Multi-Dimensional Influencing Factors of Spatial Evolution of Traditional Villages in Guizhou Province of China and Their Conservation Significance

Abstract

As a model of the symbiotic wisdom between humans and nature, traditional villages carry rich historical and cultural values in their existence. However, the rapid urbanization process has led to the destruction and even disappearance of many traditional villages, and surviving villages urgently need to cope with the severe challenge of protecting their original ecology and cultural environment. To preserve the heritage of traditional villages, it is necessary to investigate their geographic distribution and influencing factors. We have conducted research and statistics on traditional villages using Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis technology (GIS), described in detail the complex interrelationships among natural, social, and cultural variables in the distribution and evolution of villages, and analyzed the relevant influencing factors qualitatively and quantitatively. The results of the research show that (1) in terms of geographical distribution, traditional villages in Guizhou tend to exhibit a high degree of agglomeration and clustering, and their distribution structure is characterized by “small aggregation and scattering, with many cores and few peripheries”. (2) Most traditional villages in Guizhou appeared after the end of the Qing Dynasty. (3) Natural and cultural factors influence the design and layout of traditional settlements, and socioeconomic and historical culture influence the evolution of traditional settlements. These factors also influence the formation of traditional villages and the changes in their geographical distribution. This study provides a scientific basis for the sustainable development of traditional villages in Guizhou Province. It explores a new way to study and protect the spatial patterns of traditional villages.

1. Introduction

As important physical evidence of the long history of the Chinese nation, traditional Chinese villages vividly showcase the diversity of regional culture and the unique charm of ethnic customs with their unique site layout and profound cultural heritage. Traditional villages integrate tangible and intangible cultural heritage, reflecting historical changes and regional cultural inheritance [1]. Influenced by rapid urbanization as well as historical and cultural factors, many traditional villages have suffered serious challenges of destruction and loss, and their original living environment is at risk. In 2012, the Chinese Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development (MOHURD) and other ministries jointly released the national list of traditional villages for the first time, which marked a high level of attention and positive transformation in the policy level for the protection of traditional villages, and opened a new page for their legal status and protection. By 2024, 8155 villages will have been officially recognized as national traditional villages, a figure that not only highlights the effectiveness of the protection work but also foretells a broad future for the cause of traditional village protection.

Academics have also responded positively to this, with significantly increased research efforts and increasingly diversified research perspectives. From temporal evolution to spatial changes, from cultural values to architectural features, from spatial layout planning to sustainable development paths, researchers have explored the mysteries of traditional villages in an all-around and multi-angle way [2]. With the advancement in technology, modern techniques such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) [3], network analysis [4], and spatial syntax theory [5] have been widely applied in traditional village research, greatly broadening the research perspective. Opportunities including more advanced technologies such as LiDAR [6], spatial image analysis [7], and artificial intelligence-driven technologies are increasingly being used to detect changes in spatial patterns with higher accuracy and efficiency. These new technologies provide a more comprehensive and up-to-date perspective on shaping technological progress in this field. This enables research to span different scales from micro to macro, providing strong support for comprehensive investigation and an in-depth understanding of traditional villages. In the field of spatial distribution, researchers have delved into the spatial characteristics, differentiation, and underlying influencing factors of villages, and attempted to reveal the inherent laws of traditional village distribution [8]. In terms of protection and development, they focus on the challenges, difficulties, and solutions they face, and have established a relevant evaluation system, providing a scientific basis for the sustainable development of traditional villages. In addition, scholars have also introduced innovative theoretical methods such as DFRI grounded theory [9] and genetic landscape [8], conducting comprehensive and in-depth investigations of traditional villages from multiple perspectives such as culture, ecology, and climate. However, it is worth noting that despite the fruitful research results, current studies still have limitations. Especially, there is a relative lack of research on the historical characteristics of traditional villages on a time scale, which fails to fully reveal the complex relationship between their historical evolution process and influencing factors. The geographical layout of traditional villages is a vivid manifestation of the interweaving of natural and cultural factors, deeply reflecting the uniqueness of regional culture and the complexity of historical evolution. The location and layout of these villages are not only limited by natural environmental conditions such as altitude, terrain slope, and slope orientation but also closely related to socioeconomic factors such as population density, economic development level, transportation accessibility, and water source distribution. The complex interweaving of multiple factors creates distinct regional characteristics in the spatial layout of traditional villages and presents different appearances with changes in geographical space.

