As an important aspect of the notion that "spatial is special", spatial heterogeneity has been a central topic of geospatial analytics. It is also closely related to the methodological tradition of geography and replicability of geographic research. The emergence of fine-grained big geospatial data and the development of Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) have brought new opportunities and challenges to spatial heterogeneity modeling. Spatial heterogeneity may refer to (1) values of geographic variables; and (2) associations, or the generation process of geographic variables, which correspond to data and process heterogeneity, respectively. Moreover, the specification of spatial heterogeneity may be categorized as continuous and discrete. Based on the dichotomies above, we summarize the main scenarios of spatial heterogeneity modeling and review corresponding methods: (1) homogeneity-based regionalization; (2) local spatial regression; and (3) spatial regime regression. In particular, we discuss approaches to delineate spatial regimes in an endogenous manner. We also review related methodological advances in GeoAI, where the principle of spatial heterogeneity is reflected in the design of neural network models. Finally, we point out several potential directions for future research. As emerging directions in spatial heterogeneity modeling, spatial regime regression and GeoAI methods need more attention from researchers.

The low-carbon transformation of the energy system has emerged as a key strategy for addressing climate change risks, promoting high-quality development, and ensuring energy security. However, the clean transformation of the energy system faces significant uncertainties and challenges due to the complex constraints of multiple goals. This paper provides a comprehensive review and integrated analysis of the basic concepts, research methods, and challenges associated with energy transformation, drawing the following conclusions: (1) Shifting focus of energy transition: The energy transition in the context of carbon neutrality has evolved from being primarily technology-driven to problem-driven. The pace and success of energy transitions vary greatly across regions and nations, with policy regulation, technological innovation, market mechanisms, and behavioral factors playing pivotal roles in driving change. (2) Quantitative research on energy transition primarily centers on assessing the extent of the transition and forecasting its future trajectory. However, due to the intricate interconnections and mutual influences among multiple systems, including energy, economy, environment, and society, the predictive simulations often exhibit a pronounced "black box" effect, making interpretation and transparency more challenging. (3) Controversies and future research directions: There is ongoing debate within the international community regarding the comprehensive effects of energy transformation. The development model and pathways that balance low-carbon goals, economic growth, and energy supply security still require further theoretical and empirical exploration. While significant attention has been paid to the environmental, economic, and safety benefits of energy transformation, the social impacts have received less focus, which may undermine the long-term sustainability of the transition. Future research should integrate the dual objectives of climate change mitigation and economic development, adopt diversified transformation strategies, emphasize supply-demand coordination, and promote regionally coordinated transitions. Furthermore, strengthening multi-scale, cross-sectoral analyses will enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of energy transformations. This research aims to deepen understanding of the epistemology and methodology surrounding energy transformation, offering geographical scholars new perspectives and avenues for further investigation into this critical area of study.

With the emergence of "modern diseases" such as depopulation, land abandonment, and environmental degradation, the proper management of land has become an urgent development issue in China and around the world. Rewilding, as a concept and method of natural mastery, provides a path for the above dilemmas to be solved. It is of great significance to build a community of life between human beings and nature and to promote high-quality development in urban and rural areas. However, the concept of rewilding is broad, and there are gaps in research, that necessitate the formation of a more interpretive theoretical framework. This paper, through reviewing and analyzing relevant literature in Western geography, points out that understanding the concept of rewilding involves grasping the relationships between wilderness and wildness, as well as non-human autonomy and human intervention. Under the guidance of relational ontology, the paper adopts a three-tiered scale analysis, macro, meso, and micro, to explore the operational logic of rewilding from a global to local perspective: (1) At the macro level, rewilding aims to contribute as both an ecological strategy and a socio-economic strategy, contributing to global ecosystem protection and global urban-rural development. (2) At the meso level, rewilding examines issues of heterogeneity and boundaries while exploring the dynamics of imbalanced power. It advocates for the return of local knowledge and public involvement. (3) At the micro level, rewilding presents local experiences under the operational logic of the macro and meso levels, calling for attention to micro-level community expressions within grand narratives, in order to promote more context-specific rewilding policies. Finally, based on summarizing the characteristics and current status of rewilding research in China, the paper looks forward to the theoretical and practical directions in which future Chinese rewilding research can further explore, in hopes of providing theoretical nourishment and practical references from geography for China's exploration of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature in the context of Chinese-style modernization.

