We extracted the spatial characteristics of the health-related behaviors of 1223 older adults of Tujia, Yao, Miao and Dong ethnicity living in 20 villages in western Hunan, considering three dimensions: spontaneously healthy, health-necessary, and mentally healthy behavior. We constructed separate prediction models using logistic regression, support vector machine, categorical boosting, random decision forest, light gradient boosting machine, and extreme gradient boosting. We then combined these models with Shapley additive explanations to complete a global explanatory analysis to explore the correlation between location and the health behaviors of older adults of different ethnicities living in villages. The support vector model and gradient boosting tree models produced the most accurate simulations of the health behaviors of older adults. We found significant differences in the health behaviors of the older adults in the different villages, noting the preferences of the older adults of specific ethnicities. This study provides a reference for the excavation of the health behavior of older adults and the aging design of village spaces.

Rural post-poverty alleviation areas are not on a solid developmental footing and therefore remain at risk of returning to poverty in the midst of rapid urbanization. Vulnerability assessment of socio-ecological systems is critical for identifying risks and enhancing resilience in rural areas transitioning out of poverty. Based on research data from 2012, 2017, and 2022 in the post-poverty alleviation areas of Hunan Province, this research establishes a Vulnerability-Scoping-Diagram (VSD) assessment framework for rural development vulnerability and Spatially-Explicit-Resilience-Vulnerability (SERV) analysis model from a socio-ecological system perspective. It comprehensively analyzes the spatial and temporal variations of the Rural Development Vulnerability Index (RDVI) in the study area. Geodetector is used to explore the main factors influencing the spatial and temporal variability of RDVI, and vulnerability type zones are classified by combining the dominant elements method. The findings indicate that: (1) The rural development vulnerability index of post-poverty alleviation areas in Hunan Province has obvious characteristics of spatial and temporal differentiation. The RDVI in western Hunan and southern Hunan is always high, while the RDVI in ChangZhuTan and Dongting Lake regions decreases year by year. (2) The RDVI of post-poverty alleviation areas in Hunan Province is determined by the three dimensions of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptability, exhibiting significant spatial and temporal variations. (3) Spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that areas with similar rural socio-ecological vulnerability in post-poverty alleviation areas of Hunan Province were significantly clustered spatially. (4) The core influencing factors of RDVI in Hunan’s post-poverty alleviation areas have shifted from natural disaster risk to multiple risk dimensions encompassing social resource load and ecological environment risk superimposition, resulting in more complex and diversified influencing factors. (5) By combining results from the RDVI assessment with the dominant elements method, the regions can be classified into multiple vulnerability type districts dominated by multiple elements or single-element dominance, leading to corresponding development suggestions. The study aims to examine the process of changes in vulnerability within rural development in post-poverty alleviation areas and its causal factors from a socio-ecological system perspective. This will provide a foundation for policy formulation to consolidate the results of post-poverty alleviation and promote the sustainable development of rural areas.

This study examines the traditional villages of the Tujia and Miao ethnic groups in Xiangxi Prefecture, western Hunan, and clarifies their spatial distribution and residential cultures through ArcGIS-based spatial analysis combined with extensive field investigation. On the basis of a systematic comparative framework, it explores differences in village patterns, architectural forms, and folk belief systems between the two groups. The results indicate that (1) in terms of spatial distribution, Miao villages are mainly located to the south of the Wuling Mountains, while Tujia villages are concentrated to the north, with the mountainous ranges of Baojing and Guzhang counties forming a clear transitional belt; (2) regarding village layout, Miao villages are generally clustered with “mountain-backed and water-adjacent”, whereas Tujia villages tend to adopt a more dispersed and defensive pattern than “mountain-anchored and water-distanced”; (3) in dwelling form, both groups share similar basic spatial organization, yet Miao dwellings exhibit greater diversity in construction materials, including timber, stone, and rammed earth; (4) in terms of belief and ritual, distinct folk practices and symbolic systems are embedded in the spatial organization and decorative features of each group’s villages. These findings deepen the understanding of cultural diversity among ethnic minorities in western Hunan and provide a theoretical basis for authenticity-oriented conservation and the sustainable development of traditional villages in ethnic regions.

Chinese traditional culture contains rich ecological philosophy thought. This paper focuses on the analysis of the ecological and environmental philosophy of "harmony between man and nature" in Chinese ancient Confucianism and Taoism. It is believed that the thought has important practical guiding function and international reference significance for the construction of ecological civilization in China, and put forward the development strategy of ecological civilization construction.

Clarifying the coordination and impediments of social, economic, and spatial connection in rural areas is essential for advancing rural revitalization, urban-rural integration, and regional coordinated development. Utilizing the 24 counties and districts in western Hunan as case studies, we developed an evaluation index system for sustainable rural development across three dimensions: social, economic, and spatial. We employed the coupling model, coordination model, and obstacle factor model to investigate the comprehensive development level, coupling and coordination status, and obstacle factors of the villages in the study area at three temporal points: 2002, 2012, and 2022. The findings indicate the following: (1) The degree of rural development in western Hunan has escalated swiftly throughout the study period, transitioning from relative homogeneity to a heterogeneous developmental landscape, accompanied by issues such as inadequate development and regional polarization. (2) The overall rural social, economic, and spatial indices are low, and the degree of coupling has increased variably across different study periods; the average coordination degree has gradually improved over time, yet the level of coordination remains low, and spatial development is unbalanced. (3) The criterion-level impediments hindering the sustainable development of rural society, economy, and space are, in descending order, social factors, spatial factors, and economic factors. The urbanization rate, total fixed investment rate, and arable land change rate are the primary impediments in most counties and cities. The study’s findings will inform the planning of rural development in ethnic regions, promote sustainable social and spatial advancement in the countryside, and serve as a reference for rural revitalization efforts.