Mechanisms and Resilience Governance of Built Heritage Spatial Differentiation in China: A Sustainability Perspective

Yangyang Lu, Longyin Teng, Jian Dai, Qingwen Han, Zhong Sun and Lin Li ()
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Yangyang Lu: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Longyin Teng: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Jian Dai: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Qingwen Han: College of Architecture, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang 473006, China
Zhong Sun: College of Architecture, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang 473006, China
Lin Li: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-24

Abstract: Built heritage serves as a vital repository of human history and culture, and an examination of its spatial distribution and influencing factors holds significant value for the preservation and advancement of our historical and cultural narratives. This thesis brings together various forms of built heritage, employing methodologies such as kernel density estimation, average nearest neighbor analysis, and standard deviation ellipses to elucidate the characteristics of spatial distribution. Additionally, it investigates the influencing factors through geographical detectors and Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR). The findings reveal several key insights: (1) In terms of geographical patterns, built heritage is predominantly located southeast of the “Hu-Huanyong” line, with notable concentrations at the confluence of Shanxi and Henan provinces, the southeastern region of Guizhou, as well as in southern Anhui, Fujian, and Zhejiang. Moreover, distinct types of built heritage exhibit marked spatial variations. (2) The reliability and significance of the analytical results derived from prefecture and city-level units surpass those obtained from grid and provincial-level analyses. Among the influencing factors, the explanatory power associated with the number of counties emerges as the strongest, while that relating to population density was the weakest; furthermore, interactions among factors that meet significance thresholds reveal enhanced explanatory capabilities. (3) Both road density and population density demonstrate positive correlations; conversely, the positive influence of topographic relief and river density accounts for 90% of their variance. GDP exhibits a negative correlation, with the number of counties contributing to 70% of this negative impact; thus, the distribution of positive and negative influences from various factors varies significantly. Drawing upon these spatial distribution characteristics and the disparities observed in regression coefficients, this thesis delves into potential influence factors and proposes recommendations for the development and safeguarding of built heritage.

Keywords: built heritage; historical area; geographic detectors; MGWR; heritage sustainability; resilience governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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