The geographical layout of traditional villages is formed by various interrelated factors, including natural environmental conditions such as altitude, terrain slope, and aspect; socioeconomic factors such as population density, economic development level, water source distance, and transportation routes; as well as cultural value, biodiversity conditions, and the natural historical evolution of these settlements [10]. Especially in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities [11], these factors affect the layout of traditional villages. The traditional village spatial layout is the product of a complex network of interwoven elements that vary depending on geographical location. Currently, there are few studies specifically focusing on the places where ethnic minorities reside. On the contrary, most research on customary villages tends to examine the spatial layout of villages at a macro level, such as the national or provincial level [12]. In terms of research methodology, although ArcGIS spatial autocorrelation analysis, residual analysis, correlation analysis, and other technical means have been widely used, they still have limitations in quantitatively analyzing factors and expressing spatial heterogeneity. In particular, the in-depth exploration of non-material factors such as regional cultural characteristics and historical and traditional habits is still insufficient, which limits our comprehensive and accurate understanding of the spatial layout of traditional villages to a certain extent. In order to fill this research gap, especially for Guizhou Province of China, a region with rich traditional village resources, we urgently need to explore the historical characteristics and spatial–temporal patterns of the distribution of traditional villages [13], as well as how the multidimensional factors work together in the formation and evolution of these patterns. This study aims to reveal the inherent laws of the evolution of traditional villages and comprehensively analyze the complex interactions between factors that affect their development by integrating historical, spatial, and socio-cultural perspectives [14].

This article aims to explore the complex mechanisms underlying the formation and evolution of the geographical pattern of traditional villages in Guizhou Province. By utilizing advanced technologies and theoretical methods such as GIS, it delves into the intrinsic correlation between natural factors (such as altitude, slope, precipitation, temperature, etc.) and human factors (such as road density, urbanization process, industrial structure, regional cultural characteristics, historical traditions and customs, etc.) that affect the geographical pattern of traditional villages in Guizhou Province, providing insights into the protection and sustainable development of traditional villages. By depicting the spatial characteristics of these villages, we hope to gain a clearer understanding of the constraining factors and driving mechanisms for the long-term maintenance of traditional villages, thereby providing new research perspectives and a scientific basis for the protection and sustainable development of traditional villages in mountainous areas in Guizhou Province and even globally. This is not only a show of respect for the inheritance of traditional village cultural heritage, but also a deep practice of the concept of sustainable development.

2. Study Area and Research Methodology

2.1. Study Area

Guizhou, abbreviated as Qian or Gui, is situated in Southwest China’s hinterland starting from the karstized mountainous plains between the Sichuan Basin and the hills of Guangxi, with complex topographical changes and surrounded by mountains throughout (Figure 1). With a total area of 176,000 km², Guizhou province is positioned in the untamed southwest of China, east of the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, in the watershed zone of the higher stages of the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers. The average altitude is around 1100 m; the annual precipitation is 1000–1400 mm; the westward terrain is higher than the eastward terrain and is dominated by mountains and hills, making up 92.5% of the province’s area; and it has a subtropical monsoon climate, which includes seven regions in terms of geomorphological delineation, including Qiandong Mountain Hills Subregion, Qianzhong Hilly Plain Subregion, Qiinan Low Mountain Valley Subregion, Qiandong Mountain Canyon Subregion, Qianxi Mountain Subregion, Central Sichuan Basin Hills Subregion, and Diandong–Qianxi Karst Plateau Subregion [15,16]. Guizhou has high mountains and steep slopes, thin soil, and many rocks. “Eight mountains and one water and one field” is how it is known. Limited by resources and land, as well as population and transport, the economic development of Guizhou Province is relatively backward.

Located in southwestern China, Guizhou is a province where the Miao, Buyi, Dong, Yi and Shui ethnic groups cohabit. To date, Guizhou Province has 757 villages overall that are listed as customary villages in China. Customary villages in Guizhou Province are characterized by their large number and dense distribution, and are sparsely and densely inhabited in the west and east, respectively. In addition, most of the traditional villages in Guizhou have ancient ethnic cultures entrenched in them, and the karst landscape of Guizhou also creates a lot of village features. It is also due to the topography and cultural characteristics of Guizhou that the architectural forms of traditional villages are different and their spatial distribution varies. These factors also make it difficult to achieve effective results in the centralized management and preservation of customary settlements. But fortunately, many traditional villages with an extensive past, different forms, beautiful environments, and distinctive national characteristics have been able to be preserved in the raging waves of modernization and urbanization. The unique natural scenery and many ethnic cultures in Guizhou’s mountainous regions have helped to preserve the diversity of traditional villages’ habitats, which has aided in their evolution, conservation, and development [17].

2.2. Data Sources and Processing

This study collected data on six groups of traditional Chinese villages, and it focused on 756 villages in Guizhou Province (Figure 2). The Chinese customary villages website provided the information on traditional villages, as did the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development’s Catalogue of Six Group of Chinese Traditional Villages. These traditional settlements’ precise latitude and longitude were found using Google Earth. Data on GDP and the rate of urbanization were taken from the Guizhou Statistical Yearbook (2023), Province of Guizhou. The most pertinent geographic information was sourced from the National Public Geographic Data Service Platform (NPGISP). Platform for Ecological Network Sensing from a Distance. City boundary vectors were derived from elevation data from the China Basic Geographic Information Database (CBGID) and the Resource and Environmental Science Data Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (RESDC). The National Earth System Science Data Center provided climate data, and averages were computed for study via the Gaode Map Open Platform API. In this study, kernel density analysis was conducted using road network data, which included county, provincial, and national highways. The population density statistics came from the Resource and Environmental Sciences Data Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The river data came from the National Earth System Science Data Center. Additionally, the Guizhou Provincial Statistical Yearbook is the source of the socioeconomic data for the area. This study’s statistics are all based on the 2024 research cycle.

