Spatial-temporal evolution of human-shaped landscapes in guilin (7th–21st century) for sustainable urban heritage planning

Historic cities often struggle to balance heritage preservation with ongoing urban development, especially where cultural traditions and distinctive natural settings have interacted over long periods. This study examined the long-term evolution of Guilin's landscape from the 7^th to the 21^st century using an anchoring-layering framework supported by historical maps, archival texts, kernel density analysis, and spatial syntax. Across six major periods, the analysis identified 453 anchor points. It demonstrated that the anchor density rose from 77 during the Tang dynasty to 453 in contemporary times. Spatial integration results indicated a transition from a single-core landscape to a multi-core, stratified structure shaped by both natural and cultural anchors. Three developmental stages were identified: early formation, expansion and intensification, and post-1949 restructuring. These findings demonstrate how long-lived natural and cultural features guide urban transformation and offer evidence to support planning strategies that integrate historical landscape logic into sustainable urban governance.