Health is the eternal pursuit of human beings, and health sustainability is the basis of social sustainability. This study adopts the "pressure-state-response" (PSR) model to construct the index system of China's health sustainability. This study examines the spatio-temporal characteristics, structural evolution, and improvement path of health sustainability in China from 2000 to 2020. The results indicate that: (1) China's health sustainability index (HSI) has been steadily improved, and the health sustainability level (HSL) has been continuously enhanced, generally reaching a "sustainable" state. The differences between regions and provinces are shrinking, and the trend of balanced development is obvious. The cold spot area gradually disappears, and the hot spot area tends to weaken. The distribution center has shifted from the southeast to the northwest. (2) The structure of China's health sustainability system has been progressively optimized, exhibiting favorable development trends. The structural balance has increased and is approaching 1, and the structural coordination has improved and is transitioning towards advanced coordination, and the structural dominance has shifted from health pressure-dominated (HP) to health status-dominated (HS) and is now evolving towards health balance-dominated (HB). (3) The improvement of China's health sustainability can be divided into three first-level areas: I priority improvement area, II key improvement area, III consolidation improvement area, and six second-level areas: Ⅰ₁ (Xizang), Ⅰ₂ (Qinghai, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia), Ⅱ₁ (Guizhou, Yunnan, Chongqing), Ⅱ₂ (Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Hainan, Guangdong, Taiwan), Ⅱ₃ (Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Anhui, Shanxi), Ⅲ (Beijing). (4) In the future, the improvement of China's health sustainability should focus on improving the responsiveness of health resources, reducing the health risks caused by social and economic pressures, enhancing road safety and social security level, and upgrading the national social health status. The health sustainability index system constructed in this study provides a theoretical framework and path strategy for the evaluation of national and regional health sustainability systems, and has guiding significance for the construction of sustainable society and healthy country.

Chinese materia medica (CMM) is derived from nature, inherited from history, used in society, prospered in industry and benefited in the region. The ancient Chinese people began studying the relationship between CMM and their origin very early, which reflects that CMM is closely related to geography, and it is also the natural way of the formation of CMM, but the interdisciplinary fusion of CMM and geography has not yet formed. Based on the geographical characteristics of herbs, resources, products, industry and business of CMM, this paper analyzes the research framework of the medicine-geography relationship in CMM geography, and preliminarily analyzes its research objects, scientific problems, research contents and research methods. Results show that: (1) CMM geography is a science that studies the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of CMM and medicine-geography relationship. It is a discipline that examines the regional differences, spatial patterns, medicine-geography relationship, and sustainable utilization of CMM at the geographic spatial level, based on the division of production areas, featuring Daodi herbs, and aiming to ensure healthy use of drugs. (2) On the basis of the concept of "following the rules of time" in traditional Chinese medicine, CMM geography studies the medicine-geography relationship from three aspects: medicinal use, time, and space, based on the characteristic of "different origins of medicinal materials have differences" in CMM. It adheres to the concept of "selecting, using, and developing traditional Chinese medicine based on geographical differences and characteristics". (3) The study of CMM geography has the characteristics of intersectionality, comprehensiveness, regionalism, and dynamism. It integrates the research results and theoretical methods of CMM and geography, and conducts research on the regional differentiation, spatial structure, and evolutionary laws of five elements: the ecological attributes of CMM resources, the temporal attributes of CMM (herbal medicine), the social attributes of CMM products, the economic attributes of the CMM industry, and the regional attributes of CMM industry. (4) CMM geography integrates CMM with geography, utilizing techniques such as origin identification, changes in production areas, and spatial relationship models, following the principles of combining micro and macro perspectives, qualitative and quantitative approaches. It conducts research on the medicine-geography relationship, in order to promote the integration of pharmacology, medical science, physiology, and geography, and enrich the research content of traditional Chinese medicine and geography.

