The digital competence of residents is a crucial component of personal and social development and significantly influences regional development patterns through its geographic distribution and dynamic evolution. It has increasingly emerged as a critical driving force in advancing common prosperity. This study constructs a measurement system for assessing the digital competence of Chinese residents with respect to common prosperity. It develops a theoretical framework to explore the underlying mechanisms through which digital competence promotes common prosperity, aiming to offer robust theoretical support and empirical evidence for policy design. This study employs spatiotemporal analysis, spatial variogram, spatial autocorrelation, Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition, and fixed effects models to systematically examine the spatial and temporal characteristics of residents' digital competence across 25 provincial-level regions in China, along with its multifaceted influence on common prosperity. The study presents the following findings: (1) From 2016 to 2022, the overall level of digital competence showed a generally rising but fluctuating trend, although the national average remained relatively low. Specific dimensions demonstrated upward yet uneven trajectories, including data and information literacy, digital communication and collaboration, and digital problem-solving. In contrast, declines in digital content creation and digital security raise concern, especially in regions such as Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, where consistently low levels are observed. (2) National spatial disparities in digital competence have been narrowed over time, yet the east-west divide remains the most pronounced. Coastal provinces exhibit relatively balanced internal development, whereas the Gini coefficient of hypervariable density contributes most significantly to national disparity and shows an increasing trend. (3) At the village and community levels, improvements in digital competence notably promote common prosperity, with pronounced benefits for inland and rural regions. This positive effect operates through multiple forms of livelihood capital - human, material, financial, social, and psychological - and varies across regions. The study enhances the theoretical understanding of the dynamic evolution of regional digital development and the digital divide, offering practical implications for advancing balanced growth in Chinese residents' digital competence and achieving common prosperity.

With the advancement of urbanization and the profound transformation of socio-economic development in China, land use transition has become a complex research field involving multiple disciplines and dimensions. This paper comprehensively uses bibliometric analysis and systematic review methods to systematically sort out the research progress of land use transition in China from following dimensions: development context, theoretical framework, model and methodology, effect and mechanism, and regulation path. The study finds that: (1) Since the introduction of land use transition research to China in 2001, the field has flourished in the aspects of project funding, publication of monographs, and talent cultivation. Through hotspot analysis, it is found that research has shifted from being technology-driven to policy and economic-driven, and finally focused on multi-functional synergy and sustainable development. (2) Theoretical research can be divided into three levels: description-explanation, process characterization and diagnosis, and mutual feedback mechanism and regulation, forming a research paradigm of "dominant morphology-recessive morphology" coupling. The transition measurement method presents a three-dimensional characteristic of integration of 3S technology, mathematical model simulation, and field investigation. (3) Driven by the dual strategies of rural vitalization and food security, the socio-economic effects of land use transitions are manifested as a cascading response of farmers' livelihoods, factor flow, and industrial upgrading; related ecological and environmental effects show the bidirectional characteristics of negative effects and positive synergistic effects. (4) The driving mechanism of land use transitions is analyzed from the "element-structure-system" perspective, and its regulation system is discussed from multiple dimensions such as engineering technology innovation, institutional innovation, policy intervention, and multi-dimensional collaborative governance. (5) Future research needs to focus on breakthroughs in multi-scale transition threshold identification, complex system feedback simulation, regional model extraction, and optimization and regulation of transition through theoretical and methodological innovations. This study provides not only knowledge support for the construction of a land use transition research theoretical system with Chinese characteristics, but also decision-making support for the modernization of national territorial space governance and urban-rural integrated development.

Central cities, as drivers of regional economic development, have reemerged as a focal point of attention nowadays. However, their impact on the surrounding cities is inconsistent. Both positive and negative effects have been verified in different cases. One promising way to understand various impacts of central cities is to employ the dynamic lens. This paper focuses on the Central China Plains urban agglomeration, which developed and grew rapidly during the research period 2000-2020, and analyzes the dynamic impact of Zhengzhou on other small and medium-sized cities within the urban agglomeration (228 cities, counties, and county-level cities). The empirical analysis confirms that the role of central cities undergoes dynamic changes, and this case does not support the theoretical expectation of "siphoning first and then spilling over". Specifically, before 2005, there was no evidence of Zhengzhou's impact on the economic development of other cities in the Central China Plains urban agglomeration. Between 2005 and 2015, the evidence was inconsistent, hinting at a transitional phase between the two situations. After 2015, Zhengzhou mainly had a positive spillover effect on the development of cities within a certain geographical distance. The reasons for the aforementioned findings may lie in the fact that central cities, represented by Zhengzhou, focuses on attracting major resources from outside the province rather than within, and place great emphasis on and actively develop the manufacturing industry. Although a longer time period and evidence from more urban agglomerations are needed, the findings of this paper are a positive signal in favour of central city development strategies.

Urban expansion, as a key driving force in the evolution of the Earth's surface human-environment system, profoundly influences land resource allocation and the stability of ecosystems. The horizontal expansion patterns and impacts of urban construction land are well-established at the global, national, and city scales. However, the expansion types, spatial characteristics, and driving mechanisms on the three-dimensional terrain gradient remain inadequately understood. Therefore, this study focuses on analyzing the slope variation characteristics and spatial interaction relationships of construction land, ecological land, and arable land in 2754 counties across China. By systematically categorizing gradient expansion types and employing a combination of random forest model and geodetector, this study delves into the driving factors of spatial differentiation of various expansion types. The results indicate that: (1) The rapid urbanization in China, with stringent arable land protection policies, has driven urban construction land to expand into areas with steeper slopes. In 78.18% of counties, the dominant gradient expansion type of construction land is characterized by an increase in slope. Meanwhile, the expansion type featuring increased slopes for arable land or ecological land is primarily concentrated in the northeast, northwest, and southwest regions. (2) The gradient expansion of construction land is closely linked to the gradient evolution of arable land, as the development of sloping arable land provides new space for urban construction land. In regions where the slope of arable land is notably steeper, the rate of expansion in construction land area is twice as high as that in areas where the slope is decreasing. Furthermore, the cultivation of sloping arable land serves as a major source for supplementing arable land resources. (3) The complexity of regional topography and the intensity of agricultural production are the main constraints and driving factors for the significant differences in the gradient expansion of China's urban areas. The interaction of topographical factors, including elevation, slope, and the proportion of flat land, accounts for 30% of the explanatory power in elucidating the spatial differentiation of slope changes in construction land. Quantitatively characterizing the spatial patterns, processes, and driving mechanisms of construction land expansion along gradients holds significant importance for mitigating construction land pressures in mountainous urban areas, protecting arable land, and promoting regional sustainable development.

