Implementing the rural revitalization strategy is crucial for ensuring and enhancing the livelihoods of the vast rural population. The upgrading of rural consumption reflects the gradual realization of rural residents’ pursuit of a better life, and the rapid development of digital inclusive finance provides strong support for this. Based on the Digital Inclusive Finance Index released by Peking University and panel data from 30 provinces across the country, this study examines the role of digital inclusive finance in optimizing rural consumption structure through the mediation effect model and analyzes its spatial spillover effects using the spatial Durbin model. The research shows that narrowing the development gap in digital inclusive finance is crucial for upgrading the rural consumption structure, which helps to promote rural residents’ transition to higher-level consumption. Through the analysis of the spatial Durbin model, this study finds spatial spillover effects in this process, meaning that financial development in a particular region promotes local development but inhibits development in neighboring areas. Among various dimensions, the impact of breadth of coverage is the most significant. This trend of financial development affects consumption structure by increasing agricultural productivity and rural residents’ operational income, particularly highlighting its impact on operational income. However, there are significant differences between the eastern and central-western regions in optimizing rural consumption structure, with the eastern region benefiting more while the effects in the central-western region are limited and sometimes even negative. Therefore, regional characteristics should be fully considered in policy formulation to narrow the development gap in digital inclusive finance and achieve high-quality and sustainable development.

As a significant province in southwestern China, Yunnan borders Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, boasting abundant geographical advantages and border resources. Yunnan’s border ports play a crucial role in advancing the “Belt and Road” initiative, fostering economic cooperation, and promoting regional integration with neighboring countries. Therefore, studying the development challenges and solutions for Yunnan’s border ports is of great significance. Through field research and interviews, it has been identified that Yunnan’s border ports face several issues: a simplistic economic development model, incomplete infrastructure construction, lack of coordinated development among ports, unclear port layout and positioning, and difficulties in monitoring cross-border e-commerce information. To fully leverage Yunnan’s strategic gateway role, several countermeasures are proposed, including promoting the diversification of the port economy, improving infrastructure construction, enhancing communication and exchange mechanisms with neighboring countries, clarifying the layout and positioning of each port, and implementing a “cross-border e-commerce + blockchain” regulatory model.