The Yellow River is an important ecological security barrier in northern China. Scientifically evaluating the ecological health status of its mainstream and pointing out the key problems to be solved in the future are of great significance to explore the comprehensive management of large-scale river environment. Based on ecosystem types, this study defines segmented sections of the mainstream and their corresponding basins as evaluation areas, and subsequently develops an ecological health evaluation index system comprising four criteria layers: water quality, hydrology, biology, and habitat. Some issues of traditional evaluation were explored and resolved, including: using the variable infiltration capacity model (VIC) to restore natural monthly runoff, and adopting multi-criteria water sediment matching evaluation to reflect regional characteristics. Through the comprehensive evaluation model based on principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and fuzzy C clustering (FCM), the health rating is transformed into a sample classification problem, which reduces the subjective impact. The results show that: (1) The water quality of the mainstream can meet the needs of the ecological environment. (2) The period of lack of ecological flow is concentrated in August. Compared with the mid-20th century, the annual flow distribution changes greatly. (3) Human activities have had many impacts on the mainstream habitat, including increasing the fragmentation of the riparian zone, reducing the vertical connectivity, and improving the surface vegetation coverage. (4) In recent decades, the mainstream has lost most of its fish diversity (about 40% in the middle and upper reaches and about 70% in the lower reaches), and the fish structure is evolving towards tolerance. (5) The spatial heterogeneity of health degree in each evaluation area is obvious, and the order from high to low is Heyuan District, Ningmeng District, Xiaobeiganliu District, Xiayou District, Lanzhou District, and Beiganliu District. From the perspective of health classification, Heyuan District is classified as good, while Ningmeng District, Xiaobeiganliu District, Xiayou District, Lanzhou District and Beiganliu District are classified as medium. It is recommended to focus on branch water pollution, and ecological flow guarantee during summer, so as to effectively protect and restore biological habitats.

Poverty remains a persistent global challenge affecting both human society and economic development. In China, a distinctive approach has emerged through the integration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) preservation with targeted poverty alleviation (TPA) initiatives. This model, cultivated through decades of cultural heritage conservation and poverty reduction practices, holds significance for promoting cultural prosperity and comprehensive rural revitalization. This study establishes a three-dimensional theoretical framework, encompassing capability, industry, and environment, through an in-depth analysis of ICH-driven poverty alleviation within impoverished areal system. Applying this framework, the research examines China's pioneering success in rural poverty reduction via a case study of Gaohua village, Guizhou province. There are three main findings. First, China's practice of ICH-based poverty alleviation predates formal policy implementation. In Gaohua village, efforts since 2008 have progressed through three phases: the experimental phase (2008-2012), targeted poverty alleviation through ICH (2013-2020) and the comprehensive rural revitalization since 2021. Second, at the macro level, rural poverty alleviation through ICH results from the interplay of endogenous dynamics, exogenous forces, and cultural drivers. Policy-guided, targeted interventions prove optimal for simultaneously advancing poverty reduction and heritage conservation. Third, at the micro level, enhanced individual capabilities (human) and optimized industrial structures (industry) address the root causes of Pin (poverty), and strengthened geographical capital (environment) mitigates Kun (hardship). The coupling interactions among "human" "industry" and "environment" collectively resolve multidimensional poverty in rural areas. Poverty alleviation through ICH serves as a critical engine for cultural preservation and economic development in China's ethnic regions. Geography, with its unique disciplinary strengths, should actively contribute to advancing theoretical research and practical applications of ICH-based poverty alleviation, offering valuable insights for global sustainable poverty reduction efforts.