State space is a pivotal theory in urban governance. Historically, there has been limited overlap between state space and traditional urban governance research in China. The transformation of urban governance in China has emerged from significant adjustments in state space, with evolving reforms in urban governance paralleling the ongoing construction of state space. Grounded in the theoretical origins of state space, this paper elucidates its theoretical core: leveraging the spatial allocation of national resources as an entry point to bridge governance research on enhancing holistic governance efficiency with the imperative of safeguarding social equity. The study posits that state space theory, through interdisciplinary dialogues spanning early state studies, neo-Marxist political economy, and sociological research, has established a tripartite interactive framework for urban governance research, from "resource allocation, social relations, and governance efficacy". In the context of Chinese urban governance studies, it is essential to prioritize localized models, focusing on governance efficacy, social relations, resource allocation, and their interactive relationships. The paper advocates for three paradigm shifts in future Chinese urban governance research: transitioning from analyzing institutional relationships to optimizing resource allocation, reconceptualizing cities not merely as organizational structures but as projections of national governance, and balancing multiple benefits from economic efficiency to multifaceted societal benefits.

The rapid and intricate evolution of socio-culture poses critical challenges to the development of cultural geography. Currently, tourism has emerged as a crucial cultural phenomenon; however, it has long been neglected by the academic community. This paper, grounded in the tension between reality and theory, addresses the necessity of tourism research within cultural geography and the specific nature of such research required. Its aim is to stimulate the development of cultural geography through interdisciplinary dialogue. This study reviews the current status and trends of tourism-related research within the realm of cultural geography, both domestically and internationally. It then examines the "newness" of tourism culture from two approaches: the spatial study of culture and the cultural study of space. At the ontological and epistemological levels, the paper discusses the following aspects: (1) Tourism has become an omnipresent cultural fact, providing a continuous and vivid empirical foundation for cultural geography research; (2) As a distinctive phenomenon, tourism has opened up frontier topics that facilitate the contextual application and perspective shift of theories; (3) Tourism, functioning as an intersecting "interface", links multidisciplinary thinking and offers platforms and experiences for interdisciplinary integration; (4) Tourism, as a "metaphor", indicates a new cultural perspective that transcends traditional cultural geography research, presenting a dynamic of integration, development, and anti-structuralism. This paper advocates for the cultural geography community to re-evaluate tourism, reversing the past neglect of tourism-related research and thereby fostering equitable interdisciplinary communication and academic innovation.

Rural construction, encompassing infrastructure, public services, and human settlement improvement, serves as a critical pathway to harmonize human-environment relationships in rural areas and a pivotal endeavor for advancing the comprehensive rural revitalization strategy. Integrated geographical research on rural construction offers a new opportunity for geography to serve national strategies. Despite substantial investments in rural construction in China, persistent gaps and underdeveloped regions remain, necessitating deeper theoretical and practical research to address these challenges. This study, based on a systematic review of the progress in rural construction research, elucidates the scientific connotations and practical requirements of rural construction from a geographical perspective. It further outlines the key areas for geographical research and innovative practical pathways to advance rural construction in the new era. Rural construction is a comprehensive, systematic undertaking that builds on current conditions while being geared toward the future. Against the backdrop of climate change, population mobility, and prominent sustainability challenges, it exhibits multidimensional, multilevel, and differentiated demands. In terms of the research, it is imperative to integrate interdisciplinary knowledge and construct a multi-objective, multilevel, and multi-stakeholder collaborative framework to distill differentiated regional models and optimization strategies based on comprehensive effects, implementation mechanisms, and problem diagnosis. From the perspective of practice, it is essential to actively explore more effective mechanisms for supply-demand matching, planning guidance, funding mobilization, subsequent operation and maintenance, and performance evaluation, thereby promoting a more inclusive, equitable, efficient, and sustainable approach to rural construction that effectively contributes to comprehensive rural revitalization.

The urban-rural integration in the new era requires the coupled and coordinated development of new urbanization and comprehensive rural revitalization. This paper constructs an evaluation index system for new urbanization and comprehensive rural revitalization, and uses the modified coupling coordination degree model, spatial Markov chain, random forest model and other methods to quantitatively analyze the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of coupling coordination types of new urbanization and comprehensive rural revitalization in Central China from 2007 to 2022. The results show that: (1) From 2007 to 2022, the coupling coordination type in the study area experienced a transition from moderate imbalance to minimal coordination, with regions of severe imbalance gradually disappearing and high-quality coordinated areas emerging, and the coupling coordination relationship has continuously improved. In terms of spatial distribution, high-value zones of coupling coordination level have remained concentrated in provincial capitals, while low-value zones have shifted toward western edge and the junction of Henan-Anhui-Hubei provinces, with boundary effects gradually emerging. (2) Regardless of the neighborhood conditions, the transition of the coupling coordination state exhibits "path dependence" and "self-locking" effects, while displaying "club convergence" phenomena, there is the possibility of transition to higher level but it is difficult to achieve leapfrog development. The geographical background plays an important role in the evolution of the coupling coordination state, which has an obvious spatial spillover effect, and the Markov prediction results also prove that spatial spillover effect will exist for a long time, the long-term evolution trend of the coupling coordination state is relatively good. (3) In the process of coupling and coordinated development, the level of industrial development plays a core leading role, the level of regional investment, the level of scientific and technological innovation, the level of human capital, and the employment structure of the population offer guarantees in terms of essential factors, and the geographical distance plays a restrictive role. Finally, this paper puts forward specific countermeasures and suggestions to provide scientific basis for the coordinated development of new urbanization and comprehensive rural revitalization in Central China.

