, demanding targeted activation of key intersections to improve regional cohesion. By merging SNA’s social attributes with space syntax’s geometric precision, this framework bridges a methodological gap, offering comprehensive spatial optimization solutions. Practical recommendations include culturally embedded placemaking, adaptive reuse of transitional spaces, and thematic zoning to balance heritage conservation with tourism needs. Analyzing Xinjiang’s unique spatial–social interactions provides innovative insights for sustainable heritage village planning and replicable solutions for comparable global cases. Full article

Traditional villages are critical to preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainable rural development. This study evaluates the development potential of 47 traditional villages in Jilin Province from the perspectives of spatial planning, architectural conservation, and rural real estate revitalization. A Development Potential Assessment (DPA) framework is constructed based on five dimensions: geographical position, cultural resources, socio-economic factors, natural ecology, and living environment. The AHP-entropy weighting method is applied to ensure objectivity in scoring, while kernel density analysis and coefficient of variation techniques identify spatial patterns and internal disparities. To further inform strategic planning and targeted investment, an Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA) model is introduced, aligning resource advantages with development performance. Key findings include the following: (1) significant spatial heterogeneity, with higher potential concentrated in the southeast and lower levels in the northwest; (2) cultural and socio-economic dimensions are the most influential factors in differentiating development types; and (3) a subset of villages shows a disconnect between resource endowment and realized potential, indicating the need for tailored design interventions and investment strategies. This research offers a visual and data-driven basis for differentiated revitalization strategies, integrating urban science methods, architectural thinking, and real estate development logic. It supports refined policy implementation, spatial design decisions, and the activation of underutilized rural assets through context-sensitive planning. Full article

As the global urbanization process accelerates, rural settlements in China are facing the challenges of rural hollowing and widening urban–rural disparities. The establishment of the national scenic area system has made scenic settlements a primary direction for tourism development. However, industrial transformation has led to significant restructuring of the human–land relationship and the spatial functions of these settlements, resulting in issues such as over-tourism, ecological degradation, and cultural loss. This paper focuses on the Mosuo settlements around Lugu Lake, selecting nine villages, including Gesha Village, Wuzhiluo Village, and Daluoshui Village, to explore the formation and expression of Mosuo spatial concepts. Through spatial measurement, area statistics, and the analysis of development paths, the core of the research is to propose that “there is consistency between conceptual order and spatial form,” revealing the multi-dimensional evolutionary mechanism of Mosuo settlement spatial morphology under the intertwining of traditional concepts, market logic, and institutional policies, providing a replicable Chinese reference for global cultural heritage rural areas. Full article

This study investigates the value identification and assessment of architectural heritage in Fujian Overseas Chinese New Village. As representative 20th-century settlements of returned overseas Chinese, these villages demonstrate distinctive architectural integration of Southeast Asian and Minnan architectural traditions while preserving historical memories of diasporic communities, though systematic evaluation remains lacking. An innovative multidimensional assessment framework combining qualitative and quantitative approaches was developed, with spatial analysis and value evaluation conducted on 247 representative structures employing Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), Delphi method, and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Three primary findings emerged: (1) Spatial distribution patterns revealed core-periphery clustering characteristics, with Xiamen and Zhangzhou forming high-density cores (23.5% concentration ratio) showing KDE values of 4.138–4.976, reflecting historical migration networks and policy-driven site selection logic. (2) Heritage values were categorized into seven dimensions, with historical significance (0.2904), artistic merit (0.1602), and functional utility (0.1638) identified as primary value drivers. (3) A four-tier evaluation system quantified heritage significance through weighted indices, demonstrating 53.89% dominance of intrinsic value components, with historical and cultural factors contributing 29.04% and 18.52% respectively. Assessment outcomes indicated 23.5% of structures scoring above 80 points, particularly highlighting Xiamen’s comprehensive preservation value. This research advances traditional conservation paradigms through its pioneering “value identification–quantitative assessment–conservation and utilization” closed-loop model, providing methodological innovation applicable to similar Overseas Chinese communities. The developed framework fills critical research gaps in the systematic evaluation of Southern Min diaspora architecture while establishing quantitative parameters for decision-making synergy between cultural preservation and urban–rural development. By transcending conventional single-dimensional approaches, this study offers replicable analytical tools for differentiated conservation strategies and policy formulation. Full article