Alluvial fans are common fan-shaped depositional landforms that develop at the outlets of mountain rivers or gullies. Mature and stable alluvial fans are important areas for both human habitation and production in mountainous regions, but they also pose potential hazards associated with flash floods and debris flows. Research on alluvial fans enhances our understanding of regional environmental dynamics and geomorphic evolution, as well as contributes to the mitigation of flood and debris-flow hazards. Therefore, it holds significant scientific value and practical importance. Although considerable research has been conducted on alluvial fans, both domestically and internationally, in recent decades, much of it has focused on geomorphology (morphometry), sedimentary history and characteristics, and historical environmental reconstruction (or inversion). Investigations into the mechanisms of fan development and their geomorphic effects remain relatively underexplored. This review systematically summarizes the key advancements in the research on the dynamic processes, mechanisms, and morphodynamics of alluvial fan development. We first provide an overview of current technical approaches applied in the study of alluvial fans, including field investigations and model experiments. Then, we summarize four critical aspects of fan dynamics processes and development mechanisms: primary and secondary processes; mechanisms of flow channel avulsion; interactions between tributary and main rivers; and the impact of alluvial fan development on sediment production, transport, and geomorphic processes. Finally, we discuss several areas that require further attention in future research. Currently, field observations and monitoring of the dynamic processes of alluvial fan development are inadequate. As an essential complement to post-event field surveys and experimental model research, there is an urgent need to enhance field observations in order to expand and deepen our understanding of alluvial fan development mechanisms. This will promote scientific insights into sediment dynamics and geomorphic processes within regional river systems.

The spatial disparities in resource endowments and industrial development levels across provincial-level regions in China lead to diverse water resource pressures. Economic trade redistributes water resources, causing spatial shifts in water demand. Water scarcity poses a significant bottleneck to regional development. Thus, examining water resource pressure distributions, patterns, and their drivers within economic supply and demand chains is crucial for sustainable development and ecological conservation. This research explores spatiotemporal changes in inter-provincial water resource pressure transfers and their drivers in China from 2007 to 2017. It analyzes the dynamics of scarce blue and grey water flows among 30 provincial-level regions (excluding Xizang, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan due to the lack of data) and their impacts on inter-provincial transfers. Key drivers such as technological advancements, environmental pressures, industrial structures, and urban-rural consumer demand are decomposed to assess their contributions to water resource pressure. Results show an upward trend in water pressure transfers driven by final demand. Southwest and southeast regions, experiencing lower local water pressures, transfer significant pressures to other areas. Northwest region emerges as major exporters of scarce blue water, while central provinces shift from exporters to importers. This study provides insights into inter-provincial water resource pressure transfers, aiding water security strategies and sustainable development planning in China.

The riparian zone is a key area that affects river water quality, while the impacts of the riparian landscape pattern on water quality at various spatial scales is still controversial. Quantifying the spatial scale effects of riparian landscape patterns on water quality and determining key landscape indicators that affected water quality at various spatial scales were crucial for effectively improving river water quality. The Recursive Feature Elimination-Random Forest (RFE-RF) algorithm and Redundancy Analysis (RDA) were employed to analyze the response relationship between river water quality and riparian landscape patterns across different spatial scales in the Miyun Reservoir Basin, based on data collected from January 2022 to June 2023. Total nitrogen (TN) was the primary pollutant affecting the water quality of rivers in the study area. The riparian buffer zone scales with the strongest impact of landscape pattern on TN, total phosphorus (TP), ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and permanganate index (COD_Mn) were 100 m, 800 m, 200 m, 25 m, and 400 m, respectively. The riparian landscape patterns had the stronger interpretability for TN, TP, NH₃-N, and COD, while the interpretability of the riparian landscape pattern of COD_Mn was relatively weak. With the increase of the riparian spatial scale, there were significant fluctuations in the overall interpretability of landscape indicators on river water quality: The riparian landscape patterns at 25 m and 100 m had higher interpretabilities for the overall water quality, reaching 64.8% and 58.9%, respectively. The proportion of forest landscape, the average fractal dimension of grassland, and the patches density of bare land were the most important landscape indicators that influenced river water quality at the riparian spatial scales of 25-100 m, 200 m, and 400-800 m, respectively. This study helps to understand the impact mechanism of landscape patterns on water quality at various riparian spatial scales, and provided scientific basis for effective protection of river water quality.