Promoting social green transformation is an inherent requirement and a key task in the national strategy for a comprehensive green transformation of the economy and society. However, research on the quantitative characterization and spatiotemporal patterns of social green transformation remains relatively lacking. To address this gap, this paper introduces social psychology theory to construct a quantitative characterization framework for social green transformation. Using 19 urban agglomerations in China as the study area and following the "pattern-process-effect" research logic, the study integrates methods such as entropy-weighted TOPSIS, spatial Markov chains, and Random Forest model to sequentially reveal the spatiotemporal evolution patterns, spatiotemporal transformation, and dynamic impacts of the social green transformation on the economic green transformation. Finally, a comprehensive quantitative framework for regional green transformation is proposed. The results show that: (1) During the study period, the level of social green transformation in China's urban agglomerations showed a fluctuating upward trend, with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta urban agglomerations leading in social green transformation, while those along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, the northern slope of Tianshan Mountains, Lanzhou-Xi'an region, and Ningxia along the Yellow River were relatively lagging. (2) There is a phenomenon of club convergence and spatial spillover effects in the social green transformation of urban agglomerations, and the transformation exhibits path dependence and spatial dependence, with low probabilities of cross-level and cross-regional transitions. (3) Social green transformation serves as a significant driving force for the green transformation of urban economies, and this driving effect has been strengthening over time. The role of social green transformation in advancing the strategy of ecological prioritization and green development is increasingly profound. Furthermore, this study helps to improve existing research on regional green transformation evaluation, providing new methods and ideas that better align with and respond to the current comprehensive green transformation strategy.

Digital economy enables the smooth transformation of cities in the Yellow River Basin, which is a key measure to promote ecological protection and high-quality development in this basin. This paper took the Yellow River Basin as the study area, evaluated urban transformation efficiency by using the super-efficiency SBM model, and constructed the spatial Markov transfer matrix, panel Tobit model and intermediary effect model to explore the spatio-temporal transfer characteristics of urban transformation efficiency and the driving effect of the digital economy on urban transformation efficiency. The results showed that: (1) From 2011 to 2021, the urban transformation efficiency in the study area was dominated by stable development, with certain "path dependence" and "self locking" effects; After considering spatial effects, the urban transformation efficiency mainly shifts upwards, and there was heterogeneity in the type transfer probability of urban transformation efficiency under different neighborhood types. (2) The digital economy had a positive effect on urban transformation efficiency, and the effect was regional heterogeneity, which was shown as follows: the middle reaches > the lower reaches > the upper reaches. (3) Technological innovation had a partial positive intermediary effect between the digital economy and urban transformation efficiency. The digital economy could promote urban transformation in the Yellow River Basin by improving the level of technological innovation; technological innovation had a single threshold effect of marginal reduction for the digital economy to improve urban transformation efficiency in the study area. When the level of technological innovation crosses the threshold value, the promotion effect of the digital economy on urban transformation efficiency begins to weaken.

The well-being of people's livelihood is an important issue that goes hand in hand with the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and it is also the fundamental purpose and ultimate destination of human development. This paper explores the evolution and influencing factors of the well-being level of urban and rural residents in China based on the data from the 2012-2021 China Livelihood Survey, using principal component analysis, cold- and hot-spot analysis, spatial kernel density estimation and multi-layer linear modeling. The findings are as follows: (1) China's urban and rural residents' well-being level shows a fluctuating upward trend, with both urban and rural well-being levels increasing. (2) China's urban and rural residents' well-being shows significant regional differences, with levels of the Northwest and the Northeast being higher than those of the others. (3) China's urban and rural residents' well-being level has obvious clustering characteristics. In 2021, there was a "hot-shrinking-cold-shrinking-hot-expansion-cold-shrinking" development trend, and in 2018-2021, the agglomeration of urban and rural residents in areas with high levels of well-being gradually increased, while the agglomeration of areas with low levels of well-being tended to weaken. (4) Individuals, gender, age, education, work status, and household type, were the most important factors in the well-being of urban and rural residents in China. At the individual level, gender, age, education level, working status, and hukou type have an impact on the well-being of urban and rural residents; at the regional level, GDP per capita, population density, city level, and geographic location have a nonlinear impact on the well-being of urban and rural residents. (5) Compared with the eastern region, the negative effect of unemployment on urban residents' well-being is relatively more pronounced in the central and northeastern regions. Similarly, in the central and western regions, unemployment has a relatively stronger negative effect on rural residents' well-being. Compared with the eastern region, the positive association between per capita GDP and urban residents' well-being is relatively weaker in the central and western regions, whereas in the northeastern region, this association is relatively stronger. The results of the study are intended to provide useful insights for studies on well-being and Chinese-style modernization.

Based on the context of "goal-strategy-path", the logic and content framework system of the modernization transformation of rural China towards urban-rural integrated development were explored. The study reveals several findings: (1) There is an inherent logical connection of collaborative interaction between the modernization transformation of rural China and the integrated development of urban and rural areas. Guided by the logic of goal transmission, the modernization transformation of rural China is achieved through three compound mechanisms: the transition of land use morphologies, the reconstruction of industrial models, and the innovation of spatial governance. (2) The modernization transformation of rural China has compound values such as facilitating the flow of factors between urban and rural areas, promoting the upgrading of industrial structure, and improving the relationship between human and land in rural areas. By adjusting the operation status of the rural territorial system through the logic of supply matching, it responds to the demands of urban-rural integration. (3) In the system of rural modernization transformation in China, the optimization of the land system driven by the qualitative change in land use patterns has stabilized the development foundation and solved the practical problems such as the extensive utilization of rural space, the disorder of powers and functions, the imbalance of functions and the decline of efficiency. The reconstruction of industrial models has established a modern platform for the transformation of rural economies and their integration into the large-scale economic circulation pattern of urban and rural areas, with a focus on resolving the structural predicament caused by the lagging industrial system within rural areas. Innovation in spatial governance has bridged the inherent institutional gap between urban and rural areas. Through multiple mechanisms such as institutional optimization, policy support, and digital means, it has coordinated the integrated governance of urban and rural areas and guaranteed the interests of multiple subjects. (4) By leveraging land use transition regulation, multifunctional rural development, and synergistic governance combining institutional adaptation with technology enablement, China's rural modernization transformation constructed a pathway system designed to serve and advance urban-rural integration.This paper offers valuable insights in response to the contemporary proposition of Chinese modernization.

