The hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau represents one of China’s most ecologically vulnerable landscapes, characterized by severe soil erosion, intensive land use, and pronounced disturbances to the structure and functionality of ecosystem services. Taking Zichang City as a case study, this research integrates grid-scale analysis with the InVEST-PLUS model and bivariate spatial autocorrelation techniques to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics and inter-relations of four critical ecosystem services—carbon storage, water yield, biodiversity, and soil retention—under varying land use intensity scenarios from 1990 to 2035. The findings indicate that (1) between 1990 and 2020, land use intensity in Zichang City steadily declined, exhibiting a spatial distribution pattern typified by central-area clustering and gradual peripheral transitions. (2) Across three development scenarios, the spatial distribution of the four ecosystem services aligned with the patterns observed in 2020, with central areas showing pronounced fluctuations, whereas peripheral regions experienced relatively minor changes. Specifically, from 1990 to 2020, the proportion of low-carbon storage areas increased by 2.89%, and high water yield areas expanded by 9.45%, while the shares of low habitat quality and low soil retention areas decreased by 5.59% and 6.25%, respectively. (3) A significant spatial autocorrelation was observed between land use intensity and the four ecosystem services, with widespread cold and hot spots reflecting dynamic spatial clustering patterns. These results offer valuable insights for optimizing land use strategies, improving ecosystem service performance, and advancing ecological conservation and sustainable development initiatives.

In recent years, tourism and leisure districts have become a pivotal aspect of China’s tourism development. Analyzing their spatial distribution characteristics and driving factors is essential for fostering comprehensive district tourism and promoting sustainable development, while also facilitating the profound integration of culture and tourism. This study undertakes a thorough investigation of the spatiotemporal patterns of national-level tourism and leisure districts in China, employing GIS spatial statistical analysis techniques, including the Average Nearest-Neighbor Index, Kernel Density Analysis, and Standard Deviation Ellipse. Additionally, this research identifies the principal driving factors affecting the spatial distribution of these districts through overlay analysis, buffer analysis, and geographic detectors. The findings reveal that (1) tourism and leisure districts exhibit a notable spatial clustering pattern, characterized by a predominance in the eastern regions and scarcity in the west, alongside a higher concentration in the south compared to the north, with a gradual decline in spatial density. (2) High-density tourism and leisure districts are predominantly located in the Yangtze River Delta and the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomerations, while regions of elevated density are situated in the southwest (notably in Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces). The centroids of the first to third batches of tourism and leisure districts have transitioned from southern to northern locations. (3) The population density factor exhibits the most substantial explanatory power regarding the distribution of tourism and leisure districts (q: 0.80528), followed by the added value of the tertiary industry (q: 0.53285), whereas the slope factor shows minimal influence (q: 0.00876). Furthermore, the distance to rivers of grade three and above, in conjunction with population density, constitutes the primary factor combination influencing the spatial configuration of tourism and leisure districts (q: 0.9101).

Over recent decades, the hilly and gully regions of the northern Loess Plateau in Shaanxi province have grappled with severe soil erosion and a precarious ecological milieu. Shaped by urbanization policies, this locale has encountered a gamut of issues, including an imbalance in human–environment dynamics and the degradation of ecological integrity. Consequently, the comprehension of how urban expansion impacts the optimization of regional landscape configurations, the alignment of human–environment interactions in the Loess Plateau’s hilly and gully domains, and the mitigation of urban ecological challenges assumes paramount importance. Leveraging data from land use remote sensing monitoring, alongside inputs from natural geography and socio-economic spheres, and employing methodologies such as landscape pattern indices, we conduct an exhaustive analysis of Zichang City’s urban fabric from 1980 to 2020. Furthermore, employing the CLUE-S model, we undertake multifaceted scenario simulations to forecast urban expansion in Zichang City through to 2035. Our findings delineate two distinct phases in Zichang City’s urban expansion trajectory over the past four decades. From 1980 to 2000, urban construction land in Zichang City experienced a phase of methodical and steady growth, augmenting by 64.98 hectares, alongside a marginal decrease in the landscape shape index (LSI) by 0.02 and a commensurate increase in the aggregation index (AI) by 1.17. Conversely, from 2000 to 2020, urban construction land in Zichang City witnessed an epoch of rapid and haphazard expansion, doubling in expanse, marked by a notable escalation in LSI (2.45) and a corresponding descent in the AI (2.85). The precision of CLUE-S model simulations for Zichang City’s land use alterations registers at 0.88, fulfilling the exigent demand for further urban expansion and land use change prognostication. Under the aegis of the natural development scenario, the augmentation of urban construction land in Zichang City primarily encroaches upon grassland, farmland, and woodland, effectuating an increase of 159.81 hectares. Conversely, under the ambit of urbanization development, urban construction land contends predominantly with farmland, grassland, and woodland, heralding an augmentation of 520.42 hectares. Lastly, under the mantle of ecological protection, urban construction land expansion predominantly encroaches upon grassland, farmland, and woodland, resulting in an augmentation of 4.27 hectares. Through a nuanced analysis of the spatiotemporal evolution of urban expansion and scenario-based simulations, this study endeavors to furnish multi-faceted, scenario-driven, and policy-centric insights for regional planning, urban spatial delineation, and regional ecological safeguarding.