The mixing of saline-fresh water masses is an important hydrological phenomenon in the Yangtze River Estuary (hereafter Yangtze Estuary), which influences the regional ecological security. Here we use historical local gazetteer, historical records of salt industry, traditional maps and historical charts to establish the relationship between anthropogenic salt-making, reclamation activities and the saline water distribution patterns. Meanwhile, on the basis of a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis, we attempt to reveal the spatio-temporal water mixing pattern and identify the evolution mechanism of the mixing zone of saline-fresh waters in the Yangtze Estuary from the 16th to the 20th century. Furthermore, the causes and effects of the above evolution process were discussed based on the principles of estuarine hydrology and geomorphology. The results show that: (1) Since the 16th century, in response to the seaward expansion of the Yangtze Estuary, the bifurcation and the narrowing of the Estuary have promoted the continuous downward movement of the salt and fresh water mixing zone, with differences between the northern and southern branches. (2) The upper boundary of saline-fresh water mixing zone in the southern branch was located at the line dividing Shiqiao Estuary and Wusongkou during the Longqing and Wanli periods (1569-1574) of the Ming Dynasty, and this line moved down to Tongsha Shoal during the Daoguang period (1842) of the Qing Dynasty, with an annual downward rate of 285.7 m/a. (3) Since the 16th century, the isohaline in the nearshore section of the Yangtze Estuary moved inwards within the northern branch and downward within the southern branch, with its main axis rotating counterclockwise from S-N to SE-NW, and a total reversal of 54° from 1569 to 1980. (4) The continuous migration of saline-fresh water of the Yangtze Estuary since the 16th century is a naturally driven evolution process. Since the late 20th century, with the driving of the engineering, the geomorphology change of the estuary has accelerated the natural trend of the change of the saline-fresh water mixed zone. The artificial control based on the natural estuarine trend is the main driving factor for the evolution of the saline-fresh water mixing in the future. (5) Reducing and eliminating the effect of the northern branch salt tide on the fresh water resources and environment of the Yangtze Estuary is the primary goal of the ecological regulation of the Estuary. Facing the situation of sediment supply reduction and sea level rise in the Yangtze Estuary, the geometric change of the estuary driven by human coastal engineering projects will become the main factor affecting the change of saline and fresh water mixing.

Based on extensive and detailed field investigations in the Zoige Basin on the NE Tibetan Plateau, the Niangyiqu (NYQ-A) section was found on the second terrace of the Yellow River in the basin. Through systematic stratigraphic division and sample collection in the field, combined with laboratory analysis of grain size, geochemical elements, paleontology, and OSL/AMS ¹⁴C dating, different sedimentary layers in the section and its paleoenvironmental significance were identified. Furthermore, this study focuses on investigating the lake level changes of the Zoige paleolake recorded by the lacustrine deposits and their causes. The results show that: (1) The sedimentary stratigraphy of the section, from bottom to top, consists of the following layers: deep lacustrine deposits A, shallow lacustrine deposits A, deep lacustrine deposits B, shallow lacustrine deposits B, overbank flood deposits of the Yellow River, aeolian loess, and modern meadow soil. (2) The deep lacustrine deposits A, dating to 51.82±2.34 ka, records a deep lake environment of the Zoige paleolake during the (Marine isotope stages) MIS 3c period. During this period, warm and wet climate conditions led to high precipitation and glacial meltwater inflow, resulting in a high paleo-lake level. The shallow lacustrine deposits A formed between 51.01±2.19 and 39.54±1.72 ka, indicating a shallow lake environment of the Zoige paleolake during the MIS 3b period. During this period, cold and dry climate conditions caused a lowered paleo-lake level. The deep lacustrine deposits B accumulated between 39.18±2.03 and 36.77±1.66 ka, inferring a deep lake environment of the Zoige paleolake during the MIS (Marine isotope stages) 3a period. During this period, warm and wet climate conditions led to increased precipitation and glacial meltwater, raising the paleo-lake level once again. (3) Notably, shallow lacustrine deposits B records a sudden transition of the Zoige paleolake from a deep lake environment to a shallow marshy environment at 36.77±1.66 ka during the MIS 3a period. Based on the previous studies on the development and evolution of the Zoige paleolake, our results further confirm that under the influence of warm and humid climate and the strong tectonic activity of the eastern segment of the East Kunlun Fault, the headward erosion and downcutting of the paleo-Yellow River intensified. At ca. 37 ka, the paleo-Yellow River captured the Zoige paleolake, causing the continuous discharge of the paleolake water and the transition to warm shallow marshy environment. This environment created favorable living conditions for aquatic gastropods (Radix) and numerous mammals (such as the woolly rhinoceros and primitive cattle). These results are of significance in understanding the evolution of the river-lake system within the Zoige Basin.