Urban-rural equivalent integration signifies a dynamic process wherein urban and rural areas substantially realize interactive population mobility, equitable land valuation and tenure, synergistic industrial chains and agglomerations, harmonized infrastructure deployment, equitably accessible public services, collaborative ecological conservation and governance, and integrated information networks. This constitutes the ultimate objective of urban-rural integrated development under the paradigm of Chinese-style modernization. The core tenet of urban-rural equivalent integration is the equivalence of quality and well-being of life across urban and rural settings, represented by diverse lines of equivalence. Throughout distinct phases of urbanization and urban expansion, the fluctuation of urban-rural equivalent lines and the degree of urban-rural integration exhibit variability, theoretically charting an evolutionary trajectory characterized by an initial gentle gradient, followed by a steep ascent, and culminating in a return to a gentler slope. The driving mechanisms for urban-rural equivalent integration encompass identity equity for urban and rural residents, free flow for urban and rural construction land, intelligent mobile connectivity across urban-rural areas, market-based adjustment, and policy interventions. Quantitative indicators of urban-rural equivalent integration include 31 indicators across five dimensions: living standards, infrastructure, public services, ecological environment, and informatization. Empirical evidence from 1980 to 2023 indicates that China's overall urban-rural equivalent integration predominantly remained within a medium stage (30%-60%), while some indicators achieved a medium-high stage (60%-90%), demonstrating a progressive trajectory towards high equivalence. Notably, the urban-rural living standards and the urban-rural informatization exhibit a medium-high stage of equivalent integration, and the urban-rural infrastructure and public services are situated at a medium level, whereas the ecological environment persists in a state of non-equivalence (< 30%). Conclusively, while the trajectory towards high urban-rural equivalent integration remains a protracted and challenging endeavor, the outlook for achieving such integration is nonetheless optimistic. This research offers significant theoretical underpinnings and pragmatic guidance for advancing urban-rural profound integrated development in China.

As part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has actively participated in global port construction over the past decade. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of these efforts and enrich the theoretical framework of BRI development. We constructed a port vitality index (PVI) using shipping big data. The PVI was calculated across four key dimensions (production, maritime, service, and radiation) using 17 fundamental indicators based on the port transportation chain model. This study evaluated the vitality of port development over the past decade. The results were as follows. (1) There was significant growth from 2013 to 2022 in the overall vitality index of ports invested in China, with Asia and Europe being the primary hubs of port vitality, and Africa emerging as a major center of growth. (2) There was higher vitality growth among ports where China was involved in both investment and operations, compared to ports where China's role was limited to construction. (3) Chinese port construction companies held global power by helping developing countries or regions lacking transportation capacity quickly establish international transportation capabilities. (4) Terminal operators and shipping companies invested in ports with strong underlying conditions, located on key shipping routes with minimal economic risks, to ensure effective investment outcomes. (5) Some small and medium-sized ports gained rapid production vitality through investment, yet lacked maritime vitality, as insufficient urban market growth hinders the increase in maritime vitality. The port vitality evaluation method proposed in this study provides insights for adjusting China's future port investment strategies and optimizing location choices for enterprise investments. It also enriches the theoretical framework of the BRI development and provides practical evidence of China's commitment to fostering shared prosperity with the Global South through port infrastructure development.

Climate change significantly affects the arid/humid processes and patterns in China, directly impacting management decisions related to adaptive agriculture and water resources management, desertification control, and spatial ecological restoration. However, current studies primarily focus on changes in arid/humid climate variables, lacking quantitative characterization of the dynamic evolution of areal systems and their nonlinear responses. Based on the data of national meteorological stations from 1961 to 2020, we systematically quantified the nonlinear response of arid/humid patterns to climate change. The results revealed that 6.98% of eco-geographical arid/humid regions underwent type shifts over the past six decades, with 4.95% transitioning toward wetter conditions. Humid and semi-arid regions expanded significantly while sub-humid and arid regions contracted significantly. In the late 1990s, trends of the humid and sub-humid region shifted. Humid region contraction in northern China was driven primarily by precipitation decline, whereas the Tibetan Plateau responded to increasing potential evapotranspiration. During the same period, the retreat rate of the arid region slowed, linked to intensified aridification in the west part of northern China and a decelerating wetting trend in northwest China, both primarily driven by precipitation trends. Our study reveals the nonlinear response of the arid/humid patterns under climate change, providing a scientific basis for the improvement of regional climate resilience.

