The identification of regional production-living-ecological space (PLES) is the basic work for the optimization of territorial space, which can point to the direction for the protection, utilization and restoration of regional territorial space. Identification and optimization of PLES in an ecological foundation area in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River is of great significance for ensuring national ecological security and promoting sustainable social development. In this study, Jiangjin District, located at the tail of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, was selected as a case study. Moreover, based on the land use data of the study area in 2018, the coordination among production, living and ecological functions are analyzed, and the PLES is identified by using the evaluation method of land production-living-ecological function (PLEF) and the coupling coordination degree model. Then, we formulated an optimized zoning scheme of the PLES according to the principles of ecological priority, area advantage and coordinated development. The results show that (1) The living function and production function presented obvious spatial consistency in the study area, while the spatial distribution of ecological function and production function presented significant spatial complementarity. (2) Four categories of spatial combinations can be identified in the study area. Overall, the study area presented a national spatial pattern with production-living-ecological balanced space (PLEBS) and ecological space (ES) as the main body. (3) The PLES in the study area can be divided into four categories. The ecological function should be determined by the ecological conservation area as the primary responsibility, and the comprehensive improvement zone should further improve the coupling and coordination relationship among the PLEF. Moreover, the main production-living and ecological improvement zone and the main production-ecological and living improvement zone should realize the coordinated development of the PLES on the basis of strengthening the leading function.

Mixed land use provides an important means of promoting the intensive and efficient use of land resources and stimulating endogenous development power in rural areas. This paper selected Pingba Village in Chongqing as the research area; the land use status data and the social and economic data on rural settlements in the study area for 2021 were obtained through field visits and interviews. Moreover, the land use types in the rural settlements were subdivided according to the principle of dominant function. Based on these subdivisions, a land mixed-use measurement system for rural settlements was constructed to analyze their levels of mixed land use. Furthermore, the influences of natural environmental, social, economic and other factors on mixed land use were comprehensively explored. The results showed that, (1) the mixed land use of rural settlements in the study area was at a medium level and showed significant spatial variability, and rural settlements in the high, medium and low mixed land use index zones accounted for 12.5%, 35% and 52.5% of the total, respectively. (2) The differences in the natural environment determined the level of mixed land use and the basic pattern of its spatial differentiation. Social and economic factors, such as resident population and average household income, were key impact factors. Rural tourism resources, homestead agglomeration policies and other factors had important impacts on the level of mixed land use. In conclusion, the research suggests that mixed land use is an important way to boost rural revitalization. In the future, village planning could introduce the concept of mixed land use to improve the efficiency of land use, optimize the land use structure according to local conditions and promote the integrated development of rural primary, secondary and tertiary industries. In addition, it is necessary to scientifically and rationally guide rural settlements to agglomerate appropriately to improve the utilization efficiency of land resources and public service resources.

With the development of China’s national economy from the middle- and low-income stages to the middle- and high-income stages, the function of homesteads has undergone a significant evolution. Clarifying the evolution laws, characteristics, and dynamic mechanisms of various functions of homesteads can provide a basis for revitalizing the use of idle homesteads and promoting rural economic development. It can also provide theoretical guidance for implementing the Rural Revitalization Strategy. This paper uses statistical data and household survey data to establish a theoretical analytical framework for the functional evolution of rural homesteads under the background of changes in national economic-income levels. This study adopts comprehensive index model evaluation methods, participatory rural assessments, and participatory rural-mapping methods. This study reveals the characteristics and driving mechanism of the functional evolution of homesteads at different stages of economic development in China and verifies it from a microscale through typical rural homestay villages. The results show that the functional evolution of rural homesteads in China has apparent stages. In the middle- and low-income stages, the basic functions of the rural homestead are the living function, agricultural-production function, and social-security function. In the middle- and high-income stages, the living function, the nonagricultural-production function, and the asset function are the main functions. The functional evolution of rural homesteads is driven by both macro and micro factors. The multifunctional use of rural homesteads can fully activate the use rights of homesteads, realize the appreciation of the functional value of rural homestead assets, and provide primary power for rural social and economic development. Furthermore, it can play an essential role in China crossing the “middle-income trap”. The research results provide evidence for understanding the functional evolution law of rural homesteads and contribute to the rural geography of multifunctionality.

