Urban–rural integration, which aims to balance economic growth with sustainable land use, is becoming an increasingly critical strategy for regional development. This study provides crucial insights into the relationship between land use changes and ecosystem service values (ESVs) in rapidly urbanizing areas by analyzing the urban–rural integration process in Henan Province, a typical agricultural province in China. This research investigated the relationship between land use transformation and ESVs in Henan Province, China, from 1990 to 2020. Utilizing land use data and employing the equivalent factor method and elasticity model, we analyzed shifts in land use and their impacts on ecosystem services across 17 prefecture-level cities. Results indicated a gradual improvement in the urban–rural integration development index of Henan Province, particularly after 2000, but with notable disparities among cities. Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, consistently demonstrated high urban–rural integration development index (URII) values, influencing the integration efforts of neighboring cities. Conversely, peripheral cities exhibited lower integration indices. Notable shifts in land use patterns characterized by diverse transfer dynamics distinctively influenced ESVs across regions. Urban sprawl initially exerted substantial impacts on ecosystem services and stabilized over time. Suburbanization impacts peaked in the early and middle stages, while agricultural intensification initially affected ecosystem services, but their effects diminished with increased efficiency. Ecological restoration efforts consistently enhanced ESVs. The findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic interactions between land use transitions and ecosystem services in the context of urban–rural integration.

This study explores how intercity rail transit reshapes spatial structures, which underpins the optimization of regional resource allocation. Taking 54 county-level units in the Guanzhong region as research subjects, we constructed a dual-model analytical framework combining “field potential” and “hydrological network” models. A counterfactual simulation approach was adopted to compare spatial field potential distributions under scenarios with and without rail transit, while topological relationships of river networks were used to delineate metropolitan areas. Key findings include: (1) Under scenarios with and without intercity rail transit, the mean field potential values of county-level units in Guanzhong were 9.59 and 8.50, respectively, with standard deviations of 205.65 and 170.45. This indicates that rail transit significantly enhances field potential while amplifying spatial heterogeneity. (2) The “layered-corridor” composite structure in Guanzhong exhibits stability. However, intercity rail transit introduces coexisting “corridor effects” and “shielding effects” in non-corridor areas, enabling potential leapfrog development in metropolitan areas. (3) Fractal differences in county-level field potential distributions help identify the spatial boundaries of three metropolitan areas: Xi’an, Baoji, and Weinan. The Xi’an metropolitan area already dominates Guanzhong, whereas the Linwei District of Weinan exhibits a field potential attenuation slope toward Xi’an that is 2.3 times faster than its local attenuation, suggesting future integration of Weinan into Xi’an’s framework. (4) The study concludes that intercity rail networks reconstruct regional energy fields through space-time compression effects. Future planning should leverage rail transit’s positive role in spatial regulation and resource allocation, adopting a “layered-corridor” organizational model to promote integration and structural optimization.