IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i11p5026-d1668429.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Analysis of Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Driving Mechanisms of Cultural Heritage Distribution Along the Jiangnan Canal, China

Author

Listed:
  • Runmo Liu

    (College of Resources Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
    Beijing Laboratory of Water Resource Security, Beijing 100048, China
    Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Resources Environment and GIS, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Dan Meng

    (College of Resources Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
    Beijing Laboratory of Water Resource Security, Beijing 100048, China
    Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Resources Environment and GIS, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Ming Wang

    (College of History, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Huili Gong

    (College of Resources Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
    Beijing Laboratory of Water Resource Security, Beijing 100048, China
    Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Resources Environment and GIS, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Xiaojuan Li

    (College of Resources Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
    Beijing Laboratory of Water Resource Security, Beijing 100048, China
    Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Resources Environment and GIS, Beijing 100048, China)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Runmo Liu & Dan Meng & Ming Wang & Huili Gong & Xiaojuan Li, 2025. "Analysis of Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Driving Mechanisms of Cultural Heritage Distribution Along the Jiangnan Canal, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-25, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:11:p:5026-:d:1668429
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/11/5026/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/11/5026/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tianxin Zhang & Yuliang Yang & Xin Fan & Shengya Ou, 2023. "Correction: Zhang et al. Corridors Construction and Development Strategies for Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Study about the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Sustainability 2023, 15 , 13449," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-2, November.
    2. Qifan Dai & Yueqing Wei & Yequan Hu & Tao Chen & Yixun Yan & Yansheng Gu & Qi Wang, 2024. "Research on the Value of Water-Related Cultural Heritage Architecture from Historical Environmental Records: Evidence from the Li River Basin in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-21, June.
    3. Mo Chen & Jiacan Wang & Jing Sun & Fang Ye & Hongyan Zhang, 2023. "Spatio-Temporal Distribution Characteristics of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Tourism Response in the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal Basin in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-17, June.
    4. Tianxin Zhang & Yuliang Yang & Xin Fan & Shengya Ou, 2023. "Corridors Construction and Development Strategies for Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Study about the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-22, September.
    5. Ge Shi & Ziying Feng & Jingran Zhang & Jinghai Xu & Yu Chen & Jiahang Liu & Yutong Wang, 2024. "An Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Distribution and Influencing Factors of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Along the Grand Canal of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-17, October.
    6. Feiyang Lin & Xuan Zhang & Zhiyao Ma & Yifu Zhang, 2022. "Spatial Structure and Corridor Construction of Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of the Ming Great Wall," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-24, September.
    7. Jin Yang & Lei Wang & Sheng Wei, 2022. "Spatial Variation and Its Local Influencing Factors of Intangible Cultural Heritage Development along the Grand Canal in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Qingtao Bai & Mingcan Gao & Hongyi Lyu & Lujia Zhang & Jiamin Zhang, 2024. "Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Tangible Cultural Heritage in Henan Province, China: A Watershed Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-19, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ge Shi & Ziying Feng & Jingran Zhang & Jinghai Xu & Yu Chen & Jiahang Liu & Yutong Wang, 2024. "An Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Distribution and Influencing Factors of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Along the Grand Canal of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Tianxin Zhang & Yuliang Yang & Xin Fan & Shengya Ou, 2023. "Corridors Construction and Development Strategies for Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Study about the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-22, September.
    3. Tanjima Siddika Chandni & Mohammad Tanvir Hasan, 2025. "Identify and Analyze the Water Heritages of Bangladesh from the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites," Journal of Scientific Reports, IJSAB International, vol. 10(1), pages 11-23.
    4. Zihan Cai & Sidong Zhao & Mengshi Huang & Congguo Zhang, 2023. "Evolution Model, Mechanism, and Performance of Urban Park Green Areas in the Grand Canal of China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-28, December.
    5. Bowen Yang & Xinmiao Yang & Huang Xiao, 2025. "Public interest litigation protection policy of commemorative architectural cultural heritage: a case study from China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Weicheng Han & Zele Mo & Wei Wang & Yicheng Zhou, 2025. "Research on Vegetation Removal Strategies for the Ming Guangwu Great Wall Based on Clearance Resistance Assessment," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-21, May.
    7. Ji Zhang & Pei Zhang & Xinchen Gu & Mingjiang Deng & Xiaoying Lai & Aihua Long & Xiaoya Deng, 2023. "Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Pattern Changes and Driving Forces of Xinjiang Plain Oases Based on Geodetector," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, July.
    8. Guangmeng Bian & Yan Zhao & Jianwei Yan, 2024. "Exploring Characteristics and Patterns of In Situ Space Morphology: Perspective of the Historical and Cultural Canal Settlement," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-27, July.
    9. Li Li & Yongjian Wu & Jin Zhang, 2025. "Bridging Heritage Conservation and Urban Sustainability: A Multidimensional Coupling Framework for Walkability, Greening, and Cultural Heritage in the Historic City of Shenyang," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-22, June.
    10. Chunlan Du & Di Pan & Qingying Liu, 2025. "The Construction of a Protection Network for Traditional Settlements Across Regions: A Case Study of the Chengdu–Chongqing Ancient Post Road Heritage Corridor in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-24, February.
    11. Furan Cao & Bin Zhu & Lingyan Huang & Chao Liu, 2024. "Assessing Industrial Past and Cultural Changes in Industrial Lands along the Hangzhou Section of the Grand Canal in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-31, June.
    12. Duo Bian & Mengying Zhang & Lili Kong & Bingbing Huang & Di Hu, 2024. "Analysis of Regional Social–Economic Spatial Pattern and Evolution along the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-17, February.
    13. Fanlei Meng & Xinyi Xiao, 2025. "Spatiotemporal Distribution and Adaptive Reuse Results Assessment of Beijing Industrial Heritage Based on the Sustainable Renewal Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-18, February.
    14. Yu Liu & Huacheng Ge, 2024. "Exploration of the Cultural Heritage Distribution Along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and Its Implications: A Case Study of Cultural Relics Protection Units in the Jiangsu Section," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.
    15. Xinshi Zhang & Yage Wang & Hongwei Huang & Shenghao Yuan & Rui Hua & Ying Tang & Chengyong Shi, 2025. "Evaluating Resource Endowments and Optimization Strategies for Traditional Riverside Villages in Shaanxi: A Yellow River Cultural Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-16, May.
    16. He Zhang & Yutong Wang & Yu Qi & Siwei Chen & Zhengkai Zhang, 2024. "Assessment of Yellow River Region Cultural Heritage Value and Corridor Construction across Urban Scales: A Case Study in Shaanxi, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-21, January.
    17. Dandan Xu & Xiangliang Li & Shuo Yan & Liying Cui & Xiaokun Liu & Yaomin Zheng, 2024. "A Quantitative Model to Measure the Level of Culture and Tourism Integration Based on a Spatial Perspective: A Case Study of Beijing from 2000 to 2022," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-21, May.
    18. Haisheng Hu, 2025. "Spatial Synergy Between Cultural Heritage and Metro Networks: A Case Study of Distribution Patterns and Value Assessment in Beijing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-20, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:11:p:5026-:d:1668429. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.