Study on the Spatial Characteristics and Influencing Factors of the Relationship Between Intangible Cultural Heritage and Traditional Villages in Yunnan Province

Existing studies have mainly focused on either intangible cultural heritage (ICH) or traditional villages separately, while limited attention has been paid to their coupled spatial relationship and influencing mechanisms at the provincial scale. To address this gap, this study investigates the spatial characteristics and influencing factors of 869 national and provincial intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items and 777 traditional villages in Yunnan Province using Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and geographic detector methods. The results indicate significant differences in their spatial distribution patterns: ICH exhibits a “multi-core clustering” structure, whereas traditional villages present a “dual-core clustering with multiple dispersed patches” pattern. The study further reveals a spatial mismatch as well as a significant positive spatial correlation between ICH and traditional villages. Natural environmental conditions and historical-cultural factors jointly shape their spatial differentiation, while socio-economic factors such as urbanization exert a stronger influence on ICH distribution, and demographic and economic conditions more strongly affect traditional villages. This study contributes to the literature by integrating cultural landscape theory with GIS-based spatial analysis to reveal the spatial interaction mechanisms between ICH and traditional villages in Yunnan Province. The findings provide theoretical support and practical implications for cultural heritage conservation, rural revitalization, and territorial spatial planning in ethnically diverse border regions.