The natural course of transboundary rivers traverses multiple national borders, integrating distinct sovereign states into a cohesive ecological system. This geographical characteristic complicates the governance of water resources, particularly in the context of escalating global water scarcity and intensifying geopolitical tensions. Consequently, transboundary river governance has emerged as a quintessential example of the public resource dilemma. Drawing on the constructivist theory of international relations, this study uses the Lancang-Mekong River Basin as a case study, integrating data from multiple databases and socioeconomic indicators to examine the evolution of collective identity among riparian countries and the factors influencing it. The findings are as follows: (1) The collective identity of the riparian countries has evolved through three distinct phases: the incubation phase (1971-1991), the formation phase (1992-2014), and the development phase (2015-2022). During this process, the institutional structure of the basin shifted from initial, limited governance mechanisms to a more comprehensive basin-wide system. The range of issues expanded, and the number of cooperation agreements steadily increased. Cooperative attitudes evolved from broadly positive to differentiated, ultimately converging in a more favorable direction. (2) Economic interdependence is the core factor in the formation of collective identity among riparian countries. Similar diplomatic stances contribute to enhancing cooperative attitudes and play a supportive role in the formation of collective identity. (3) Extreme weather events and political globalization exert a dual effect on the formation of collective identity: while extreme weather enhances the willingness to cooperate, it also forces states to focus on domestic recovery, thus increasing the complexity of cooperation agreements and the expansion of issues. Political globalization has facilitated the institutionalization of basin governance, the normalization of cooperation, and the expansion of issues; however, external involvement has exacerbated divisions in the cooperative attitudes of riparian countries. This study enriches theoretical perspectives on transboundary river governance and supports collective action in global environmental governance.

Flash floods pose a significant threat to life and property, as well as to the stable social and economic development in mountainous regions. Understanding the driving factors and spatio-temporal heterogeneity of flash floods is crucial for their prevention and mitigation. Geomorphic features are key determinants in the occurrence and development of flash floods across different scales. Therefore, this paper integrates geomorphic regions defined by three-level terrain and geomorphic type based formative processes to investigate the spatio-temporal variations, driving factors and heterogeneity of flash floods in China from 1985 to 2015, considering seasonal, interannual and multi-year scales. The findings reveal that the geomorphic regions based on the three-level terrain effectively capture the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of flash floods. Notably, interannual variation of flash floods occurrences differ significantly across six geomorphic regions. The most pronounced increasing trends are observed in the Southwestern Mountain region, the Southeastern Hilly Mountain region, and the Tibetan Plateau region. Seasonally, flash floods are most frequent in summer, followed by spring and autumn. Geomorphic types based on formative processes provide insights into the driving factors of flash floods. In erosional mountainous and hilly areas, key drivers include temperature, vegetation coverage, soil texture type, and land use. In karst landform areas, temperature, precipitation, land use, and soil texture type are the primary factors. In plains and terraces, the driving factors include soil texture type, precipitation and land use. This study enhances the understanding of the historical development of flash floods and provides a foundation for further exploring the mechanisms underlying their occurrence and evolution under different geomorphic conditions. Additionally, it offers valuable insights for flash flood planning and prevention strategies in the context of climate change.

Danxia landforms are unique land surface morphologies formed by long-term natural weathering and erosion of Tertiary red sandstone. An in-depth study of the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of their surface thermal environment exhibits significant practical importance. This study quantitatively analyzes the micro-geomorphological characteristics of Danxia Mountain and their interplay with the spatio-temporal differentiation of land surface temperature (LST), integrating multi-source remote sensing imageries from the Sustainable Development Goals Science Satellite 1 (SDGSAT-1), Sentinel-2A/2B, and SPOT6 spanning 2022-2023. Firstly, the LSTs with a 30-m spatial resolution are retrieved for day and night across all four seasons using the three-channel split-window algorithm. The geomorphons (GM) terrain classification method is then applied for the finer GM classification of Danxia Mountain. Finally, the study analyzes the spatial and temporal differentiation characteristics of LST. Furthermore, we elucidate the impact of different micro-topographies of Danxia Mountain on the spatial and temporal variations of LST. The research reveals that Danxia Mountain comprises seven typical GM terrestrial landscapes, including peak, ridge, spur, slope, hollow, pit, and valley. These GM terrestrial landscapes are found to exert a significant impact on the seasonal and diurnal fluctuations of LST. Specifically, in the lower-lying areas of pits and valleys, the average daytime LST is relatively high, exhibiting the characteristic of "geomorphologic ravine thermal effect"; whereas in high-altitude peaks and ridges, the average nighttime LST is relatively high, leading to a "geomorphologic hilltop thermal effect". In spring, daytime LST and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) show a negative correlation across different GM terrestrial landscapes. However, this negative relationship reverses in autumn, where a positive correlation between daytime LST and NDVI is observed, particularly evident on straight back slopes and convex back slopes. There exists a positive correlation between nighttime LST and the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), which is more pronounced in spring and winter. The results further reveal the spatial and temporal differentiation characteristics of LST under the micro-topographical conditions of Danxia Mountain in Guangdong's subtropical region. This provides important insights into the spatial and temporal variations of LST, offering valuable information for ecological environment research, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation in regions where Danxia landforms are distributed.

The administrative hierarchy of the city in China determines its ability of mobilizing resources and the direction of migrations, and it is also the direct subjects of policy implementation. Previous literature has rarely analyzed migrations from the perspective of urban administrative hierarchy. Using data from the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey, this study explores the patterns of migration across urban administrative hierarchy and the influencing factors of destination choice. The results show that according to the urban administrative hierarchy, upward migrations are dominant. Spatially, inter-regional migration to the eastern region is a prominent feature. For the population that has migrated multiple times, subsequent migrations are dominated by horizontal and intra-regional migrations, with the proportion of downward migrations increasing and exceeding that of upward migrations. In the first migration, ordinary prefecture cities and provincial capital cities are preferred. In the subsequent migrations, the proportions of county-level cities (counties), separately planned cities and directly-administered municipalities have increased, which reflect repositioning of population after the first migration. Economic profits are the main driving force of migration, the socio-economic attributes and hukou-registered places affect the choice of destinations, which reflect the migrants' employment competitiveness, employment preferences, life cycle and path dependence on hukou-registered places. The choice of destination is also related to the migration scope, provincial capital cities are being preferred in intra-provincial migrations, while directly-administered municipalities are most likely to be chosen in inter-provincial migrations. This paper provides evidence for the theory of population migration that urban administrative hierarchy works, which shows a different pattern from Ravenstein's laws of step migration, and deepens the connotation of push-pull theory. The findings of the study are of revelatory value for the implementation of the new urbanization policy with counties as important carriers.