2.3. Methodology for Research

We used ArcGIS 10.8 software to classify the geographical distribution pattern of traditional villages in Guizhou. We used spatial analysis tools in the software to create data graphs such as standard deviation ellipse, geographic concentration index, imbalance index, and proximity analysis. Subsequently, we conducted local spatial autocorrelation studies and used kernel density estimation to investigate the spatial distribution characteristics of the villages. We use the Origin tool to depict the dynamic process of village temporal and geographical evolution, and identify the complex influencing factors that are crucial for their protection (Figure 3).

2.3.1. Index of Nearest Neighbors

The NNI (Nearest Neighbor Index) is a crucial tool to evaluate spatial patterns since it shows whether points are equally distributed, randomly distributed, or clustered. By comparing the measured mean distance of the closest neighbors with the predicted median distance in an arbitrary distribution of wealth, it calculates the degree of spatial clustering. The following is the exact formula for the NNI.

$$\begin{array}{c}E={\displaystyle \frac{\overline{r_1}}{\overline{r_E}}}=\sqrt[2]{D}\end{array}$$

(1)

The NNI is represented by the symbol E in this equation, whereas the symbol r1 represents the real average distance between elements and the closest neighbor. rE shows the theoretical average distance between characteristics and the closest a neighbor, while D stands for point density. When E = 1, the point attributes’ random geographic distribution is shown. Point characteristics are often equally distributed when E > 1. Conversely, when E < 1, the point characteristics show a pattern of clustered distribution [18].

2.3.2. Index of Geographically Concentrated Areas

The degree to which customary villages are concentrated within a specific geographic area is determined by the Geographical Concentration Index (G). It gauges how closely customary villages are clustered together in a certain region. You can use the following formula to determine G:

$$G=100·\sqrt{\sum _{i=1}^n{\left({\displaystyle \frac{P_i}{Q}}\right)}^2}$$

(2)

In this formula, Pi is the number of traditional villages in the ith county or district, Q is the overall number of traditional villages, and n is the total number of districts or counties in the Xiangxi region. The geographic concentration index is denoted by G. Q is the total number of customary villages in western Hunan. The number of customary villages in the ith county or district is represented by Pi. The index of spatial concentration (G), which has a range of 0 to 100, increases in value the more concentrated the customary villages are. The more uniform the distribution of customary villages, the lower the value of G.

2.3.3. Imbalance Balance Index

To evaluate the degree of traditional village concentration or unequal distribution within a region, an imbalance index can be utilized. The following is the precise formula for the disequilibrium index:

$$\begin{array}{c}S={\displaystyle \frac{{\sum }_{i=1}^n{M}_{i-}50\left(n+1\right)}{100·n-50\left(n+1\right)}}\end{array}$$

(3)

The number of counties or districts (N) in the state is determined with the following equation: The imbalance index (S), with a value between 0 and 1, demonstrates how traditional villages are distributed more unevenly and how municipalities are distributed throughout districts or counties (a larger value of S indicates a more uneven distribution), and the total number of customary villages and communities is divided by the cumulative proportion of traditional villages and communities in the ith county or district (Mi). These values are listed in descending order in line with the proportion of traditional villages to all customary villages.

2.3.4. Standard Deflection Ellipse

A spatial statistical tool called the Standard Deflection Ellipse (SDE) measures the spatial characteristics of geographic objects, such as their directionality, center of mass, dispersion spread, and the azimuth. The main parameters of the procedure are the lengths of the shortest and longest axes, and the ellipse’s center. The distribution’s primary direction is shown by the long axis, and the short axis measures the dispersion of the data. The spreading ratio indicates the directionality of the distribution, commonly referred to as the long-to-short axis ratio. Greater dispersion and less directionality are indicated by lower ratios, which are more circular in shape, whereas higher ratios suggest a clearly directed distribution. The following is the precise formula for the standard deflection ellipse:

$$\begin{array}{l}tan\theta \\ ={\displaystyle \frac{\left({\sum }_{i=1}^n{w}_i^2{\tilde{x}}_i^2-{\sum }_{i=1}^n{w}_i^2{\tilde{y}}_i^2\right)+\sqrt{{\left({\sum }_{i=1}^n{w}_i^2{\tilde{x}}_i^2-{\sum }_i^n{w}_i^2{\tilde{y}}_1^2\right)}^2+4{\sum }_{i=1}^n{w}_i^2{\tilde{x}}_i^2{\tilde{y}}_i^2}}{2{\sum }_{i=1}^n{w}_i^2{\tilde{x}}_i{\tilde{y}}_i^2}}\end{array}$$

