Traditional villages along the Jinzhong section of the Wanli Tea Road possess unique geographical locations and cultural heritage, showcasing a rich variety of cultural landscapes. Among these, village temple buildings play a crucial role as the core of spiritual and belief life in traditional villages. In the context of rapid urbanization and modernization, a new perspective is needed to thoroughly explore the deeper connotations of cultural landscape characteristics in traditional villages along the Wanli Tea Road, particularly by examining the composition and inherent features of their landscape genes. This study employs landscape gene theory, using the village temple system as a lens to identify and analyze the landscape genes of traditional villages along the Jinzhong section of the Wanli Tea Road. Based on the results, a genealogy and a map of landscape genes are constructed to clearly and effectively present the typical characteristics and expressions of these genes in a logical and visual manner. The findings indicate the following: (1) The village temple system in traditional villages along the Jinzhong section of the Wanli Tea Road is closely related to the formation and expression of their landscape genes and can play a critical role in the protection and transmission of cultural landscapes. (2) As important nodes along the historical trade route, the landscape gene characteristics of these villages reflect their unique natural environments and historical development trajectories, illustrating the deep intertwining of commercial activities and local cultural landscapes. (3) This study establishes a replicable research framework that is not only applicable to local studies but also provides valuable references for broader cultural landscape research.

The traditional villages along the Wanli Tea Road carry rich historical and cultural heritage, holding significant humanistic and scientific value. However, with the rapid pace of urbanization and modernization, the inheritance and protection of the cultural landscapes in these traditional villages face numerous challenges. Based on this, this study focuses on Xiamen Village, a traditional village along the Jinzhong section of the Wanli Tea Road, utilizing the perspective of the landscape gene information chain to reveal the performance and genetic characteristics of its unique and regionally distinctive cultural landscape genes. The study provides theoretical support for the protection and inheritance of cultural landscapes in traditional villages along the Wanli Tea Road. The results show that: (1) The overall cultural landscape of Xiamen Village has been well preserved, with notable characteristics in environment, layout, architecture, and culture, demonstrating its rich historical and cultural accumulation, and offering high research and conservation value; (2) The landscape gene information chain of Xiamen Village plays a critical role in integrating the village’s cultural landscape. The landscape gene information elements and points express the village’s unique historical inheritance through regional culture and material forms. The “branch-like” structure of the landscape gene information corridors effectively connects the various landscape gene information points, while the landscape gene information network reflects the interaction between tradition and modernity; (3) The landscape gene information chain of Xiamen Village shows a relationship of coexistence between inheritance and change in its genetic characteristics. Although some landscape genes face challenges from modernization, their core traits have not been lost. The inheritance of the landscape genes is not static but adjusts and reconstructs within an evolving social and cultural context, reflecting adaptability and flexibility in response to modern demands.

As urbanization progresses in China, the importance of preserving traditional settlements, particularly those located in mountainous areas, is increasingly recognized. To reveal the spatial morphology of mountain settlements influenced by topography, this study employs fractal geometry to analyze twelve mountain settlements within the Jiexiu City region. The correlation between the fractal dimensions of building structures in these settlements and those of suitable construction areas was examined, revealing a significant positive relationship. Moreover, an in-depth spatial distribution analysis of the representative village, Xingdi Village, was conducted to examine its sub-regional spatial morphology. Utilizing the Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) model, this study explored the impact of slope, aspect, and elevation on the spatial form of mountainous settlements. The results indicate that the complexity of sub-spaces within Xingdi Village gradually decreases with village expansion, and there is a significant positive correlation between flat terrain and sub-spatial morphology. Based on this, a conservation framework rooted in the morphological characteristics of settlement typologies is proposed.

Permafrost is one of the crucial components of the cryosphere, covering about 25% of the global continental area. The active layer thickness (ALT), as the main site for heat and water exchange between permafrost and the external atmosphere, its changes significantly impact the carbon cycle, hydrological processes, ecosystems, and the safety of engineering structures in cold regions. This study constructs a Stefan CatBoost-ET (SCE) model through machine learning and Blending integration, leveraging multi-source remote sensing data, the Stefan equation, and measured ALT data to focus on the ALT in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Additionally, the SCE model was verified via ten-fold cross-validation (MAE: 20.713 cm, RMSE: 32.680 cm, R²: 0.873, and MAPE: 0.104), and its inversion of QTP’s ALT data from 1958 to 2022 revealed 1998 as a key turning point with a slow growth rate of 0.25 cm/a before 1998 and a significantly increased rate of 1.26 cm/a afterward. Finally, based on multiple model input factor analysis methods (SHAP, Pearson correlation, and Random Forest Importance), the study analyzed the ranking of key factors influencing ALT changes. Meanwhile, the importance of Stefan equation results in SCE model is verified. The research results of this paper have positive implications for eco-hydrology in the QTP region, and also provide valuable references for simulating the ALT of permafrost.

The Great Wall of China is a cultural monument of profound historical significance and a testament to the evolution of various historical periods. As a living heritage, it holds exceptional value. However, due to inadequate protection measures in recent years, numerous sections of the Great Wall have been subject to continuous degradation. While damage to its main structural components and explicit heritage elements has been widely acknowledged, the more critical issue lies in the ambiguous recognition and insufficient safeguarding of its implicit heritage elements. This study explores the composition and classification of protective elements associated with the Great Wall, proposing a framework that emphasizes the dual safeguarding of both its tangible structures and intangible cultural significance. Employing big data collection through search engine optimization (SEO) techniques and questionnaire surveys, this research analyzes recent trends in the prioritization of heritage conservation efforts related to the Great Wall. Furthermore, by constructing a mathematical model based on the “grey relational analysis” method, the study classifies and stratifies various heritage elements to highlight the Wall’s core values and propose targeted protection strategies. The findings reveal that (1) certain regions possess considerable development potential and can be restored and planned as cultural tourism destinations; (2) conservation efforts should prioritize material restoration while preserving the intrinsic spiritual and cultural values; (3) a living heritage transmission strategy should underpin the overall protection framework. Ultimately, the study establishes a classification and grading system for conservation elements centered on the sustainable development of the Great Wall heritage. By concretely mapping the concept of living heritage protection onto the various protective elements of the Great Wall, this research offers valuable insights and recommendations for enhancing conservation practices.

The Great Wall of China, one of the nation’s most remarkable military defense structures, possesses a history spanning several millennia and is associated with numerous heritage sites. Today, it stands as a world-renowned cultural heritage asset. Vegetation growing on the ruins of the Great Wall can exert both detrimental and protective effects on the structure. Indiscriminate removal of such vegetation may lead to unintended damage to the heritage site. Drawing on the theory of “evaluative conservation”, this study integrates the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the Delphi method to develop a resistance assessment system for vegetation removal. A case study was conducted on 40 plant species or categories located along the Ming-era Guangwu section of the Great Wall, with spatial zoning analysis applied to inform removal strategies. The results reveal the structure, key factors, and classification criteria of the resistance evaluation system. Corresponding management recommendations are proposed, including strategies such as “preservation”, “partial preservation”, “removal”, and “subsequent removal and management”. This research provides a foundational reference for the conservation and restoration of the Great Wall heritage, and for the management of associated vegetation.