{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T16:25:59Z","timestamp":1789748759921,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]],"date-time":"2026-07-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784073600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Sociol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Traditional villages in China serve as important carriers of rural cultural heritage but are increasingly threatened by rapid urbanisation and uneven regional development. Understanding their spatial distribution and integration within cultural\u2013tourism networks is essential for developing effective conservation and regional planning strategies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Using a national dataset of 8,157 officially designated traditional villages, combined with city-level tourism indicators and three categories of cultural heritage carriers (A-level scenic spots, intangible cultural heritage, and protected cultural relics), this study developed an integrated analytical framework based on spatial statistical analysis, spatial correlation analysis, and K-means clustering to evaluate spatial differentiation and cultural-tourism integration patterns.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The results reveal a pronounced \u201csouth-dense, north-sparse\u201d spatial distribution with persistent regional inequality. Traditional villages exhibit weak correlations with overall tourism performance but strong spatial coupling with A-level scenic spots, moderate associations with protected cultural relics, and limited integration with intangible cultural heritage, indicating a selective and uneven embedding structure. Based on these relationships, Chinese cities can be classified into four development types: comprehensive leading areas, scenic\u2013village integration areas, balanced development areas, and potential development areas, each characterised by distinct cultural\u2013tourism integration pathways.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The findings demonstrate that traditional villages function as selectively embedded nodes within China\u2019s cultural\u2013tourism network rather than uniformly integrated tourism resources. This typology provides a practical basis for differentiated conservation policies, cultural heritage management, and place-based tourism planning while offering new insights into the spatial organisation of cultural heritage systems at the national scale.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fsoc.2026.1803562","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]],"date-time":"2026-07-15T04:44:29Z","timestamp":1784090669000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Spatial differentiation and integrated tourism development of China\u2019s traditional heritage villages"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Chaohui","family":"Zheng","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham","place":["Nottingham, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Heng","family":"Wei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Urban and Rural Construction, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering","place":["Guangzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1295","DOI":"10.3390\/electronics9081295","article-title":"The K-means algorithm: a comprehensive survey and performance evaluation","volume":"9","author":"Ahmed","year":"2020","journal-title":"Electronics"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.4102\/aveh.v80i1.612","article-title":"Remarks on the use of Pearson\u2019s and spearman\u2019s correlation coefficients in assessing relationships in ophthalmic data","volume":"80","author":"Alsaqr","year":"2021","journal-title":"Afr. Vis. Eye Health"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"741","DOI":"10.1007\/s00267-018-1009-6","article-title":"Factors contributing to the decline of traditional practices in communities from the Gwallek\u2013Kedar area, Kailash sacred landscape, Nepal","volume":"61","author":"Atreya","year":"2018","journal-title":"Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102649","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecoinf.2024.102649","article-title":"Investigating the spatial distribution mechanisms of traditional villages from the human geography region: a case study of Jiangnan, China","volume":"81","author":"Bi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ecol. Inform."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4627","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19084627","article-title":"Spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of traditional villages in China","volume":"19","author":"Bian","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1186\/s40494-023-00994-5","article-title":"Identifying the spatial differentiation factors of traditional villages in China","volume":"11","author":"Chen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Herit. Sci."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1565","DOI":"10.3390\/land14081565","article-title":"Spatial distribution characteristics and cluster differentiation of traditional villages in the Central Yunnan region","volume":"14","author":"Chen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Land"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10365","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-94514-z","article-title":"Study on the interaction mechanism among spatial patterns of traditional villages and tourism attractiveness and accessibility in Guizhou province","volume":"15","author":"Dong","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5069","DOI":"10.3390\/su13095069","article-title":"Systemic innovation areas for heritage-led rural regeneration: a multilevel repository of best practices","volume":"13","author":"Egusquiza","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tourman.2017.04.003","article-title":"Revitalizing traditional villages through rural tourism: a case study of Yuanjia village, Shaanxi province, China","volume":"63","author":"Gao","year":"2017","journal-title":"Tour. Manag."},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102062","DOI":"10.1016\/j.habitatint.2019.102062","article-title":"Multi-dimensionality and the totality of rural spatial restructuring from the perspective of the rural space system: a case study of traditional villages in the ancient Huizhou region, China","volume":"94","author":"Hu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Habitat Int."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1699","DOI":"10.1080\/13467581.2023.2270026","article-title":"Development types and design guidelines for the conservation and utilization of spatial environment in traditional villages in southern China","volume":"23","author":"Huang","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Asian Archit. Build. Eng."