The spatiotemporal evolution of settlements during historical periods is of great significance for a better understanding of past environment changes, land use, and the dynamics of human-land relationships. Chinese historical documents contain abundant information on settlements, serving as an important proxy for the study on the evolution settlements over the past century. Historical documents typically employ place names to record the spatial location of settlements, but the existing historical place names spatial databases often fall short in automating the precise localization of micro-scale place names, such as settlements, which in turn impedes the advancement of research on the spatial reconstruction and spatiotemporal evolution of these historical settlements. This study focuses on the automated matching method of historical settlement place names, utilizing Suzhou Prefecture during the late Qing Dynasty (1820-1911) as the research area. It selected 11340 settlement place names and their associated primary-level division data extracted from local chronicles, and combined contemporary place names matching techniques to construct a conceptual model for correlating ancient and modern place names. The study identifies characteristics of place names evolution, establishes rules for place names matching, and proposes an algorithm for the aggregation and matching of settlement names predicated on similarity metrics, thereby accomplish the spatial reconstruction of historical settlements within the research area. On this basis, the spatial distribution and urban-rural relationships of the reconstruction results were analyzed. The results indicated that approximately 98% of the settlements, relative to the total number documented in the literature, were reconstructed using an automated place names matching method. The spatial resolution of the reconstruction was approximately 1.4 km × 1.4 km, and the consistency between the automatic matching outcomes and the manually verified results was about 96%. During the late Qing Dynasty, the distribution of settlements in the study area exhibited agglomerative characteristics, with a hierarchical structure of settlement networks centered on the western suburbs of Suzhou city. However, urban-rural connections within the network were sparse. The findings from this study have enhanced the technical methods for the spatial reconstruction of historical settlement space and deepened the scientific understanding of the characteristics and influencing factors of long-term settlement evolution.

Global change has significantly increased the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events, impacting the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. While climate warming has prolonged the growing season and increased carbon sequestration in temperate forests, the effects of extreme seasonal climate events on forest phenology and productivity remain unclear, which hinders a comprehensive understanding of the terrestrial carbon cycle. Based on the vegetation autumn phenology dataset extracted from the GIMMS NDVI3g data, this study assessed the impacts of extreme drought, extreme precipitation, high temperatures, and low temperatures on autumn phenology and gross primary productivity in temperate forests in China from 1982 to 2015 using partial correlation analysis. The results show that the mean end dates of the growing season occurred in 281-345 days with a delay rate of 0.5 days per year, and mean gross primary productivity occurred in 276-1367 g C m^-2 with an increase rate of 0.4 g C m^-2 per year on temperate forests in China. Increased drought severity and extreme high-temperature days during the growing season advanced autumn phenology and decreased productivity. In contrast, more drought and moderate high-temperature days delayed autumn phenology and increased productivity. Seasonal differences in phenology responses to extreme climate events were also observed. Spring and summer extreme high temperatures and drought advanced autumn phenology and reduced productivity, while autumn extreme high temperature and drought have the opposite effect. This phenomenon likely stems from elevated summer temperatures exacerbating heat stress and drought conditions, which collectively deplete soil moisture, and induce plant water stress, ultimately resulting in advanced autumn phenology and suppressed photosynthetic activity. However, cooler autumns make high-temperature events more conducive to forest growth, delaying autumn phenology and enhancing productivity. The study reveals seasonal differences of extreme climate events on autumn phenology and forest growth, suggesting that the timing of extreme events is crucial for understanding their effects on vegetation phenology and the terrestrial carbon cycle, which is essential to comprehend the carbon cycle of terrestrial ecosystems and their responses to climate change in the future.

This study examines the structure of the spatial association network of agricultural activities in the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan urban agglomeration and explores its impact on urban-rural integration. This study employs social network analysis and a modified gravity model to analyze the spatial network characteristics of agricultural resource allocation. Furthermore, a coupling coordination model is used to evaluate the relationship between network structure and urban-rural integration. The results indicate that Changsha county, Xiangtan county, and Ningxiang city have strong resource adaptability and mobility, showing the potential to evolve into agricultural modernization demonstration areas. In contrast, Shaoshan city and Shifeng district exhibit significant weaknesses in resource utilization efficiency and factor allocation optimization. Based on these insights, this study proposes optimization paths and policy recommendations to improve the agricultural spatial network, enhance agricultural industry efficiency, and promote coordinated and sustainable urban-rural development. First, agricultural modernization demonstration zones should be established around Changsha, Xiangtan and Ningxiang, and agricultural science and technology innovation and infrastructure development should be strengthened to enhance regional resource flow efficiency. Second, efforts should be made to reinforce resource complementarity between core and peripheral areas in Shaoshan and Shifeng by increasing policy support and optimizing resource allocation. Finally, the agricultural industry chain should be extended to integrate agriculture with other industries and comprehensively improve regional agricultural modernization and urban-rural integration quality.

Developing new quality productive forces is a significant proposition emphasized at the meeting on promoting the full revitalization of Northeast China in the new era. Subsequently, research on the spatiotemporal evolution and spatial differentiation of new quality productive forces has become a cutting-edge and hot topic in geographic science. Based on the theory of productivity layout in economic geography, this paper introduces a spatial perspective from geography into the study of new quality productive forces and systematically examines the locational conditions and spatial layout of new quality productive forces from two dimensions: policy-side and factor-side. The paper constructs a three-dimensional evaluation indicator system for new quality productive forces, consisting of "new laborer-new labor materials-new labor object", and employs threshold regression model and coupling coordination degree model to explore the dynamic relationship and spatial characteristics between local government attention and the level of new quality productive forces from 2009 to 2022. The results show that: (1) From the perspective of policy-side, there is a growing trend of following the crowd and repetitive competition in the development of new quality productive forces among provinces. (2) From the perspective of factor-side, there is spatial heterogeneity in the level of new quality productive forces across different regions, presenting a gradient pattern of "high in the east and low in the west", and the spatial distribution of new quality productive forces is more imbalanced than regional development. (3) From the perspective of dynamic analysis, there is a U-shaped threshold characteristic for the role of government attention in developing new quality productive forces, and there is a positive coupling relationship between the two. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on the matching and connection between policy-side and factor-side of regional new quality productive forces. The conclusions of this study fill the research gap in the relevant fields of geography and provide policy inspiration for optimizing productivity layout, developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions, and promoting high-quality regional development.