Promoting the preservation and appreciation of ecosystem services is an important value guide for land use optimization. In this research, Fengdu County in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area was selected as the focus of a case study. From the perspective of the source and sink landscape of ecosystem services, a MOP model and FLUS model were used to optimize the areas of various land use types and the spatial configurations of those land use types in the study area in 2035 under a strict ecological constraint (SEC) scenario, a moderate ecological constraint (MEC) scenario, and a relaxed ecological constraint (REC) scenario. We also superimposed and adjusted the results of land use optimization under the three ecological constraint scenarios, and obtained land use regionalization results that integrated multiple scenarios. The results indicated that (1) there were large differences in the areas and spatial distributions of the source and sink landscapes under the three scenarios. Under the SEC scenario, the important source landscapes (ISLs), common source landscapes (CSLs), and sink landscapes (SLs) areas covered 1676.62 km², 1190.43 km², and 33.81 km², respectively. A large area of the CSLs and a small area of the SLs were transformed into ISLs area, and the degree of fragmentation of the landscape was low. Under the MEC scenario, the ISLs, CSLs, and SLs areas covered 1609.22 km², 1241.60 km², and 49.74 km², respectively. The development of the source landscapes and sink landscapes was similar, and the degree of fragmentation was moderate. Under the REC scenario, the ISLs, CSLs, and SLs areas covered 1603.96 km², 1243.32 km², and 53.58 km², respectively. A large area of CSLs was transformed into SLs area, and the degree of fragmentation was high. (2) Fengdu County was divided into seven types of areas: ecological conservation area; agricultural production area; construction optimization area; construction-ecological area; ecological-agricultural area; agricultural-construction area; and integrated development area. The results of this study can provide references for the territorial spatial planning and management of ecological barrier zones.

Rural restructuring is an effective means to boost rural revitalization. Research on rural restructuring and its driving forces is helpful to adjust the evolution direction of key development factors, and form a coupling and coordinated development pattern. Taking Chongqing as an example, this paper adopts basic geographic data, land use data, and social and economic data, and uses the entropy method, spatial econometric model, and GTWR model. The paper explores the spatiotemporal evolution pattern of influencing factors on rural restructuring from 2000 to 2018 from the perspective of exogenous driving and endogenous driving. The results show the following. (1) During the study period, the average values of the rural economic restructuring intensity index, social restructuring intensity index, spatial restructuring intensity index, and comprehensive restructuring intensity index were 0.138, 0.118, 0.123, and 0.379, respectively. During the research period, rural restructuring in Chongqing experienced four development stages: space-economic restructuring-led, economic-social restructuring-led, economic restructuring-led, and social-spatial restructuring-led. In general, the dominant speed of economic restructuring gradually accelerated, and the changes in spatial restructuring were obvious but still lagging. Compared with other periods, the characteristics of social restructuring and spatial restructuring were more obvious between 2015 and 2018. (2) Different types of rural restructuring were affected by exogenous and endogenous factors. Exogenous driving mainly showed a negative impact on the changes in rural restructuring in the study area, while endogenous driving mainly showed a positive impact. (3) The driving system composed of exogenous driving and endogenous driving showed obvious timing and dynamic fluctuation. From 2000 to 2005 and from 2015 to 2018, rural restructuring in the study area was balanced and driven by endogenous and exogenous factors. From 2005 to 2015, rural restructuring in the study area was dominated by exogenous driving. Based on the influence differences and internal correlations of the driving forces of rural restructuring, policy opinions are put forward from the two aspects of restructuring path and restructuring guarantee, which provide a scientific basis for the determination of rural development direction and path selection.