(4)

$$\begin{array}{c}{\sigma }_x=\sqrt{{\displaystyle \frac{{\sum }_{i=1}^n{\left(w_i{\tilde{x}}_{i}cos\theta -w_i{\tilde{y}}_{i}sin\theta \right)}^2}{{{\sum }_{i=1}^{n}w}_i^2}} }\end{array}$$

(5)

$$\begin{array}{c}{\sigma }_y=\sqrt{{\displaystyle \frac{{\sum }_{i=1}^n{\left(w_i{\tilde{x}}_{i}sin\theta -w_i{\tilde{y}}_{i}cos\theta \right)}^2}{{\sum }_{i=1}^n{w}_i^2}}}\end{array}$$

(6)

3. Research Results

3.1. Characteristics of the Geographical Dispersion

3.1.1. Cluster Distribution Pattern

In Guizhou Province, the aggregation type predominates in traditional villages’ spatial distribution. This claim was supported by the Nearest Neighbor Index (NNI) analysis performed with ArcGIS 10.8. The study revealed a statistically significant pattern of clustering among the 757 customary villages that were looked at and a Nearest Neighbor Index of 0.457 (Figure 4).

The Geographic Concentration Index (GCI) and the Coefficient of Variation (CV) further enhanced the rigor of the analysis. The calculated Coefficient of Variation (CV) of 147.24% was significantly higher than the baseline value, which shows that the area’s spatial distribution is not uniform. The calculated Geographic Concentration Index (GCI) of 22.27 was higher than the theoretical index (G0) of 17.53 for an average distribution of 757 villages. This GCI provides more proof that the communities in the region are distributed in clusters.

3.1.2. Equitable Dispersion in Space

The degree of balance among customary villages in the different regions of Guizhou Province is gauged by the Inhomogeneity Index. The number of customary villages varies throughout counties, cities, and municipal districts due to the variations in natural, cultural, and social elements. S = 0.713 > 0 was the Inhomogeneity Index obtained from the balanced assessment of the customary village distribution in Guizhou Province. It was judged that customary villages in Guizhou Province are clustered. Overall, the Leishan, Liping, Congjiang, Taijiang, Rongjiang, Jianhe, Guidongnan, and Sandu areas in Guiyang City, and Xixiu and Pingba in Anshun City, had high aggregation and high primacy, which extended to the Shichian, Sinan, and Dejiang areas in Tongren City and the Fenggang and Wuchuan areas in Zunyi City in the northeastern part of Guizhou, with a cumulative degree of aggregation of more than 60%, and the rest of the areas had a sporadic distribution (Figure 5).

3.1.3. Density of Spatial Distribution

To ascertain the core density distribution pattern of customary villages in Guizhou Province, the core density of 757 customary villages was analyzed using the core density analysis tool in ArcGIS 10.8 software. Four high-density regions—Tongren, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, and Qiuxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture—are shown in the geographical distribution of traditional villages in Guizhou Province (Figure 6) [19]. The region is home to many traditional villages, and the region has preserved a rich ethnic culture and historical tradition with its unique architectural style. As one approaches a river, the number of traditional villages rises proportionately and exhibits a positive correlation with river distance. “Large clusters and small dispersions” define the overall spatial distribution.

The density of customary villages varies considerably between Guizhou Province’s various regions, with the east–central section of the province having the lowest spatial kernel density (Figure 7). In contrast, a substantial number of customary villages are located in the eastern portion of Guizhou Province’s high-density area, which is led by Qiandongnan Prefecture and has a greater spatial kernel density [14,20]. The reason for this situation is the large difference in natural environment, history, and culture between the east and the west within Guizhou Province. It is also this difference that makes them distinctive, with different regions adopting different development modes to enable continuous socioeconomic growth. There is a significant “cluster-like” distribution in the southeast and a tiny “patch-like” distribution in the southwest. Guizhou Province’s traditional village kernel density shows a declining tendency from the southeast to the northwest, with a “scattered” distribution in the northeast. The northwest region of the nation has a comparatively low number of customary villages. Among them, traditional villages in Qiandong’s mountainous and hilly subregion had the highest number of distributions and the highest KDV, which served as the primary core agglomeration area; historic villages in Qianzhong’s southwest hilly subregion had the second largest number of distributions and a higher KDV, which was the sub-core agglomeration area; traditional villages in Qiandong’s low mountainous and river valley subregion, Qiandong’s northern mountainous canyon subregion, the Qiuxi mountainous subregion, and the hilly subregion in the central part of the Sichuan Basin had smaller number of distributions and lower KDVs, with a lower aggregation degree; while traditional villages in eastern Yunnan Qianxian were distributed in small patches. In the northeast, it was “scattered”; in the northwest, it was less. There were no traditional villages in the East Yunnan Qianxi Karst Plateau subregion (Figure 8).