The spatial restructuring of large Chinese cities has exacerbated internal spatial differentiation and social segregation, resulting in disparities in the distribution of environmental risks across social groups and regions. This has negatively impacted the health and well-being of urban residents. This study analyzes the socio-spatial disparities in environmental risk distribution in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu using pollution discharge permit data and census data, with ArcGIS spatial analysis methods. Principal component analysis is then applied for dimensionality reduction to capture the characteristics of urban spatial restructuring. Interaction term models are applied to analyze the intrinsic connections between environmental inequality and the urban spatial restructuring process. The findings reveal that individuals with lower education levels and migrant populations are exposed to greater environmental risks, with environmental inequality increasing from the city center to the periphery. The spatial variations in environmental inequality across the three cities can be attributed to their respective urban spatial restructuring processes and development trajectories, resulting in three distinct patterns of environmental inequality: minimal impact, localized improvement, and environmental deprivation. The study draws on Spatial Production Theory and Rawls' Theory of Justice to elucidate the evolution of environmental inequality in spatial differentiation within the context of urban spatial restructuring, emphasizing the shift from capital-driven spatial production to government-led social justice practices. It is suggested that when formulating and implementing strategies to promote environmental justice and sustainable urban development, the global and dynamic nature of urban space development should be considered to ensure equitable sharing of environmental benefits across all regions and social groups.

Clarifying the spatio-temporal development gap and the endogenous contributions of China's new quality productive forces provides a solid foundation for decision-making aimed at accelerating the formation and developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions. Drawing on the theoretical framework of the "Element-Structure-Function" of the new quality productive forces system, this study measured the cultivation and development degree of new quality productive forces across 282 cities in China from 2011 to 2021, utilizing multi-source data and double-improved coupling coordination degree model. Through machine learning regression prediction and SHAP visualization methods, this study analyzed the spatio-temporal dynamics and development gaps of new quality productive forces in Chinese cities, while identifying the contributions of various subsystems and variables. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) The absolute level of cultivation and development of new quality productive forces in Chinese cities has continued to rise, exhibiting a spatial distribution pattern of "cluster strengthening" and "hinterland improvement". Some cities have achieved breakthrough progress in "stage transition", though overall, the cities remained in a transitional phase from "cultivation and formation" to "coordinated improvement". (2) A clear "block segmentation" pattern has emerged in the cultivation and development of new quality productive forces across Chinese cities. The high-value areas in the north are concentrated in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Shandong Peninsula regions. The development momentum of the Central China Plains urban agglomeration is prominent, while the northeast region demonstrates a north-south differentiation pattern. The northwest region is predicted to exhibit a "hammer-shaped" low-value area. The high-value areas in the south are primarily distributed in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Guangdong-Fujian-Zhejiang coastal areas, and the Chengdu-Chongqing region. The Guangdong-Fujian-Zhejiang coastal areas, along with their adjacent regions, are predicted to show significant development momentum, while a "belt-shaped" low-value area will emerge from the middle reaches of the Yangtze River to the Beibu Gulf region. (3) The development process of new quality productive forces in Chinese cities has shifted from being predominantly driven by "factor enhancement" to a more balanced model involving both "factor enhancement" and "structural optimization". The construction of digital new infrastructure has made the most substantial positive contribution to the new quality productive forces. Optimizing the policy support framework and productivity distribution structure represents an effective lever for promoting the advancement of new quality productive forces.

Global wetlands have experienced great loss over the past century. Accurately reconstructing wetland change processes and elucidating their evolutionary mechanisms are crucial for wetland ecological restoration and protection. On the basis of previous studies, our research expanded the types of wetland reconstruction, and took small wetlands into consideration. The Jianghan Plain, which has experienced the most typical wetland changes during the past century, was selected as the study area. Combined with the 1∶50000 topographic map of the Republic of China and the interpretation results of modern remote sensing images, we reconstructed the centennial-scale evolution of the wetland landscape in the Jianghan Plain. Then the influencing factors of wetland landscape changes to natural and human-induced factors were analyzed. The results show that the total area of wetlands in the Jianghan Plain in the 1920s was about 11613 km². Over the past century, the wetland area has showed a process of first decreasing and then increasing, and the total wetland area in 1985, 2000 and 2022 was equivalent to 57.3%, 62.6% and 63.6% of the 1920s, respectively. In the 1920s, lakes, marshes, rivers and mudflats accounted for 52.8%, 32.0%, 12.8% and 2.4% of the total wetland area, respectively, and the proportion of marshes in the total wetland area decreased significantly. Over the study period, the average area of wetland landscape patches decreased, and the distribution of wetland landscapes tended to be discrete. The shape's complexity and landscape's contagion of wetland landscape continued to decrease from the 1920s to 2000, and slowly increased after 2000. During the past century, the wetland landscape pattern of the Jianghan Plain has been affected by both natural and human factors, with obviously diverse dominant influencing factors in different periods. The results of this study can provide a reference for re-understanding the reclamation and wetland loss of the Jianghan Plain over the past century, as well as for the current wetland protection and restoration.

