Spatial correlation characteristics between cultural heritage and urban-rural settlements from the perspective of cultural corridors: a case study of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (Jiangsu section)

The study focuses on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, a unique canal-type World Heritage site in China. Current research predominantly emphasizes the value of its hydraulic engineering techniques and the physical structures of water conservancy heritage, such as docks, bridges, and sluices. However, insufficient attention has been paid to the profound relationship between the canal water system and urban-rural development, as well as cultural inheritance. Consequently, numerous heritage elements bearing distinct Chinese cultural characteristics – particularly the urban and rural settlements along the banks and the associated cultural landscapes that support the continuity of canal culture – have yet to be systematically integrated into the protection framework. Against this backdrop, this research adopts a dual perspective of “spatial integrity” and “cultural continuity.” Taking the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (Jiangsu Section) as a case study, this examination explores the spatial correlation characteristics between cultural heritage and urban-rural settlements. By employing a spatial pattern model of cultural corridors and spatial correlation analysis methods, the study aims to delineate the spatial scope of cultural corridors and identify the internal systemic correlations within them. The findings aim to provide theoretical support for developing an integrated framework for the protection, revitalization, and utilization of the Grand Canal’s cultural heritage.