Efficient implementation of urban and spatial planning is essential for achieving sustainable urban growth. Nevertheless, various obstacles frequently arise, resulting in inconsistencies between planned objectives and their actual outcomes. This study focuses on pragmatic strategies to improve the implementation of urban and spatial planning, with Jinan, Shandong province, China, as a case study. By thoroughly analyzing existing challenges and prospective enhancements, the study aims to offer practical insights for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of planning initiatives in the city. Utilizing a combination of qualitative interviews, focus groups, and quantitative surveys, the study identifies significant barriers to implementation and explores viable solutions. By examining the experiences and viewpoints of diverse stakeholders involved in the planning process, the study offers targeted, practical recommendations tailored to Jinan’s unique context. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced in urban planning implementation and offer valuable guidance for policymakers, planners, and practitioners striving to improve planning practices in Jinan and other regions.

Beijing’s urban development follows a cyclical pattern, reflecting its evolution from ancient dynasties to modern times and highlighting the challenges of balancing historic preservation with contemporary urban growth. The Qianmen Dashilar area in Beijing, China, rooted in the traditional hutong system, exemplifies these challenges and serves as a focal point for exploring strategies to harmonize heritage conservation with dynamic urban transformation. This article examines the evolution of the Dashilar area during the urbanization process, focusing on the transformation of its urban structures and courtyard houses. It aims to address the long-standing challenges of preservation and regeneration faced during the area’s urban transformation. To tackle these issues, the article proposes the use of computational methods to establish dynamic urban models based on modulated urban programs and crowd flow dynamics. By developing three computational urban prototypes - cell aggregation, mixed blocks, and node control - through site analysis and data collection, this study re-establishes the connection between the urban grid and urban programs while revitalizing courtyard spaces. These methodologies aim to balance the preservation of Dashilar’s traditional urban fabric with the diverse living demands arising from urban growth. In doing so, the article advocates for a multi-dimensional approach to safeguarding the area’s cultural and historical heritage while supporting its future urban regeneration and evolution.

The translation of Chinese architectural types in transcultural scholarship faces two primary challenges: The ambiguous meaning of the term within its original cultural context and the broad connotations and usages of the corresponding English term, which often exceed those of the original. The Chinese architectural type ting, in particular, has been variously translated as “kiosk,” “gazebo,” and “pavilion” in previous scholarship. These translations, however, influenced by European architectural history, have led to inaccuracies, compounded by inconsistent references to other building types such as ge and xie. A chronological review of ting’s architectural reveals significant changes in its historical forms and functions. In the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE), ting was primarily a military facility of considerable height, later transitioning during the Wei-Jin dynasties (220 - 420) into a geographical landmark and a venue for literati activities. By the Tang dynasty (618 - 907), its elevated structure diminished, and its role in literati culture became more versatile. During the Song dynasty (960 - 1279), ting evolved into a roofed open structure, closely associated with xie in the Yingzao Fashi. By the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1912) dynasties, ting had stabilized as “an architecture with a roof but without enclosing walls,” characterized by its great flexibility in construction. This historical complexity makes coining a singular equivalent term for ting inadequate. Instead, this article advocates for thick translations that situate ting within its spatial-temporal context through illustrations, annotations, and detailed explanations, addressing its intricate historical and cultural nuances alongside related building types.

This study utilizes high-resolution digital elevation models (DEM) and Landsat 8 remote sensing imagery to reconstruct the ancient road networks of the Minyue Kingdom in present-day Fujian province, China, focusing on the Qin dynasty (221 - 206 BCE) and Eastern Han dynasty (25 - 220). Using 12.5 m precision DEMs for elevation and Landsat 8 for land use and environmental data, a cost surface model was developed, leveraging the region’s stable geographical environment. Least-cost path (LCP) analysis was applied to identify the most efficient travel routes, accounting for natural and human-made barriers. The findings highlight five key insights: (i) mapping over 10,000 km of ancient pathways, emphasizing their significance in military logistics, trade, and cultural exchanges; (ii) identification of critical nodes, such as forts and trading posts, that facilitated strategic control and economic development; (iii) the influence of Fujian’s diverse topography on road network configurations; (iv) cultural narratives facilitated by these routes during the Minyue period (306 - 110 BCE); and (v) validation of LCP models in predicting undocumented routes and enhancing understanding of ancient transportation systems. This interdisciplinary approach integrates historical research, geographic information systems (GISs), and digital preservation, enriching archaeological knowledge and offering practical tools for cultural heritage management. The findings underscore the potential of GIS technologies in reconstructing historical landscapes and suggest broader applications for heritage preservation and education. The digital visualization of these networks provides a valuable resource for researchers and cultural heritage professionals worldwide.

