A Research Framework for the Spatial Evolution and Multidimensional Driving Mechanisms of Mountainous Historic Urban Areas: A Case Study of the Yuzhong Peninsula, Chongqing, China

As a distinctive type of historic urban area shaped by complex topography, historic urban areas in mountainous cities have undergone multiple rounds of urban regeneration and social–spatial restructuring amid the continuous influx of capital and the development of the industrial economy. Under these multifaceted influences, the spatial form of historic urban areas in mountainous cities has undergone a series of transformations. To reveal the characteristics and underlying mechanisms of spatial evolution in historic urban areas in mountainous cities, this study has established a research framework tailored to such areas. Selecting the Yuzhong Peninsula Historic District in Chongqing—a typical example of historic urban areas in mountainous cities in China—as the study area, the research employs land transfer matrices, spatial design network analysis (sDNA), spatial overlay and statistical methods to analyse its spatial evolution characteristics across three dimensions: land-use evolution, road network evolution and building renewal. Seven key indicators were selected for historic urban areas in mountainous cities, and the GeoDetector was utilised to investigate the driving forces and interactions among these factors. The results indicate that in the Yuzhong Peninsula Historic District, residential and special-purpose land use has decreased whilst commercial land use has increased; the road network has been continuously improved, leading to increased choice and accessibility; and the proportion of small-scale buildings has decreased whilst that of large-scale buildings has increased. The primary factors influencing spatial evolution are elevation, social and location factors, with the combined interaction of these factors exerting a greater influence than any single factor alone, indicating that topography acts as a significant persistent spatial constraint guiding the spatial evolution of historic urban areas in mountainous cities. Finally, based on the above findings, recommendations are put forward for the sustainable conservation and utilisation of historic urban areas in mountainous cities, covering land-use management, traffic guidance and the typological control of urban architectural fabric.