Ecosystem quality is to the overall state of an ecosystem within a specific spatial and temporal context, serving as an indicator to diagnose whether the ecosystem remains healthy under human activities and environmental pressures. The combined effects of climate change and a series of ecological restoration projects have led to substantial changes in the condition of ecosystems across China. However, current knowledge of the spatiotemporal evolution of China's ecosystem patterns remains limited, necessitating a systematic assessment of ecosystem quality to support ecological civilization construction and sustainable ecosystem management. Limitations in ecosystem quality assessment frameworks and biases in ecosystem service function simulations are the primary sources of uncertainty in quality evaluations. To address these issues, this study developed an ecosystem quality assessment system based on the ecosystem service evaluation process model (CEVSA-ES) and the "Structure-Function-Stability-Stress" framework, and we further analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns and driving factors of terrestrial ecosystem quality in China from 2003 to 2020. The results indicate that ecosystem quality in China generally exhibits a spatial distribution pattern of being higher in the south and east and lower in the north and west. Over the past two decades, ecosystem quality in China has significantly improved, with an average annual increase of 0.28% (p < 0.01). Significant differences were observed in the long-term trends of different components of ecosystem quality, with ecosystem services, stability, and structure showing considerable improvements (p < 0.01). However, ecological pressure resulting from human activities has continued to intensify. Relative importance analysis revealed that increased forest coverage contributed 53% to the improvement in ecosystem quality by enhancing ecosystem services and structure, while increased precipitation accounted for 33% of the improvement by boosting ecosystem services and stability. This study provides a deeper understanding of the dynamic processes underlying changes in ecosystem quality and offers valuable insights for the conservation and sustainable management of ecosystems in China.

Characterized by its distinct river-lake topology and watershed geomorphology features, the Endorheic Qiangtang Basin is an essential component of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QXP). However, the shortage of high-precision watershed and river system data has hindered a thorough understanding of the hydrological structure and fluvial geomorphology characteristics in this region. With the application of an innovative extraction method, a high-precision watershed and river system dataset within the Endorheic Qiangtang Basin is developed. This dataset enables an analysis of the spatial distribution of endorheic rivers and associated geomorphological features in this region. Furthermore, the spatial correlations between the endorheic river development and watershed geomorphology, climate conditions, and hydrological inputs are systematically examined. The results show that the Endorheic Qiangtang Basin comprises approximately 430 independent sub-watersheds and 1373 endorheic rivers with catchment areas exceeding 50 km². The average length of endorheic rivers is 32.62 km and the erosion base levels predominately concentrate between 4000 and 5000 m in elevation. Based on sub-watersheds as statistical units, the average drainage density is calculated as 0.10 km/km², and the average weighted river longitudinal gradient is 5.56‰. The river longitudinal profiles predominantly display slightly concave to nearly linear shapes throughout the study area. Compared to climate conditions and hydrological inputs, watershed area and geomorphological attributes exert a more significant influence on river development in the Endorheic Qiangtang Basin. A larger watershed area is beneficial to the development of larger river networks and concave river longitudinal profiles, and watersheds with greater elevation drop and gradient have steeper river longitudinal profiles. This study provides insights into the spatial distribution, development characteristics, and influencing factors of the endorheic rivers on the QXP. The findings provide basic data and regularity characteristics of river geomorphology, contributing to further research on earth surface processes of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau under the background of climate change.

The man-land relationship is a core aspect of geography. The rapid development of information and communication technology (ICT) and social transformation have profoundly impacted human activities and the geographic environment, as well as the interactions between them. This has led to a virtual shift in spatial behavior, the reconstruction of living spaces, and socio-cultural phenomena in virtual spaces, while also providing solutions for smart space planning and governance. Particularly, there have been complex changes in the characteristics and intrinsic mechanisms of the interaction between daily life and space. Therefore, it is necessary to re-examine the man-land relationship under the influence of ICT from the perspective of everyday life geography and propose theoretical frameworks and research approaches to address this emerging topic. This paper reviews the progress of ICT's impact on everyday life geography and the shortcomings in man-land relationship research, and constructs a theoretical and research framework for everyday life-space interaction under the influence of ICT. It develops an explanatory framework for life-space interaction based on the theories of technology-society-space triadic interaction, digital space production, and virtual-real space interaction. This enriches the content system of everyday life geography from the perspective of life-space interaction, such as human-land coupling laws and patterns, as well as the interaction characteristics, mechanisms, patterns, evolution, positive-negative externalities, socio-cultural effects, planning-governance responses, simulation-prediction methods, and hybrid methods, etc. In short, the study provides new insights for future theoretical innovations in the man-land relationship. Finally, reflecting on the research of smart living in Western geography offers inspiration for the innovation of everyday life geography research in China, promoting the progress of digital life practices and the discipline of human geography.

The domestic and international dual-circulation strategy is not only an application and summary of China's participation in the global production network (GPN) for regional development, but also opens up new perspectives and practical opportunities for GPN research. This paper focuses on Huawei, a company most profoundly affected by the Sino-US geopolitical crisis. By using the data from global suppliers of key components of Huawei's typical models, the P30 Pro in 2020 and the Mate 60 Pro in 2023, it explores the reconstruction characteristics and driving mechanisms of the GPN of these suppliers. The findings are as follows: (1) Based on the classification of GPN 2.0 enterprise actor types, the GPN of Huawei mobile phones can be divided into high-value R&D, medium-value specialized, low-value standardized, and OEM assembly networks. These networks exhibit distinct hierarchical features and significant spatial differences. (2) Sino-US trade frictions have drastically altered the pattern of Huawei's global suppliers, which has shifted from being spread across East Asia, Western Europe, and North America to being highly concentrated in East Asia. The structure and organization of the global production network constructed by Huawei have also been profoundly reconfigured. (3) Under the GPN 2.0 framework, there are three main dynamic factors affecting the reconstruction of Huawei's global production network. The first is the cost-capacity ratio. Relying on local comparative advantages and increased R&D investment helps optimize production efficiency. The second is environmental risks. In the face of geopolitical risks, Huawei has made important strategic adjustments, establishing a new industrial ecosystem with more domestic enterprises. The third is market motivation. The plan for the domestic substitution of components, combined with local government incentives, provides vital support for Huawei to gain a leading position in the global market.