As a representative of China’s vernacular architecture with unique forms and rich cultural connotations, Huizhou’s traditional dwellings have gained international recognition as a World Cultural Heritage site. These dwellings serve as a pivotal case study in exploring the dynamic relationship between globalization and local identity. This study employs CiteSpace software to visualize and analyze literature on traditional Huizhou houses published since 2000. We investigated publication trends and author and institutional collaboration networks and identified major research hotspots and their evolutionary paths at each stage by applying keyword co-occurrence, clustering, and emergence mapping. The results reveal three main phases in academic research on Huizhou traditional dwellings: from 2000 to 2010, studies primarily dissected architectural features and cultural connotations; from 2011 to 2020, research focused on the application of Huizhou’s traditional architectural and cultural symbols within contemporary design; and from 2021 to 2023, preliminary exploration began into the industrialized development and spatial narratives of Huizhou architectural elements. Although research on Huizhou’s traditional houses has yielded substantial insights, collaboration among authors and institutions remains limited, and theoretical innovation is insufficient. Future studies should prioritize multidisciplinary collaboration and quantitative analysis to advance the integration and sustainable development of theory and practice in this field.

Jia County, located in Pingdingshan City, Henan Province, is one of China’s historical cities, known for its prosperous economy and thriving community of merchants and traders. Recognizing Jia County’s geographical advantages, merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces, renowned for their business acumen, funded the construction of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall in 1693. This guild hall served as a multifunctional hub for business negotiation, sacrificial rituals to honor the gods, hospitality for guests, and fostering connections among Shanxi and Shaanxi businessmen, strengthening the exchange of economic and trade information. As an important architectural heritage site along the cultural route of the Great Tea Route, the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall holds immense historical and cultural value. The local government has initiated plans to preserve it as a public space for future generations. This article examines the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall in the context of the Great Tea Route as a cultural route. Drawing on archival research, field investigations, and semi-structured interviews, it delves into Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall’s tangible and intangible cultural characteristics and its historical relationship with the Great Tea Route. By uncovering the deeper value connotation of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall, this study aims to provide new insights into the conservation of cultural heritage.

Anchang historical town, a historic Jiangnan water town in Shaoxing city, Zhejiang province, China, is home to well-preserved heritage buildings dating back to the Northern Song dynasty (960 - 1127). Despite preservation efforts, environmental factors, such as high humidity, heavy rainfall, and prolonged sunlight exposure continue to cause material degradation. Addressing the deterioration challenges requires comprehensive analysis and diagnosis to identify root causes and ensure the sustainable restoration of these cultural relics. To investigate the deterioration of historical buildings in Anchang historical town, the research team employed instrument-based detection, software simulations, data integration, and other methods. Two cultural heritage buildings were selected as case studies: the former site of the Bank of China at Wangjiaqiao (BCW building) and the residence of He Gongsheng at Siqiao (HGS building). In this study, a comprehensive analysis was conducted at both macro- and micro-levels, utilizing building models and incorporating environmental parameters. Macroenvironmental factors, such as regional temperature, sunlight, climate, humidity, and soil type were examined. Simultaneously, microenvironmental data, including wall materials, wall temperature, wall humidity, and sunlight exposure, were collected to analyze the impact of factors such as site selection, proximity to water bodies and vegetation, building layout and orientation, and window placement. By employing statistical analysis, inductive reasoning, and other techniques, the study identifies the mechanisms underlying wall damage and predicts future trends. Ultimately, this study aims to provide data-driven insights for the development of scientifically sound preventive conservation strategies for cultural relics and buildings, thus guiding future restoration efforts.