Under the guidance of the ecological protection and high-quality development strategy for the Yellow River Basin, it is essential to comprehensively analyze the characteristics of soil erosion and changes in the water environment in order to identify the governance status and promote coordinated management in this region. This study collects comprehensive data on sediment transport, water quality monitoring, land use and socio-economic factors across the Yellow River Basin, and constructs a two-dimensional space of sediment transport modulus and water quality index. It identifies the characteristics of soil erosion and water environment and their influencing factors, and classifies the governance status of the main tributaries of the Yellow River and proposes relevant management strategies. The results show that: (1) The long-term average sediment transport modulus for 264 hydrological stations in the study area from 2011 to 2020 varies from 0 to 4893 t/km². Areas with high sediment transport modules are concentrated between the Toudaoguai and Tongguan sections. Of the 276 water quality monitoring sites, 173 sites (63%) have good or excellent water quality. (2) The sediment transport modulus is significantly positively correlated (p < 0.01) with factors such as the ratio of area covered by loess, the rate of vegetation restoration, the ratio of terraces and dam farmlands, and the proportion of farmland with slopes greater than 8°. The water quality index is significantly negatively correlated (p < 0.01) with factors such as the ratio of area covered by loess, the rate of vegetation restoration, the ratio of terraces and dam farmlands. (3) In the sediment transport modulus-water quality index space, 60 major tributaries of the Yellow River were classified into four types: ecologically clean type, erosion control dominant type, water quality improvement dominant type, and integrated erosion control and water quality management type. (4) An indicator system was developed based on three key indicators: the proportion of terraced farmland with slopes greater than 8°, the intensity of check dam construction and the vegetation restoration index. This indicator system determines the direction of soil erosion management for 16 tributaries with a sediment transport modulus greater than 500 t/(km² a). In 30 major tributaries with a water quality index below 80, total phosphorus and ammonia nitrogen were identified as the main pollutants and appropriate control measures were proposed. The results are expected to provide new insights into the coordinated management of water and sediment in the Yellow River and to offer policy suggestions for the implementation of the river basin management principles of "water conservation first, spatial balance, systematic management, and joint efforts of the government and the market".

Given the context of economic transformation, the coupling and mutual feedback among scale, structure, and efficiency represent the core issue regarding the orderly evolution of economic systems of resource-based cities. Nonetheless, there are limited studies on the coupling coordination of elements within the economic systems of resource-based cities. Therefore, utilizing an analytical framework for the coupling coordination of economic scale-structure-efficiency of resource-based cities, this study employs methods including the coupling coordination degree model and geographic detector to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns and influencing factors of the coupling coordination of economic scale, structure, and efficiency of resource-based cities on the Loess Plateau from 2005 to 2019. The results show that: (1) The economic scale, structure, and efficiency of resource-based cities across the Loess Plateau exhibit clear evolutionary differentiation and stage characteristics, transitioning from differentiated development to collaborative growth. (2) The coupling relationship among economic scale, structure, and efficiency is tight. The level of coupling coordination is significantly enhanced, transforming from a mild imbalance to bare coordination, yet primarily remaining at a low level. The spatial agglomeration of the coupling coordination level continues to strengthen, presenting a spatial pattern of "high in the west, low in the east, high in the north and south, and low in the middle". (3) The dominant factors influencing the coupling coordination pattern of economic scale, structure, and efficiency of resource-based cities on the Loess Plateau have gradually transformed from the economic and social support type to the policy and institution-oriented type, exhibiting strong volatility. Moreover, the interactions among these influencing factors demonstrated a significant synergistic enhancement effect. This study provides a reference for understanding the coupling logic among the economic scale, structure, and efficiency of resource-based cities, and promoting the economic transformation and sustainable development of resource-based cities.