3.1.4. Spatial and Temporal Evolutionary Features

In our study, we separated the development history of Guizhou Province’s traditional villages into three periods: pre-Yuan, Ming, and Qing. Of the 757 villages with recorded history, 46 villages date to the pre-Yuan period, 116 to the Ming period, and 595 to the Qing dynasty and beyond. The SDE used in the spatial distribution analysis shows a clear pattern (Figure 9). The densification of villages prior to the Yuan dynasty suggests a smaller SDE and a larger proportion of axes. During the Ming Dynasty, villages with larger SDEs and lower axial ratios expanded spatially, suggesting a less centralized and more dispersed focus. By the Qing Dynasty, SDEs contracted slightly and axis ratios increased slightly, and this distribution continued into the Qing Dynasty. During the Yuan, Ming, and early Qing periods, the center of gravity of these villages shifted from Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture to Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous District and later returned to the southeast.

The Yuan period saw the transformation of customary villages in Guizhou Province, while the Ming and Qing dynasties demonstrate how a variety of factors, including geography, politics, economy, and culture, interacted and worked together to form unique village landscapes. The Yuan Dynasty and before was an important period in Chinese history, with vast territorial and ethnic integration. During this period, the Guizhou region was brought under centralized management, under the three provinces of Huguang, Sichuan, and Yunnan, and the Tusi system was introduced. This practice not only facilitated the central government’s ability to maintain control over minority-populated areas but also offers a historical backdrop for the evolution of Guizhou’s traditional villages. Among Guizhou’s towering mountains, a number of villages have gradually appeared around the Tusi seat and military fortresses, which not only carry the memories of generations of aborigines but also preserve the rich ethnic culture and traditional customs, becoming an important part of the local society. During the Ming Dynasty, with the large-scale entry of the Ming army into the Guizhou region and the establishment of the Chief Secretary here, the position of Guizhou as the hub of Southwest China became more and more prominent. The Guizhou region also underwent profound changes during this period. The cantonment system of the Ming army promoted the development of local agriculture and provided favorable conditions for the prosperity of the countryside. At the same time, with the large influx of Han Chinese immigrants, Guizhou’s rural culture began to show a trend of diversification. The exchange and fusion of Han and minority cultures not only enriched the cultural connotation of the villages but also encouraged the rural economy’s growth and prosperity [21,22].

The Qing Dynasty and beyond was an important period of multicultural development for the Chinese nation. In Guizhou, traditional village development moved into a new phase, with the in-depth implementation of the policy of land reclassification and the extensive establishment of the floodplain system [23,24]. The establishment of flooded pools not only strengthened the military defense capability of the villages but also promoted the economic exchanges and cultural interactions between the villages and the surrounding areas. In addition to the expansion of the commodity economy and the enhancement of transportation circumstances, Guizhou’s traditional villages have begun to gradually integrate into the large market system. This made the economy of these villages more prosperous and their cultural landscape more vivid. The Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties’ modifications to Guizhou’s traditional villages provide a unique window into the history and culture of the Chinese people (Figure 10). The villages of this century offer a multitude of historical and cultural details, and illustrate the intricate shifts in interethnic relations and the period’s socioeconomic growth.

3.2. Factors Influencing Spatial Distribution

3.2.1. Physical Geography

Geographical location, climate, hydrology (Figure 11), and other environmental factors can have a significant impact on the development and evolution of traditional villages [25].

Due to the higher altitude of 250–1500 m and the relatively flat terrain of Qianzhong and in Guizhou Province, there are more customary villages in the lower elevations in eastern Guizhou. The province’s location at the edge of the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, the overland elevation, and other factors are directly tied to this, as does the terrain’s predominance of low to medium-sized mountains. The province’s traditional villages have a left-skewed pattern in the vertical direction of height and an almost normal distribution. The principal act: The majority of traditional villages—roughly 750–1000 m above sea level—are found in the 250–1500 m range, making up 98.07% of the total. The distribution density of settlements generally declines with altitude, peaking at a height of around 500 m above sea level. Using the province’s capital, Guiyang, as the demarcation line, the customary villages located in the east are concentrated in the area between 250 and 1250 m above sea level, while those located in the west are concentrated in the area between 800 and 1700 m above sea level. Both of these settlements are located quite a distance from the city core. Most of the traditional villages in the province are found in the low-lying, sloping areas that mark the transition from the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau to Yu Xiang-Gui. Their distribution is typically longitudinal, in a pattern that is “sparse in the west and dense in the east”.

