Spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and evolution of traditional villages in the Qihe River Basin of China

The Qihe River Basin, renowned as one of the cradles of Chinese civilization and a river that flows in the Psalms, boasts a rich cultural heritage. River basins have historically been the cradle of civilization, nurturing the prosperity and enduring cultures that have supported sustained human civilization. This research focuses on investigating the temporal and spatial transformations of traditional villages in the Qihe River Basin. By conducting a thorough literature review, consulting local chronicles, and undertaking field surveys, historical information on the ancient Qihe River and its significant tributaries was collected and analysed via ArcGIS 10.8. Spatial analysis techniques, such as the nearest neighbor index, kernel density estimation, standard deviation ellipse, geographic concentration index, and buffer analysis, were applied to analyse the spatiotemporal dynamics of the spatial distribution of traditional villages. Through a detailed exploration of various factors influencing village evolution, especially the role of rivers in driving changes, several key findings emerged: (1) Traditional villages in the Qihe River Basin exhibit a clustered distribution pattern; (2) the shifting centroid of traditional villages over six historical periods demonstrates a directional trend from southwest to northeast, with contemporary villages facing the risk of disappearance; and (3) factors such as proximity to water, elevation, slope, and socio-cultural elements are intricately linked to traditional villages, with water proximity emerging as a primary influencer. This study enhances our comprehension of the interplay between traditional village development and river basins, providing valuable theoretical insights for promoting the sustainable development of traditional villages in China.