},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"833","DOI":"10.1108\/JCHMSD-01-2023-0008","article-title":"Protection of traditional villages in China: a review on the development process and policy evolution","volume":"16","author":"Jing","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Cult. Herit. Manag. Sustain. Dev."},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1080\/23754931.2020.1810112","article-title":"Spatio-temporal nearest neighbor index for measuring space-time clustering among geographic events","volume":"7","author":"Lee","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pap. Appl. Geogr."},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"16362","DOI":"10.3390\/su71215821","article-title":"Analysis of income inequality based on income mobility for poverty alleviation in rural China","volume":"7","author":"Li","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8210","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-35486-w","article-title":"Research on the spatial correlation and formation mechanism between traditional villages and rural tourism","volume":"13","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1186\/s40494-022-00840-0","article-title":"Temporal and spatial patterns and influencing factors of intangible cultural heritage: ancient Qin-Shu roads, western China","volume":"10","author":"Liu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Herit. Sci."},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1016\/j.habitatint.2009.08.003","article-title":"Urban villages under China\u2019s rapid urbanization: unregulated assets and transitional neighbourhoods","volume":"34","author":"Liu","year":"2010","journal-title":"Habitat Int."},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"482","DOI":"10.1057\/s41254-024-00349-2","article-title":"Vernacular branding: sustaining city identity through vernacular architecture of indigenous villages","volume":"20","author":"Nursanty","year":"2024","journal-title":"Place Brand. Public Dipl."},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2094","DOI":"10.3390\/buildings15122094","article-title":"The spatial relationship characteristics and differentiation causes between traditional villages and intangible cultural heritage in China","volume":"15","author":"Qian","year":"2025","journal-title":"Buildings"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"568","DOI":"10.3390\/ijgi10080568","article-title":"Spatiotemporal dynamic analysis of A-level scenic spots in Guizhou province, China","volume":"10","author":"Qiu","year":"2021","journal-title":"ISPRS Int. J. Geo Inf."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1038\/s40494-025-01615-z","article-title":"The spatial coupling and its influencing mechanism between rural human-habitat heritage and key rural tourism villages in China","volume":"13","author":"Shen","year":"2025","journal-title":"NPJ Herit. Sci."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2489","DOI":"10.1007\/s11442-023-2186-7","article-title":"Evaluation system and influencing paths for the integration of culture and tourism in traditional villages","volume":"33","author":"Tang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Geogr. Sci."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"449","DOI":"10.3390\/land9110449","article-title":"Identifying the spatiotemporal patterns of traditional villages in China: a multiscale perspective","volume":"9","author":"Wu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Land"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"28239","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-13846-y","article-title":"Assessing the location potential for tourism development of traditional villages in Sichuan province, China","volume":"15","author":"Xia","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"142","DOI":"10.1057\/s41599-025-04447-1","article-title":"The spatial relationship and influence mechanism of traditional villages and intangible cultural heritage: a case study of the upper reaches of the Yellow River basin","volume":"12","author":"Xue","year":"2025","journal-title":"Humanit. Soc. Sci. Commun."},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e25627","DOI":"10.1016\/j.heliyon.2024.e25627","article-title":"How has rural tourism influenced the sustainable development of traditional villages? A systematic literature review","volume":"10","author":"Yanan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Heliyon"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18633","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-45099-y","article-title":"Features of architectural landscape fragmentation in traditional villages in western Hunan, China","volume":"13","author":"Zeng","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-95572-4","volume-title":"Restoration of Multifunctional Cultural Landscapes: Merging Tradition and Innovation for a Sustainable Future","author":"Zerbe","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3190","DOI":"10.1080\/13467581.2024.2373821","article-title":"Spatial correlation between traditional villages and religious cultural heritage in the Hehuang region, Northwest China","volume":"24","author":"Zhang","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Asian Archit. Build. Eng."},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.1186\/s40494-021-00591-4","article-title":"Unique traditional villages on the loess plateau of China: historic evolution and challenges to sustainable development of silo-caves","volume":"9","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Herit. Sci."},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104379","DOI":"10.1016\/j.landusepol.2019.104379","article-title":"Land consolidation and rural revitalization in China: mechanisms and paths","volume":"91","author":"Zhou","year":"2020","journal-title":"Land Use Policy"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2468","DOI":"10.3390\/su14042468","article-title":"A cultural route perspective on rural revitalization of traditional villages: a case study from Chishui, China","volume":"14","author":"Zhou","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1186\/s40494-023-01110-3","article-title":"Temporal and spatial patterns of traditional village distribution evolution in Xiangxi, China: identifying multidimensional influential factors and conservation significance","volume":"11","author":"Zhu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Herit. Sci."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Sociology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fsoc.2026.1803562\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]],"date-time":"2026-07-15T04:44:35Z","timestamp":1784090675000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fsoc.2026.1803562\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]]},"references-count":34,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fsoc.2026.1803562"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fsoc.2026.1803562","relation":{},"ISSN":["2297-7775"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2297-7775","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]]},"article-number":"1803562"}}