Background: In the past century, the importance of historical villages has been highly recognized, as they serve aesthetic, functional, and environmental values and can foster local socioeconomic development through the heritagization process. The purpose of this paper is to outline the core features of the preservation and management of historical villages in the European and Chinese contexts. Methods: Using a qualitative systematic literature review, the research was based on international academic papers covering 73 case studies from the two contexts, addressing the fact that little work has been carried out comparing European and Chinese realities. Results: Similarities and differences in rural cultural heritage preservation and management between Europe and China were compared and discussed, paying particular attention to historical villages in both contexts. Using this method, rural heritage preservation in China can be better framed and analyzed for scholars engaged in both the Chinese and international contexts. Conclusions: Inspired by the European case studies, the research suggests that capacity building of different types of stakeholders, contextualized financial mechanism and multiple values the civic society perceived and recognized during the Chinese rural heritage preservation and management process should be further studied and implemented case by case based on a historical-sensitive approach. In addition, the issue of the lack of social capital and policy arrangements in rural areas should be further addressed to stimulate community resilience.

Historic villages in China have dramatically changed in recent years, particularly those in poor areas where local culture and a lagging economy constitute the socio-economic framework. The critical relationship between preservation and commodification has become the focus of debate, but little attention has been paid to how different historic villages have been changed through heritage-led development processes and different patterns of stakeholders involved. In this paper, a case study is presented, which focuses on three historic villages in Tongren, China. The findings confirm the idea that heritage preservation as a governance technique is vulnerable to changing socio-economic circumstances. Three transformational approaches with different patterns of stakeholder engagement are identified. In addition, the coalition between the government and real-estate development enterprises played a dominant role in the government-led approach. In the case where the government and enterprises are not strongly present, village elites and village cadres are the power holders in leading to the heritage-led development despite their dual position in heritage preservation and profit-making. This paper suggests that the rigorous, scientific investigation in the planning and project-making involving a shared platform of stakeholders should be developed to address a shared future for the historic villages in China. Abbreviations: VRP: Village Rectification Plan; VEMC: Villages with Ethnic Minority Characteristics; HCTVs: Historical and Cultural Towns and Villages; CTVs: Chinese Traditional Villages; COEs: County-owned enterprises; ESMV: Ethnic Solidarity Model Village.

The Forbidden City, a globally renowned heritage site and tourist destination, attracts numerous visitors annually. Tourism facilities play a crucial role in enhancing visitor experience. This study examines the spatial distribution and efficiency of three key facilities—seats, signage, and trash bins—within accessible areas. Using spatial behavior theory, focus group interviews, space syntax, environmental behavior studies, and GIS modeling, the research identifies distinct distribution patterns. Facilities are densely concentrated along the central axis, decreasing toward the eastern and western palaces. A shortage is noted in the Front Three Hall, while the Rear Three Palaces are well-equipped, leading to an imbalance in layout and usage efficiency. Findings reveal a positive link between tourists’ environmental behavior and facility utilization. To optimize spatial experiences and support the Forbidden City’s brand image, the study recommends micro-renewal techniques to refine facility distribution and design.

The spatial equalization of medical facilities can alleviate the wastage of medical resources and improve the efficiency of medical services. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out spatially balanced planning and assessment of medical facilities in cities. Existing studies on the balanced planning, design, and evaluation of medical facilities have been conducted from the perspective of hospital buildings in terms of spatial utilization efficiency, service satisfaction, and their physical environment on one hand, and from the perspective of regional planning of medical facilities in terms of spatial accessibility to medical facilities and the suitability of medical facilities to the social environment on the other hand. This study hopes to break down the boundaries of each perspective and effectively integrate the architecture, planning, and social well-being of medical facilities, taking spatial equilibrium as the core, in order to establish a spatial equilibrium system for medical facilities and achieve a spatial equilibrium-based assessment of the current state of medical facilities. First, the factors influencing the spatial equilibrium of hospital buildings with the support of the system and environment of hospital buildings are determined. Second, the indicators of the spatial equilibrium of hospital buildings are extracted through the consideration of influencing factors, and the indicator weights are determined by discussing the degree to which they contribute to the influence of the operation of hospital building spatial equilibrium systems, thus forming a system of equilibrium indicators for hospital buildings. Finally, a spatial equilibrium evaluation model for hospital buildings is established to assess the effects of equilibrium. The results obtained in this study provide insights into the regional planning of medical facilities and the design of hospital buildings.