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Spatial Distribution and Land Use of Traditional Villages in Southwest China

Author

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  • Xiye Zheng

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Jiahui Wu

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Hongbing Deng

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China)

Abstract

Traditional villages are the historical and cultural heritage of people around the world. With the increases in urbanization and industrialization, the continuation of traditional villages and the inheritance of historical and cultural heritage are facing risk. Therefore, to grasp the spatial characteristics of them and the human–nature interaction mechanism in Southwest China, we analyzed the distribution pattern of traditional villages using the ArcGIS software. Then, we further analyzed the spatial clustering characteristics, influencing factors and landscape pattern, and put forward relevant protection countermeasures and suggestions. The results revealed that traditional villages in Southwest China were clustered, being mainly distributed in areas with relatively low elevation, gentle slopes, low relative positions, nearby water sources, and convenient transportation. They can be divided into four categories due to obvious differences in influencing factors such as elevation, slope, relative position, distance to the nearest river, population density, etc. The landscape pattern of traditional villages differed among the different clusters, being mainly composed of forests, shrubs, and cultivated land. With the increase in the buffer radius, the landscape pattern of them changed significantly. The results of this study reflect that traditional villages and the natural environment are interdependent, so the protection of traditional villages should carry out measures according to local conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiye Zheng & Jiahui Wu & Hongbing Deng, 2021. "Spatial Distribution and Land Use of Traditional Villages in Southwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6326-:d:567822
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anqiang Jia & Xiaoxu Liang & Xuan Wen & Xin Yun & Lijian Ren & Yingxia Yun, 2023. "GIS-Based Analysis of the Spatial Distribution and Influencing Factors of Traditional Villages in Hebei Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-24, June.
    2. Liu Jin & Zongqi Wang & Xiaohong Chen, 2022. "Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Traditional Villages on the Tibetan Plateau in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Qikang Zhong & Liang Xie & Jiade Wu, 2025. "Reimagining heritage villages’ sustainability: machine learning-driven human settlement suitability in Hunan," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-19, December.
    4. Yinhe Chen & Rui Li, 2024. "Spatial Distribution and Type Division of Traditional Villages in Zhejiang Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-25, June.
    5. Yi You & Hongjie Wu & Lingyu Xu, 2025. "Analysis on the “History–Space” Inter-Construction Mechanism of Traditional Villages Based on Multi-Historical Elements: A Case Study of Nankou Town, Northwest Beijing," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-21, October.
    6. Ruixin Chang & Jinping Wang & Lei Li & Dengxing Chen, 2025. "Extraction and Analysis of the Spatial Morphology of a Heritage Village Based on Digital Technology and Weakly Supervised Point Cloud Segmentation Methods: An Innovative Application in the Case of Xis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-35, April.
    7. Mengchen Lian & Yanjun Li, 2024. "The Spatial Patterns and Architectural Form Characteristics of Chinese Traditional Villages: A Case Study of Guanzhong, Shaanxi Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-28, October.
    8. Yongchun Hao & Zhe Li & Jiade Wu, 2024. "Sustainable Spatial Features of Settlements along the Miao Frontier Wall and Miao Frontier Corridor Analyzed through Machine Learning Clustering," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-23, October.
    9. Jianmin Wang & Xiaoying Wen & Shikang Zhou & Zhihong Zhang & Dongye Zhao, 2025. "Towards Sustainable Human–Land Symbiosis: An Empirical Study of Chinese Traditional Villages," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-21, August.
    10. Haoran Su & Yaowu Wang & Zhen Zhang & Wen Dong, 2022. "Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Traditional Village Distribution in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-26, September.
    11. Shuxin Mao & Hongbing Deng, 2022. "Regional Ecology Supporting Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-5, June.
    12. Yujie Ren & Weiwei Zhao & Yuhan Zhang & Yunrong Li & Shanshan Jia, 2024. "Coupling Coordination and Driving Mechanisms of Regional Protection and Development in Traditional Villages of the Loess Hilly and Gully Region, Northern Shaanxi Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-29, December.
    13. Xiaogang Feng & Moqing Hu & Sekhar Somenahalli & Xinyuan Bian & Meng Li & Zaihui Zhou & Fengxia Li & Yuan Wang, 2023. "A Study of Spatio-Temporal Differentiation Characteristics and Driving Factors of Shaanxi Province’s Traditional Heritage Villages," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.

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