Rural service centers in China: development, spatial distribution, and urban sustainability

With the rise of rural revitalization, rural service centers, specialized in governing and serving rural areas and characterized by certain cultural attributes, have emerged in rural planning. This article aims to analyze and evaluate the spatial distribution of these rural service centers across different regions, including their distribution patterns and the specific layout and zoning of micro-spatial functions. A combination of field surveys, data collection, and Geographic Information System analysis is employed to investigate the spatial characteristics of rural service centers in China. The study found that: (1) the number of rural service center construction projects across Chinese provinces has increased since 2017, peaking in 2021; and (2) the regional distribution varies significantly. Eastern and southeastern provinces such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong exhibit a high concentration of rural service centers, attributed to strong economic development, compact urban construction bureaus, and high land-use efficiency. In contrast, the western and northeastern provinces—including Gansu, Heilongjiang, and Jilin—show a lower concentration, due to factors such as challenging natural environments, climate conditions, and slower economic development. This spatial distribution clearly reflects regional disparities in economic development, population density, and levels of urban and rural infrastructure.