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An Evaluation and Optimization of the Spatial Pattern of County Rural Settlements: A Case Study of Changshu City in the Yangtze River Delta, China

Author

Listed:
  • Bin Zhu

    (School of Tourism and Social Administration College, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China)

  • Hongbo Li

    (School of Geographical Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China
    Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing 210046, China)

  • Zhengyu Hu

    (School of Geographical Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China)

  • Yuling Wen

    (School of Geographical Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China)

  • Jili Che

    (School of Geographical Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China)

Abstract

The development model of rural settlements in economically developed regions has reference and guiding significance for other developing rural settlements. The study was conducted to discuss the spatial distribution and scale structure evolution characteristics, in order to understand the development process and the problems of rural settlements in Changshu City, Jiangsu Province. Then, based on the multi-stage goals of Rural Revitalization of “pole–field–zone–network”, a multi-stage rural settlement spatial structure was revealed to promote the optimization of settlement layout and promote urban–rural integration. The data of rural settlements were extracted from the land use data of nearly 20 years from 2000 to 2020. Different research methods were utilized for the study. The results revealed that the spatial pattern and scale structure of rural settlements in Changshu had experienced two periods of drastic changes and stable adjustment in the past 20 years. The rural settlement density generally presented a spatial pattern of dense in the north, sparse in the South and sparse in the East. The scale system of rural settlements tended to disperse from centralization, but the spatial agglomeration was enhanced. Finally, based on the above research results and problems, a “pole–field–zone–network” multi-stage settlement structure was revealed, which helps to form a reasonable urban and rural network.

Suggested Citation

  • Bin Zhu & Hongbo Li & Zhengyu Hu & Yuling Wen & Jili Che, 2022. "An Evaluation and Optimization of the Spatial Pattern of County Rural Settlements: A Case Study of Changshu City in the Yangtze River Delta, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:9:p:1412-:d:899365
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Song, Wei & Li, Huanhuan, 2020. "Spatial pattern evolution of rural settlements from 1961 to 2030 in Tongzhou District, China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    2. Vasco Barbosa & Inés Santé-Riveira & Rafael Crecente-Maseda & Carlos Díaz Redondo & Juan Porta Trinidad & Jorge Parapar López & Ramón Doallo Biempica & José Ambrósio Ferreira Neto, 2022. "A New Spatial Criteria Method to Delimit Rural Settlements towards Boundaries Equity: Land Use Optimization for Decision Making in Galicia, NW Spain," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-19, May.
    3. Peter Robinson, 2003. "Implications of rural settlement patterns for development: A historical case study in Qaukeni, Eastern Cape, South Africa," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 405-421.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaoling Xie & Lin Ye, 2023. "Reconstructing Rural Settlements Based on Structural Equation Modeling—Taking Hongshanyao Town of Jinchang City as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-13, January.
    2. Ting You & Shuiyu Yan, 2023. "Spatial Differentiation and Driving Force Detection of Rural Settlements in the Yangtze River Delta Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Yuxiang Tan & Mingshun Xiang & Haixia Lu & Linsen Duan & Jin Yang & Jiake Meng & Ao Li & Lanlan Deng, 2023. "Spatial Difference Studies and Driving Force Analysis of Rural Settlements in the Northwest Sichuan Plateau," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, April.
    4. Yingxue Rao & Chenxi Wu & Qingsong He, 2025. "Uneven diffusion: a multi-scale analysis of rural settlement evolution and its driving forces in China from 2000–2020," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Ruotong Mao & Jiangtao Xiao & Ping Ren, 2025. "Spatiotemporal Evolution and Suitability Evaluation of Rural Settlements in the Typical Mountainous Area of the Upper Minjiang River: A Case Study of Lixian County, Sichuan Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-25, March.
    6. Rongtian Zhang & Xiaolin Zhang, 2022. "Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Rural Settlements in Metropolitan Fringe Area: A Case Study of Nanjing, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-18, November.

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