Mapping Cultural Ecosystem Service Supply–Demand–Flow Pattern through Human Perception

The imbalance between supply and demand in cultural ecosystem services constrains the sustainable utilization of regional cultural resources, while service flows can provide crucial pathways for optimizing resource allocation. Previous studies have predominantly focused on the flows of provisioning and regulating services, with insufficient exploration of cultural service flow patterns. This study focused on northern China’s agropastoral ecotone, a region where ecological sensitivity and cultural diversity coexist. The study established a comprehensive evaluation system for regional cultural ecosystem service supply from the dual dimensions of supply potential and supply opportunity. Adopting a “static–dynamic” analytical perspective, it systematically assessed regional cultural ecosystem service demand. Furthermore, complex network analysis was employed to reveal their operational pathways and intensity levels. Key findings include the following: From 2018 to 2022, the cultural service supply capacity showed annual growth, exhibiting a “high southwest, low northeast” spatial pattern. On the demand side, interannual variation exhibited a rise-then-decline trend, while spatially low-level demand predominated across the study area. Demand hotspots were concentrated in several local areas, such as northern Ordos, Daqing, Hohhot, and the Chengde region. Distinctive service flow network emerged: Labor Day exhibited a dual-core synergistic pattern centered on Lanzhou and Hohhot with weakening flow intensity, while National Day demonstrated more globally coupled network features characterized by broader yet dispersed service flows showing initial intensification followed by decline. These findings provide scientific guidance for transregional cultural resource coordination and advance new perspectives for assessing cultural ecosystem service flows based on a human perception perspective.