Evolution characteristics and driving factors of rural living space system in the Three Gorges reservoir area:A case study of Santuo Village in Chongqing Municipality

Abstract

[Objective] The evolution of rural living space system is a crucial aspect of the interactive relationship of rural production, living, and ecological spaces. In the context of rural transformation and development, focusing on the rural living space system at the village scale, exploring their changes, and clarifying the driving mechanisms of their change provide a theoretical basis and case support for enhancing the capacity of rural spatial governance and modernizing the governance system. [Methods] Taking Santuo Village in Anping Town, Fengjie County, Chongqing Municipality, within the Three Gorges reservoir area as a case study, this research utilized GIS spatial analysis, supplemented by land use data, socio-economic data, field visits and household survey data, etc, to systematically analyze the characteristics and driving factors behind of the changes of rural living space system from 2000 to 2022. [Results] (1) The living space system in Santuo Village have experienced significant changes. The period from 2000 to 2010 was marked by a steady change, while the period from 2011 to 2022 experienced an accelerated changes. (2) Key evolution characteristics include the clustering and convenience improvement of settlement-residential space system, diversification of livelihood-employment space system, expansion of consumption-shopping space system, enrichment of leisure-interaction space system, and improvement of public service facilities space system. (3) The core factors that influenced these changes were per capita household income, industrial participation status, proximity to major roads, slope, relocation policies, the improvement level of household facilities, average farming distance, and compensation methods. Secondary factors included altitude, distance to township center, distance to county center, primary forms of employment, distance to main relatives’ residences, and frequency of interaction with these relatives. [Conclusion] In the past 20 years, the rural living spaces in the Three Gorges reservoir area had been gradually optimized due to the combined influence of socioeconomic development, the willingness of rural entities, and post-project implementation support policies of the Three Gorges Project. Summarizing the evolution characteristics of rural living space systems and analyzing their driving factors is a key measure for the construction of livable, business-friendly and beautiful rural areas.

Keywords

• rural space|rural living space system|evolution characteristics|driving factors|geodetector|three gorges reservoir area