The direction of the slope of the surface terrain is called the slope direction. After processing the elevation raster data with the ArcGIs 10.8 analysis tool, geographic slope direction maps of the province were produced. North (0~22.5°, 337.5~360°), northeast (22.5~67.5°), east (67.5~112.5°), southeast (112.5~157.5°), south (157.5~202.5°), southwest (202.5~247.5°), west (247.5~292.5°), and northwest (292.5~337.5°) are the slopes that were most prominently seen on these maps. Through the use of spatial superposition analysis, the slope orientation values of customary village locations were determined. The number of customary villages in each slope direction was counted after the layer containing the villages was loaded. The customary villages in Guizhou Province were distributed in a generally typical manner, with slopes that are concentrated between 8° and 24°. The province’s natural villages have an average slope of 13.68°, whereas traditional villages have an average slope of 15.98°. Sloping land in Guizhou Province has obvious geographical differences [26,27], and most of them are spread across hilly regions with a more pronounced incline. The slopes are divided into two types: yin slope (0~90° and 270~360°) and yang slope (90~270°). The province’s traditional village distribution ratio is 1.45:1 with respect to the yang and yin slopes, and the characteristics of the yang slope are obvious. The greatest proportion of traditional villages are found on the east and southeast slopes, making up 16.30 and 17.82% of the total, respectively. However, with just 3.87%, traditional villages are the fewest along the direction of the north slope.

The placement of customary villages is correlated with climate and hydrological conditions. High precipitation locations are home to the majority of traditional settlements and high temperatures (Figure 12). In particular, about 85% of the towns in the study area receive between 1000 and 1150 mm of annual precipitation and have temperatures between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius. In addition, there is a clear pattern in the distance of traditional communities from water bodies. This distribution highlights the traditional dependence on water bodies and shows a clear preference for settlement near water sources [11]. An essential factor in the development of early human communities was the availability of water. Early human settlements were mainly concentrated in river valley areas or riverbank-adjoining areas. In traditional farming societies, rivers were of great significance, people’s production and life were closely related to rivers, and the concept of relying on mountains and water influenced the formation of villages. Due to the inefficiency and backwardness of transport, water transport was crucial to early societies. Therefore, river systems were crucial in the development of the first typical settlement patterns. The geographic distributions of customary villages and river systems are highly correlated in Guizhou Province. This is especially obvious in areas with a relatively small number of customary villages, because the majority of these villages are situated near rivers, which were crucial in early settlements’ decision-making process while choosing their sites.

3.2.2. Socioeconomic Factors

This study examined the relationship between the geographic distribution of traditional villages and socioeconomic development in Guizhou Province using four metrics: gross domestic product (

Table 1. Types of variables impacting the typical village distribution.

Major Category	Secondary Category	Tertiary Category	Descriptions
Natural–geographical factors	Geographic location	Altitude	Village location’s absolute height in relation to the base
		Elevation	Angle of the lines of the structure or the land
		Slope direction	Main orientations and angles of village locations
	Climactic	Precipitation	Average annual precipitation
		Temperature	Average annual temperature
	Water system	River system	Distance of villages from river systems
Socioeconomic factors	Economy	Gross domestic product	Overall economic level
	Infrastructure	Road density	Road density in the region
	Population	Population density	Population status of the region
	Urbanization	Urbanization rate	Degree of urbanization in the region
Historical–cultural factors	Time period in history	Social context	Historical occurrences that gave rise to traditional villages
	Ethnic culture	Family culture	Key elements in the evolution of customary villages

), road density, population density (Figure 13), and urbanization rate [10].

The connection between traditional communities’ spatial layout and the density of the road network differs significantly throughout Guizhou Province. Although Guizhou Province does not have the most developed transport system, it has many traditional villages. We analyzed the data using major transport routes in Guizhou Province to determine the density of the road network in every county. It was found that in Guizhou, those areas with a high density of customary villages, especially in the southeastern region of Guizhou, generally have a low road network density, a relatively sparse road layout, and weak accessibility to external transport. Such traffic conditions, on the contrary, provide a natural barrier for traditional villages, reduce external interference, and support the preservation and passing down of their native cultures. On the other hand, for the traditional villages and tourist sites in Guizhou, their densities are distributed in the middle- to low–middle-level areas, such as Anshun and Tongren, which are similar in the density of village nuclei but different in the density of road networks. The Anshun area tends to exhibit moderate to high road network densities, while the Tongren area is generally lower. Overall, in Guizhou, customary villages are usually located in areas with sparse road networks.

Regarding how traditional villages and population density are related, there are two schools of thought. First, the formation and growth of villages are significantly influenced by the density of human activity, and population density is therefore an important indicator of the existence of villages. In general, densely populated areas tend to promote the expansion of the size and number of villages. However, overpopulation concentration can also bring problems, as it exacerbates the tension between human activities and land resources, and the contradiction between people and land is becoming more and more prominent. This creates difficulties in the maintenance of traditional settlements. From the figure, it is evident that Guizhou’s customary villages are primarily found in areas with comparatively low population densities, especially in Qiandongnan Prefecture and the Tongren area, where the high-density value of villages is particularly significant. On the contrary, in the Anshun area, although the population density is higher, there are relatively few traditional villages. According to this phenomenon, where there is less population density and there is less friction between people and land, which improves the circumstances for the preservation, passing down, and growth of traditional villages.

