Spatial distribution patterns and influencing factors of intangible cultural heritage in the Minnan Cultural Ecological Protection Area

Taking the nationally and provincially listed intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items officially listed across the three cities and 28 counties (districts) of the Minnan Cultural Ecological Protection Area as research subjects, this study employs kernel density estimation, the nearest-neighbor index, the resource advantage index, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and the geographic detector method to comprehensively examine the typological structure, spatial distribution patterns, and influencing factors of ICH. The results indicate that: (1) The typological structure of intangible cultural heritage in the Minnan Cultural Ecological Protection Area exhibits considerable variation. Traditional crafts and folk customs account for the largest proportions, followed by traditional fine arts and traditional theatre, while categories such as folk literature and traditional dance are relatively underrepresented. (2) ICH items generally exhibit a clustered distribution pattern, forming a multi-level spatial structure centered on Quanzhou and Xiamen, with pronounced disparities in resource distribution across counties. Spatial autocorrelation analysis reveals a weak overall positive spatial correlation; at the local level, ‘high–high’ and ‘low–low’ clusters coexist with ‘high–low’ and ‘low–high’ clusters, indicating both spatial agglomeration and regional heterogeneity. (3) The geographic detector results indicate that cultural tourism expenditure, per capita GDP, population density, and topographic conditions are the primary factors influencing the spatial distribution of ICH. Among these, socioeconomic development and cultural investment demonstrate greater explanatory power than natural geographic factors, suggesting that the spatial pattern of ICH is shaped by the combined effects of historical-cultural accumulation and contemporary regional development conditions. These findings provide a scientific basis for the optimal allocation of ICH, integrated safeguarding, and the integrated development of culture and tourism in the Minnan Cultural Ecological Protection Area, and offer a reference for research on the spatial governance of ICH in National Cultural Ecological Protection Area.