Urban color represents the visual skin of a city, embodying regional culture, historical memory, and the contemporary spirit. However, while the existing studies focus on pedestrian-level facade colors, the “fifth facade” from a bird’s-eye view has been largely overlooked. Moreover, color distortions in traditional remote sensing imagery hinder precise analysis. This study targeted 56 Chinese coastal cities, decoding the spatiotemporal patterns of their fifth facade color (FFC). Through developing an innovative natural color optimization algorithm, the oversaturation and color bias of Sentinel-2 imageries were addressed. Several color indicators, including dominant colors, hue–saturation–value, color richness, and color harmony, were developed to analyze the spatial variations of FFC. Results revealed that FFC in Chinese coastal cities is dominated by gray, black, and brown, reflecting the commonality of cement jungles. Among them, northern warm grays exude solidity, as in Weifang, while southern cool grays convey modern elegance, as in Shenzhen. Blue PVC rooftops (e.g., Tianjin) and red-brick villages (e.g., Quanzhou) serve as symbols of industrial function and cultural heritage. Economically advanced cities (e.g., Shanghai) lead in color richness, linking vitality to visual diversity, while high-harmony cities (e.g., Lianyungang) foster livability through coordinated colors. The study also warns of color pollution risks. Cities like Qingdao exposed planning imbalances through color clashes. This research pioneers a systematic and large-scale decoding of urban fifth facade color from a remote sensing perspective, quantitatively revealing the dilemma of “identical cities” in modernization development. The findings inject color rationality into urban planning and create readable and warm city images. Full article

The Yellow River Basin, a cradle of Chinese civilization, hosts traditional riverside villages that embody millennia of cultural and ecological heritage. Despite their significance, rapid urbanization and homogeneous rural development have precipitated landscape homogenization and cultural erosion, threatening these villages’ spatial integrity and cultural capital. Current research predominantly focuses on qualitative characterization of architectural heritage, neglecting quantitative assessments of agroecological synergies and systematic resource endowment analysis. This oversight limits the development of proactive conservation strategies tailored to the integrated cultural–ecological value of these villages, hindering their sustainable revitalization within China’s broader Yellow River Basin high-quality development strategy. Here, we develop a comprehensive framework integrating landscape characterization, value assessment, and conservation strategies for traditional villages along Shaanxi’s Yellow River. Using GISs 10.2 multi-criteria analysis, and field surveys, we construct a hierarchical landscape database and evaluate villages across cultural, ecological, and socio-economic dimensions. Our results reveal distinct spatial patterns, with 65% of historical structures clustered in village cores, and identify four landscape zones requiring targeted conservation. High-value villages (e.g., Yangjiagou) exhibit strong cultural preservation and ecological resilience, while lower-scoring villages underscore urgent intervention needs. We propose multi-scale protection strategies, including regional clustering and village-level tailored approaches, to balance conservation with sustainable development. This study fills the critical gap in systematic resource endowment evaluation by demonstrating how integrated cultural–ecological metrics can guide proactive conservation. Our framework not only safeguards tangible and intangible heritage but also aligns with national strategies for rural revitalization and ecological protection. By bridging methodological divides between qualitative and quantitative approaches, this research offers a replicable model for sustainable rural development in ecologically sensitive cultural landscapes globally, advancing the field beyond static preservation paradigms toward dynamic, evidence-based planning. Full article

This research explores the underappreciated traditional cold-water baths of Western Anatolia, once integral to the region’s agrarian culture. Due to waves of change, which had markedly begun by the pandemic in 2019 and the aftermath of the 2020 Samos earthquake, there has been a growing interest in living in peri-urban areas, resulting in the invasion of agricultural grounds by new construction, mainly including detached houses with gardens. Such a harsh growth not only threatens the fertile lands, but also the irreplaceable cultural heritage they embrace. In this regional frame, this study focuses on three surviving baths within the Karaburun Peninsula, casting light on their current precarious state as relics of a diminishing rural way of life and local heritage. The traditional cold-water baths, constructed amidst agricultural fields for seasonal use in select villages throughout İzmir, stand as unique exemplars of rural architecture. Characterised by their singular domed chambers and their reliance on water from adjacent wells, these structures today face abandonment and disrepair. Through a multi-disciplinary lens blending ethnography, oral history, and spatial analysis, this paper portrays these unassuming yet culturally impactful baths, elucidating their intrinsic value within the heritage domain. The inquiry contributes significantly to the heritage conservation discussion, highlighting the broad spectrum of values beyond mere historical interest. By articulating the symbiotic relationship between heritage and its community, this research underscores the pressing need to weave these baths into the fabric of current social structures, safeguarding their place within the collective memory. Full article