The hutong system, originating during the Yuan dynasty (1271 - 1368), has undergone significant transformations while retaining its essential role in urban functionality and social interactions. Despite extensive qualitative studies on its historical and contemporary dynamics, quantitative analyses of its original configurations and integration with Beijing’s broader road network remain limited. This study examines the Qianlong Jingcheng Quantu (Emperor Qianlong’s Complete Map of Beijing), a detailed cartographic representation of Beijing drafted in the 15th year (1750) of Qianlong’s reign (1735 - 1796), which provides critical insights into historical urban planning. Using spatial network analysis, the research measures regional accessibility and demonstrates how the hutong system, through a series of orderly spatial connections, integrates with landmark roads to form a complex yet highly accessible urban spatial network. The analysis reveals that the high mobility efficiency within the intricate hutong system is rooted in its structured spatial connections with landmark roads. These connections facilitate dynamic interactions between the hutong system and the extensive urban road network, thereby enhancing the overall functionality and flexibility of Beijing’s urban development.

The Tonglushan ancient copper mine site, the first mining and smelting archeological site discovered in China, holds significant value as evidence of advanced copper extraction techniques and sophisticated social organization in Chinese Bronze Age civilization, dating back thousands of years. However, its discovery during modern mining operations has raised persistent challenges over the past 50 years regarding the preservation of archeological remains, the methods of protecting them, and their potential utilization to drive coordinated urban and rural development in the region. Drawing on fieldwork conducted between 2016 and 2017 in the Tonglushan area, this study uses the local practice of protecting Tonglushan’s archeological heritage as a lens to explore the relationship between cultural heritage conservation and regional development. By examining the complex process of preserving or relocating archeological remains in situ, this article presents practical considerations within the context of China’s modern industrialization. As mineral resources become increasingly depleted and public interest in cultural heritage grows, the local government has sought to leverage archeological heritage as a catalyst for developing cultural tourism and achieving place-making. This study provides insights into transformation strategies for resource-dependent regions.

Urbanization, a significant outcome of the Industrial Revolution, has led to the excessive concentration of industries and populations in geologically vulnerable areas, such as low-lying coastal and riverside zones. This geographic clustering amplifies the risk of disasters, such as floods. Geological and archeological evidence highlights a long history of natural disasters, such as severe flooding often associated with earthquakes and other geological events. To address these risks, governments must reassess the vulnerability of densely populated areas and prioritize the implementation of risk reduction and mitigation measures. One potential strategy involves relocating key industries to safer locations, such as higher elevations less prone to flooding, while simultaneously developing measures to protect urban populations from natural disasters.

The advancement of digital technology has greatly improved the accessibility and convenience of public participation via the internet, enabling the quantitative evaluation of urban imagery. To quantitatively analyze urban features from an internet-based perspective, this study integrates image and text data from 81 central towns in the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong, China, selected based on their eligibility for image retrieval from search engines. By examining the relationships between image types, high-frequency words, and regional spatial patterns, the study identifies typological differences among the towns, aiming to systematically categorize and comprehensively evaluate their urban landscape characteristics. Building on Kevin Lynch’s city image theory, this article presents a detailed exploration and empirical analysis of urban image, specifically focusing on small- and medium-sized towns in the Lingnan region.

Cultural heritage sites, celebrated for their unique historical and cultural significance, are increasingly recognized as key drivers of tourism development. Local residents, as crucial stakeholders, play a pivotal role in the sustainable development and conservation of these sites through their emotional and behavioral engagement. This study delves into the multifaceted determinants - spanning individual and collective levels - that influence residents’ willingness to engage in cultural heritage tourism. Focusing on the Ming Tombs Scenic Area in Beijing, China, a UNESCO World Heritage site, this research draws on data from 202 meticulously collected and validated questionnaires completed by residents. By integrating the cognitive-emotional-behavioral framework with community embeddedness theory and employing structural equation modeling, this study identifies the pivotal factors driving residents’ willingness to engage in tourism development. The findings underscore the substantial influence of residents’ cognitive evaluations of heritage values on their emotional attachment to the locale, which, in turn, shapes their behavioral intentions toward tourism development. Furthermore, the research reveals that community embeddedness significantly impacts both residents’ perceptions of heritage value and their behavioral intentions. This research emphasizes the necessity of aligning residents’ personal sentiments with broader community dynamics to promote sustainable tourism development at cultural heritage sites. The insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers and industry professionals in achieving a delicate balance between cultural heritage preservation, community welfare enhancement, and economic development within the heritage tourism sector.