Spatiotemporal distribution of immovable cultural relics and their relationships with geographic elements in Sichuan–Chongqing area

Immovable cultural relics (ICRs) are important resources for constructing regional cultural memory and identity. With the guidance of regional historical geography, this study reveals the spatiotemporal distribution of ICRs in the Sichuan-Chongqing area and the relationships between ICRs and various geographic elements. (1) ICRs tend toward the central and eastern regions, and ancient architecture is the most common, followed by modern historical sites and representative buildings. (2) ICR has shown an increasing trend from Prehistory to the present and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. As time progresses, the ICRs tend toward local aggregations. (3) ICRs exhibit a low-altitude tendency, temperature adaptability, and hydrophilicity. Multiple human geographical factors shape the rich cultural connotations and value of ICR. This study provides an empirical reference for the adaptive reuse of ICR, and it is an important attempt at distinguishing between regional historical geography and cultural heritage.