The spatial morphology of traditional villages stems from prolonged interactions between socio-economic conditions and the regional natural environment under specific historical contexts. Over time, these settlements have acquired distinct spatial patterns through continuous adaptation to their surrounding ecosystems. Nevertheless, accelerated urbanization now exerts dual pressures—disrupting the spatial order and degrading natural ecosystems. In this context, an integrated analysis of the relationship between village spatial patterns and ecological conditions is essential for elucidating their formative mechanisms. The Xiangjiang River Basin is Hunan’s cultural core, and the spatial distribution of traditional villages is directly related to environmental variables. This study uses bivariate spatial autocorrelation and geographically weighted regression to investigate the relationship between the spatial distribution of traditional villages and ecological environmental appropriateness. The findings indicate the following: (1) The spatial distribution density of traditional villages in the Xiangjiang River Basin exhibits a negative correlation with the Ecological Environment Index (EEI), as evidenced by a Moran’s I value of −0.228. This suggests that traditional villages tend to be less concentrated in areas with a higher ecological suitability. (2) Among natural factors, the Relief Degree of Land Surface (RDLS), the Temperature Humidity Index (THI), and the Land Cover Index (LCI) display positive correlations with village density, with regression coefficients of 0.865, 0.003, and 11.599, respectively. In contrast, the Water Resource Index (WRI) shows a negative correlation, with a coefficient of −6.448, and (3) the impact of ecological suitability factors on village distribution is spatially heterogeneous: microtopographic variation is the primary driver in flat terrains, whereas the ecological carrying capacity exerts a greater influence in mountainous areas. These findings clarify the role of ecological suitability in shaping the spatial characteristics of traditional villages and provide a scientific basis for developing protection strategies that integrate ecological sustainability with cultural–heritage preservation. Full article

Cave dwellings in the Loess Plateau and western Henan region are ancient architectural forms that offer significant potential for rural revitalization and cultural heritage preservation. This study examines their role in Mogou Village through field surveys and mathematical analysis, highlighting their contributions to urban–rural integration, rural tourism, and cultural sustainability. Key findings include the mean radiant temperature (MRT) in cave dwellings remaining stable between 22.7–25.9 °C, facilitating lower indoor temperatures in summer. These dwellings maintain an APMV within the Class I thermal environment (−0.5 ≤ APMV ≤ 0.5), achieving a 90% satisfaction rate for thermal comfort. Despite excellent thermal insulation, improvements in ventilation design are necessary. Moreover, cave dwellings attract urban residents, fostering urban–rural integration and rural tourism development. They also preserve cultural heritage through traditional construction techniques and philosophical thought. Preserving local characteristics while protecting traditions is essential for social harmony, economic development, and cultural inheritance, supporting sustainable urban–rural integration. Full article

Due to the imbalance between urban and rural development and improper management, the spatial forms of many heritage villages have suffered severe damage, and their landscape styles are gradually being blurred, posing serious challenges to the protection of traditional villages. Taking the traditional village of Xi Songbi in Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province, as a case study, this paper employs UAV low-altitude multi-view measurement technology to obtain high-resolution image data from different angles. Three-dimensional modeling technology is then used to construct a 3D real-world model, orthophotos, and point cloud data of the settlement. Based on these data, the weakly supervised point cloud segmentation method, DDLA, is further applied to finely segment and classify the acquired point cloud data, accurately extracting key spatial elements such as buildings, roads, and vegetation, thereby enabling a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of the spatial morphology of traditional villages. The results of the study show the following: (1) The use of UAVs for low-altitude multi-view measurement not only greatly improves the efficiency of data acquisition but also provides millimeter-level precision spatial data in a short time through the constructed 3D models and orthophotos. (2) The acquired point cloud data can be processed through the DDLA, which effectively differentiates building contours from other environmental elements. (3) The calculation and analysis of the segmented point cloud data can accurately quantify key spatial morphology elements, such as the dimensions of traditional village buildings, spacing, and road widths, ensuring the scientific rigor and reliability of the data. (4) The comprehensive application of digital technology and point cloud segmentation methods provides clear expectations and solid technical support for the quantitative study of the spatial morphology of traditional villages, laying a scientific foundation for the protection and sustainable development of cultural heritage. Full article