The phenomenon of gentrification in rural areas has garnered increasing attention both domestically and internationally in recent years. However, there is a prevailing inclination towards qualitative analysis at the level of case studies, with a lack of quantitative identification and comparative research at the regional or urban scale. To understand the distribution pattern and socio-spatial characteristics of gentrified villages in the metropolitan areas of eastern China, this paper focuses on 534 rural communities in Nanjing as the research subject. Leveraging mobile user profile data and quantitative evaluation clustering models, 36 gentrified villages were chosen and categorized into four types according to their spatial location, resource endowments, and behavioral attributes: Tourism and cultural-creative, enterprise-driven, amenity-immigrant, and suburban-commuter. As urban residents are relocated to villages with varying locations and resource endowments, they demonstrate differences in their motives for reverse migration, social attributes, and life patterns. This dynamic contributes to the emergence of various types of gentrified villages and the evolution of their distinct social environments. Additionally, this study highlights significant distinctions among these categories of gentrified villages in terms of their scale distribution, material spatial structure, social characteristics of residents, and daily commuting patterns. This comparison is conducted from a broad perspective and through typical case studies. Tourism and culturally creative villages rely on natural and cultural resources to attract urban tourists and foster self-gentrification among villagers due to their authentic and experiential allure. On the other hand, enterprise-driven villages, commonly found in developed areas in the east, promote gentrification through industrial resources, attracting populations beyond agriculture. Moreover, amenity-immigrant villages capitalize on limited comfort amenities to attract urban immigrants and short-term vacationers, fostering cohesive communities. Furthermore, suburban-commuter villages represent transitional entities in the transformation from rural outskirts to urbanized areas, where the overall substitution of physical and social spaces serves as the main mechanism for aggregating gentrification groups. Tourism and culturally creative villages, along with amenity-immigrant-gentrified villages, fall under the category of leisure and lifestyle gentrification. Conversely, enterprise-driven and suburban-commuter-gentrified villages focus on production and employment, reflecting the distinctive characteristics of rural gentrification in the developed regions of eastern China. By thoroughly identifying Nanjing's gentrified villages and systematically depicting their socio-spatial features, this study both enriches Chinese case studies on rural gentrification and enhances China-specific rural gentrification research systems and theories. Moreover, it proposes to develop the positive economic and social effects of rural gentrification to promote rural revitalization and integrated urban-rural development.

Traditional villages serve as important repositories of cultural values from the agricultural civilization era and are characterized by abundant landscape resources and cultural heritage. In the context of urban-rural integration, it is imperative to delve into deconstruction the spatial structure of traditional villages and explore ways to enhance environments conducive for the preservation of traditional culture. Using Pingtan village of Dong ethnic group in Huaihua, western Hunan province as a case study, this study adopted textual analysis method and participatory observation method, combining pattern language theory and landscape gene theory to establish a deconstruction and reconstruction framework. The aim was to explore the spatial element composition and landscape restoration path of Pingtan village. The results revealed that: (1) A comprehensive pattern language system was established by translating the spatial landscape of Pingtan village into pattern symbols. This system comprised 92 categories of words, phrases and word groups representing the spatial elements. The spatial logic was formed by pattern grammar comprising order, scale, time and local patterns, whereas the spatial context consisted of natural, social and cultural pattern contexts. (2) Thirteen core landscape genes across three categories: main architecture, overall layout and ethnic culture, were identified in Pingtan village based on the historical evolution process of the village. These findings provide a guiding framework for the landscape restoration of Pingtan village. (3) By integrating pattern language theory with landscape gene theory, a triple restoration pathway comprising point-line-surface was proposed for the repair of spatial landscape elements, adjustment of spatial order, and restoration of spatial structures. The aim of the study was to deconstruct the patterns, identify the genes and reconstruct the restoration of traditional villages, thereby providing innovative approaches for the preservation of the material space of traditional villages and the perpetuation of traditional culture.