Integrating Fragmented Heritage: Cluster Governance for Regional Conservation in Chaoshan, China

To address the long-standing fragmentation of regional cultural heritage, this study examined heritage cluster governance in the Chaoshan region of Guangdong, China. It identified cultural heritage clusters through a combined assessment of spatial aggregation intensity and conservation and revitalization potential for both tangible and intangible heritage. It then used circuit theory to construct cultural heritage corridors and reveal the spatial relationships among clusters. The results identified 12 heritage clusters at various levels, connected by 14 major corridors and 33 general corridors, forming a regional spatial pattern characterized by three core areas, multiple supporting nodes, and axial linkages. On this basis, the study proposes differentiated governance strategies for priority conservation and revitalization clusters, potential development and cultivation clusters, and basic conservation and monitoring clusters, and develops an analytical framework that links diagnosis, connectivity, and strategy. This study provides a spatial basis for the integrated conservation and revitalization of cultural heritage in the Chaoshan region, and can serve as a useful reference for heritage-rich regions seeking to move from fragmented protection toward coordinated regional governance.