One of the most critical indicators of a country or region’s modernization process is the rate of urbanization, which to a certain extent is characterized by distinctly non-traditional cultures and customs. According to this study, there is a somewhat negative correlation between the number of traditional villages and urbanization at the province level; the correlation is strongest in Anshun City, which showed a considerable positive correlation. Most of the people living in the villages around Anshun Tunbao are Han Chinese, who moved in the early Ming Dynasty to Tunbao. Throughout the urbanization process, this ethnic group has stubbornly inherited their ancestors’ traditional cultural genes. preserving and continuing their historical style. This explains why Anshun has a high degree of urbanization and a large number of customary villages [7,28].

The geographical dispersion of county GDP in terms of traditional villages was mapped using ArcGIS, and the findings indicate that the more developed areas are primarily those with the largest density of traditional village kernels. This implies that most traditional communities are dispersed over areas with more developed economies. This may also imply that the degree of regional economic growth has a major impact on the spatial distribution of traditional villages. Most of Guiyang City, Guizhou Province; the southern part of Tongren City, Guizhou Province; the southern part of Guiyang City, Guizhou Province; the southern part of Anshun City, Guizhou Province; the northern part of Guiyang City, Guizhou Province; and the southeastern part of Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, belong to regions with low levels of county GDP. In these regions, the spatial effects of the customary villages had a high level of alignment with the GDP characteristics, which is particularly significant for Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, and Tongren City.

3.2.3. Cultural and Historical Aspects

The region of Guizhou is multiethnic, with 36.11% of its population made up of ethnic minorities. Migration is regarded as the main theme of Guizhou’s history, and inter-ethnic mobility and intermingling have resulted in a geographical distribution of concentrated and intermingled ethnic groups, with the distribution of ethnic minorities in the three cities and prefectures of Qiandongnan, Tongren and Qiannan being relatively concentrated. Traditional villages and characteristic minority villages in Guizhou have a large number of overlaps, and there are as many as 17 minority groups living in the country. Among them, the Qiandongnan region has become a place of convergence for these diverse cultures. This phenomenon also directly contributes to the fact that there are many antique villages with a rich past in the region. Each ethnic group carries a unique cultural essence, and in the long history of farming civilization, they have built their own traditional villages based on their own cultural deposits, living habits, and ecological wisdom [29,30]. There is a spatial correlation between the region’s customary villages and other ethnic cultural elements. The results of the study show that, with the exception of Zunyi and Guiyang, the province’s most ethnically diverse regions are mostly found in Guiyang, Qiandongnan, and Qianxinan counties in Guizhou Province. The Miao, Dong, Buyi, Shui, Tujia, and Gelao ethnic minorities reside in these regions, which also serve as the hub for the dispersion of customary villages. In Guiyang City and Leishan County, Guizhou Province, traditional villages show a high density of settlement. This has to do with how evenly distributed ethnic minorities are in the region [31]. Strong geographical consistency exists between the level of minority language use and traditional villages, particularly in Sandu, Guinan, and Xixiu Pingba, Anshun, as well as in most of the densely populated traditional village areas in southeast Guiyang.

Traditional villages carry the historical memories, rich social culture, and deep religious beliefs of ethnic minorities, but they are like solid cornerstones that are hard to shake. Take the Miao and Dong ethnic groups in Qiandongnan as an example. These ethnic groups have been living here for generations and have established a deep emotional connection with the surrounding nature and landscape, and the layout of their villages has been cleverly integrated into the natural environment. Realizing a harmonious symbiosis between human beings and nature ensures that the unique qualities and integrity of the customary villages will remain intact. Ethnic culture is not only the core force that shapes the appearance of customary villages in Guizhou Province but is also the key to safeguarding these villages from the erosion of time and preserving them [32,33]. In the subsequent development path, the cultural traditions and living habits of ethnic minorities should be more valued and respected to create a living environment that retains the traditional flavor without losing the modern convenience.

4. Discussion

The path of sustainable development of traditional villages in Guizhou Province, as a valuable heritage intertwined with ecology and culture, has become clearer and clearer with extensive and in-depth research in the academic community. These studies have not only analyzed in detail the characteristics of village types, architectural aesthetics, conservation planning, and an evaluation of effectiveness, but also deeply explored the art of balancing conservation and development, laying a solid theoretical foundation for the sustainable future of the villages. Faced with the complex interweaving of geographic, hydrological, socioeconomic, historical, and cultural factors, the traditional villages in Guizhou Province show a unique and diversified development picture. In order to achieve sustainable development, we need to deeply understand the interactions among these factors and how they jointly shape traditional villages. Future research will pay more attention to the integration of multiple disciplines [1], and through the combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses, we will be able to comprehensively analyze the internal logic of the formation and evolution of villages, and provide strong support for the formulation of scientific and rational conservation and development strategies.

