Research on the Protection and Utilization of Urban and Rural Heritage in the Plateau Valley Area of the Yellow River Basin

Take Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture as an Example

Abstract

In the eastern valley of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, there exist numerous historical towns and settlement heritages. Over time, they have been enriched and evolved against the backdrop of the compact natural landscape of the valley, creating a unique, dense living space where nature meets humanity and history merges with modernity. Herein, taking the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture as example, this study presents a comprehensive solution to the challenges of urban-rural development and heritage preservation in the region. At the macro level, GIS technology is employed to analyze the historical evolution of spatial distribution patterns of settlements. This helps elucidate the historical factors contributing to the coexistence of modern settlements with ancient sites. At the intermediate level, a segmented approach to development is proposed, taking into account both natural environments and human settlements. At a micro scale, based on the interplay between contemporary living spaces and heritage sites, urban-rural settlements are categorized into nested, overlaying, overlapping, adjacent, and distant types, and distinct developmental trajectories for heritage preservation and utilization are delved into. Furthermore, a coordinated development strategy is mapped out for the Yellow River source area, which includes both the safeguarding of cultural heritage and the development of urban and rural construction.