Historic and cultural villages in China are increasingly challenged by rapid urbanization, uneven commercial development, and fragmented preservation mechanisms. Understanding their spatiotemporal distribution and the factors shaping it is crucial for advancing the integrated development of cultural heritage conservation, ecological sustainability, and socio-economic growth. This study examines 487 historic and cultural villages using the nearest neighbor index (NNI) and kernel density analyses to reveal spatial differentiation patterns. Vector buffer analysis and the geographic detector method were further employed to identify the key drivers of village distribution. The results indicate that: (1) historic and cultural villages exhibit a distinctly clustered spatial pattern, characterized by “more in the southeast, fewer in the northwest; more in the northeast, fewer in the southwest” (NNI = 0.44, Z = –23.52, p = 0.00); (2) provincial-level spatial density demonstrates clear stratification, with high-density clusters concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta, southern Anhui, the Fujian–Zhejiang–Jiangxi junction, and along the Yellow River in Shanxi–Shaanxi–Henan. From the fifth to seventh designation batches, kernel density peaks (maximum ~0.11 × 10⁻²) increased significantly, reflecting stronger spatial clustering; and (3) the spatial distribution of villages is jointly shaped by natural geography, socio-economic conditions, transportation infrastructure, visitor markets, and tourism resources. Among these, nighttime light intensity was identified as the most influential individual factor (q = 0.6132), while the combination of slope aspect and per capita disposable income emerged as the dominant factor pair (q = 0.966).

The evolution of landscape ecological risk in ecologically fragile areas constitutes a critical foundation for optimizing territorial spatial planning and ensuring ecological security. This study takes Zichang City as the research object and integrates the dynamic analysis of land use, landscape ecological risk assessment, and spatial simulation into a single framework. By analyzing the laws of land use change in Zichang City from 1980 to 2020, the CLUE-S model was used to predict land use change and ecological risks under multiple scenarios in 2035. Statistical and spatial analysis methods were comprehensively applied to verify the robustness and spatial differentiation characteristics of the risk assessment. Key findings indicate the following: (1) From 1980 to 2020, forest land, water bodies, and construction land in Zichang City continued to increase, while cultivated land and grassland tended to decrease. Multi-scenario simulations showed that under the business-as-usual scenario, grassland and forest land expanded; under the economic development scenario, urban land increased significantly; under the ecological protection scenario, grassland grew substantially, while cultivated land contracted noticeably. (2) The overall LERI from 1980 to 2020 first declined and then slightly rebounded, reflecting an “initial improvement followed by fluctuation” in ecological security, with a spatial pattern of “high in the central area, low in the periphery.” By 2035, high-risk levels remain predominant across scenarios, although the proportion of high-risk areas is limited. Monte Carlo simulation confirmed the robustness of the assessment (mean CV = 0.038). (3) Spatially, from 2020 to 2035, the clustering characteristics of LERI varied among scenarios; however, high–high and low–low clustering patterns remained predominant, indicating that spatial aggregation of ecological risk is relatively stable across scenarios. This study demonstrates that integrating landscape ecological risk assessment with land use scenario modeling provides robust scientific support for optimizing spatial planning and ecological security in ecologically fragile regions. The proposed framework offers methodological guidance and practical reference for identifying key risk areas and designing differentiated land use and risk management strategies in similar hilly–gully landscapes.

Urban green walking systems have emerged as a pivotal strategy to alleviate urban challenges, enhance public health, and promote sustainable urban development, garnering increasing attention across multiple disciplines. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric review of literature published in the Web of Science Core Collection between 1998 and 2023, employing the R-based tool Bibliometrix (version 4.5.0) to analyze research output, scholarly contributions, and thematic evolution. Findings reveal an overall growth in publications, with the field progressing through nascent (1998–2016), rapid growth (2017–2020), and stable maturity (2021–2023) phases. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening recorded the highest number of publications, while Landscape and Urban Planning exhibited strong academic influence. China and the United States are leading contributors, though international collaboration rates suggest opportunities for broader global engagement. Core research themes center on health promotion, spatial planning, and social equity, reflecting interdisciplinary integration across environmental science, urban planning, and public health. Despite the formation of an emerging theoretical framework, gaps persist regarding research trajectory clarity, interdisciplinary depth, thematic synthesis, and methodological diversity. Future research should expand multilingual and multi-source datasets, integrate field-based investigations with quantitative modeling, and advance understanding of the mechanisms underpinning urban green walking systems, thereby informing evidence-based urban planning and the development of livable cities.