As the guardians of ecological and cultural heritage, traditional villages in Guizhou Province are facing the dual mission of protection and development. Protection means that the historical and cultural heritage and ecological environment of the villages should be properly maintained so that future generations can continue to enjoy their unique charms; development requires us to actively explore sustainable development paths suitable for the characteristics of the villages [34] and to promote comprehensive economic and social progress. In this process, it is crucial to balance the relationship between conservation and development. It is necessary to avoid irreversible damage to the villages caused by overdevelopment, and also to ensure that the fruits of development benefit the villagers and improve their quality of life. This study deeply analyzes the intrinsic value and multidimensional factors of spatial evolution of traditional villages in Guizhou Province, providing profound insights into the parallel strategies of protection and development of traditional villages in the context of historical changes and rapid urbanization. It emphasizes the core position of ethnic culture and natural landscape as the cornerstone of village identity and cultural inheritance, while pointing out the importance of the integration of tradition and modernity, providing a new path for transforming and upgrading the villages [35,36]. The main feature of the spatial layout of traditional Korean villages is their proximity to mountains and rivers, with significant correlations between distance from mountains, mountain coverage, road integration, and water coverage. Due to similar cultural backgrounds, the distribution of villages has similarities. Therefore, this study calls for collaborative action from all sectors of society to achieve a delicate balance between protection and development through scientific planning, effective implementation, and continuous supervision, and to build a sustainable and prosperous future for traditional villages in Guizhou Province and even across the country, making them an important bridge connecting history and the future.

5. Conclusions

Identifying the main drivers of creating conservation and development strategies that work requires an understanding of traditional village dynamics. To offer conceptual backing for the preservation and advancement of customary communities, this study examines the distribution pattern of traditional villages using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the factors that influence them in Guizhou, and qualitative methods. The study’s particular conclusions are listed below.

(1)

In Guizhou Province, over 90% of the traditional villages showed a clear edge effect, with the distinctive feature of spanning two to four county-level administrative units. In Guizhou Province, traditional villages have a high degree of aggregation and clustering; certain counties and districts, like Qiannan and Anshun, have a high degree of supremacy, stretching to Tongren and Zunyi at the border, and Qianxi’nan.

(2)

A total of 98.07% of traditional villages are located between 250 and 1500 m higher than sea level, and as altitude increases, the total spatial density falls, showing the characteristics of “denser in the east and sparser in the west” and “farther away from provincial capitals and central cities.” Natural villages have a lower average degree of undulation than traditional villages do, while regions with a high degree of undulation have higher spatial densities, except for the Anshun area. Areas with a significant degree of surface undulation have higher spatial densities, with the exception of the Anshun area. The villages rely on the water system features, and the climate is cool and comfortable. It is clear how many traditional villages there are in terms of space, aggregation, surface undulation, sunshine, and proximity to a water system.

(3)

Economy is the guarantee and nature is the foundation. The geographical distribution of ancient Chinese villages is influenced by three major factors: social, economic, and natural. Numerous factors influence how customary villages are arranged spatially. In the early period, customary villages were mostly located based on natural considerations; in the middle period, topography and river systems laid the foundation for the spatial layout of customary villages; and in the later period, a number of socioeconomic and economic factors influenced how traditional village layouts evolved.

In order to promote the sustainable distribution and evolution of traditional villages in Guizhou Province, the principles of “respecting nature, making the best use of the situation, economic empowerment, and social co-governance” should be upheld. Natural factors play a fundamental role in the location and distribution of traditional villages. Future planning should fully consider the topography, water distribution, and other natural conditions, using big data and GIS technology to accurately analyze and optimize the layout of villages, protect ecologically sensitive areas, and promote the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. As an important driving force to promote the evolution of traditional villages in the later stage, economic factors should encourage the rational development of tourism resources, cultural resources, and ecological resources of traditional villages, and develop characteristic cultural industries and green economy through policy guidance and social capital cooperation so as to provide a solid economic foundation for the protection and development of villages. Secondly, in the evolution of traditional villages, the role of social factors has become increasingly prominent in the face of severe challenges brought on by modernization and urbanization. In order to effectively address these challenges, we must strengthen the collaborative governance between the government and society, and jointly build and improve protection mechanisms. This not only requires the government to formulate scientific and reasonable policy plans but also requires extensive participation and support from all sectors of society to enhance public awareness and participation in cultural protection. The distribution of traditional villages in Guizhou Province presents a dynamic pattern in time and space, which requires us to have foresight and flexibility in our protection work. A long-term monitoring and evaluation system should be established to regularly assess changes in the distribution of villages, the maintenance of cultural ecology, and the latest developments in economic and social development. Through these assessments, we can promptly identify problems, adjust protection and development strategies, and ensure that traditional villages can maintain their unique charm and sustainable development capabilities in the process of modernization and urbanization.