Traditional villages face many difficulties in the era of globalization, especially in light of fast industrialization and urbanization. The breakdown of settlement patterns and the erosion of local characteristics and cultural identities pose critical issues for the sustainable development of these communities. While research on traditional villages and dwellings in core cultural areas is relatively advanced, there remains a significant gap in studies focusing on traditional villages and dwellings in multicultural intermingling regions. By clarifying the characteristics of traditional villages and the cultural landscapes of dwellings under the influence of multiple cultures, as well as their differentiation and underlying mechanisms, this research aims to provide theoretical support for the protective planning of world cultural heritage, which is increasingly characterized by clustering and regionalization. Taking the traditional villages and dwellings in the Jiangxi and Anhui junction area as a case study, we developed a cultural landscape factor system for traditional villages and dwellings across four dimensions: natural environment, spatial configuration, dwelling typology, and historical and cultural context. Using geographic information systems (GIS) zoning methods and statistical spatial analysis, we divided the area into three distinct cultural landscape zones. The findings indicate that the cultural landscapes within each zone exhibit unique regional characteristics at both the village and dwelling levels, particularly in site selection, settlement patterns, and architectural aesthetics. Differentiation across zones is shaped by natural factors, such as topography and water systems, as well as by regional culture, historical migration, the chronological sequence of regional development, commerce and trade growth, and the evolution of administrative systems, alongside broader cultural, economic, and social factors, showing consistent patterns. This study demonstrates that utilizing a scientific and objective zoning approach to accurately identify the cultural landscape characteristics and differentiation patterns across various cultural zones, while clarifying the historical evolution of villages and the transformation of dwelling forms, provides practical insights for cultural landscape zoning in other multicultural regions. Furthermore, it provides scientific guidance to advance China’s rural revitalization strategy and supports the regional protection and sustainable development of world cultural heritage. Full article

With the rapid advancement of urbanisation and transit networks, exploring the spatial relationship between metro systems and cultural heritage is crucial for both heritage preservation and sustainable urban development. This study uses the nearest neighbour index, kernel density analysis, and spatial value evaluation to examine the distribution patterns of cultural heritage in Beijing and its spatial interaction with the metro network. The results show that different types of cultural heritage have distinct distribution characteristics: stone inscriptions are widely dispersed due to their need for preservation in natural settings; traditional villages and ancient tombs are shaped by historical and geographical factors; and industrial heritage is concentrated in areas of historical industrial activity, reflecting strong functional zoning traits. The metro network enhances the accessibility of cultural heritage, especially national- and provincial-level sites, which are predominantly clustered near metro stations. However, geographically isolated world heritage sites, such as the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs, remain less connected to the metro network, helping preserve their authenticity and avoid overdevelopment. Furthermore, thematic designs and cultural displays within Beijing’s metro stations successfully bridge the gap between history and modernity, positioning metro stations as key platforms for cultural dissemination. Nevertheless, metro construction presents challenges to heritage conservation, including potential impacts on site stability due to tunnelling and conflicts between modern station design and the aesthetic integrity of historic districts. These findings offer practical insights for cultural heritage preservation and transit planning in Beijing and serve as a reference for the sustainable development of other historic cities worldwide. Full article

The micro-renewal of rural heritage in urban villages transcends spatial transformation, profoundly altering social structures and relational dynamics. Recent research has emerged concerning the cultural impact of rural revitalization on rural heritage. However, little research has been undertaken regarding the specific mechanisms via which various renewal orientations influence the community. This study focuses on the case of Whampoa Village in Guangzhou, China, specifically highlighting the rehabilitation of its ancestral temples. Utilizing a field–space–society analytical framework, it analyzes how these revitalized ancestral temples enhance community resilience and instigate a reverse reconfiguration of spaces. Moreover, it emphasizes that the varied rehabilitation approach of ancestral temples, by including different social groups, fosters the establishment of new community connections. NGOs and small investors act as the primary catalysts for the preservation and inheritance of cultural heritage. The redevelopment initiative in Whampoa Village has enhanced spatial diversity, thereby reinforcing and transforming existing community structures. Nonetheless, it highlights the potential for spatial inequities arising from capital-driven commercialization in these rural regions. This article seeks to enrich the global database of cultural heritage by including cases from southern China and to contribute to the literature on the preservation of rural cultural assets. Full article