Study on the spatial characteristics of village and town settlements based on spatial gene theory: a case study of the Wuyi area in Guangdong, China

The spatial layout of rural settlements is an indispensable part of rural scenery, bearing significant historical, social, and cultural values, and is a key carrier of nostalgic emotions. This study integrates multidisciplinary perspectives to explore the spatial morphology types of village and town settlements in the Wuyi Overseas Chinese Hometown region of Jiangmen, Guangdong, China. Based on field surveys and geographic analysis of the village geography and spatial layout, utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis, average nearest neighbor index, and cluster analysis, the spatial morphology of Wuyi village and town settlements was classified into five types. The study found: (1) The spatial distribution of village and town settlements in Wuyi is predominantly discrete, forming a strip-like boundary environment. (2) The street network and building density of village and town settlements in Wuyi are relatively low. (3) The settlements are mainly high-density settlements on flat terrain. This paper provides new insights into the characteristics and inner connections of different settlement morphologies in Wuyi Overseas Chinese Hometown, offering valuable references and guidance for preserving the regional characteristics and rural landscapes of Wuyi villages and towns.