Quantifying Vitality and Structure: A Multi-Source Spatiotemporal Data Analysis of Beiyuanmen Lane, Xi’an, as a Historic Cultural District

As urbanization accelerates in China, the protection and renewal of historical and cultural districts have become key issues. The Beiyuanmen Historical and Cultural District in Xi’an, with its long history and cultural significance, is a prime example. This study uses Beiyuanmen as a case study, employing Baidu heatmap data, Point of Interest (POI) data, and space syntax theory to examine the district’s spatial layout, crowd activity distribution, and functional structure. The purpose is to quantify its vitality and spatial characteristics, providing a basis for scientific planning. The methods involve analyzing spatiotemporal crowd activity intensity via heatmaps, assessing street network configuration through integration and choice values, and comparing POI data from 2014 and 2024 to track functional evolution. The research identifies the distinctive spatiotemporal patterns of crowd activity, revealing not only a southeast concentration correlated with urban functions but also distinct diurnal rhythms—a bimodal pattern on weekdays versus a sustained leisure-oriented pattern on weekends, underscoring a functional shift. It also explores the directed permeability of the spatial structure, identifying streets like Miaohou Street that form a highly integrated “cross-shaped backbone”. Analysis of POI data shows that commercial services dominate and have expanded outward, with the growth rate of POI density in the control area surpassing that of the core, indicating a trend of functional diffusion. Finally, the study highlights Miaohou Street, Beiguangji Street, Damai Market Street, Beiyuanmen, and Sajinqiao as key areas, and it concludes by proposing integrated planning recommendations that focus on four strategic aspects—spatial and crowd activity distribution management, functional zoning guidance, enhancement of public services and cultural displays, and alignment with broader urban policies—for prioritized landscape enhancement and tourism.