Spatial Structure and Evolution of Territorial Function of Rural Areas at Cultural Heritage Sites from the Perspective of Social Space

Abstract

Affected by multiple factors, differentiated capital investment and power games have led to the uneven regional development of rural areas at cultural heritage sites. Therefore, it is urgent to reflect on the spatial equity and justice of heritage sites from the perspective of social space. This study took the territorial function of rural areas (TFRA) as its research objective, utilizing the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site—the Qinshihuang Mausoleum—and the Qianling Mausoleum and the Qiaoling Mausoleum in Shaanxi Province as cases. Based on the theory of spatial production, an index system of TFRA was constructed using social and spatial dimensions. Factor analysis and social–spatial differentiation indices were employed to identify the spatial structure and differentiation of TFRA. The results show the following: (1) the case areas reflect eight principal components, and these components have obvious spatial differentiation characteristics; (2) the principal components related to heritage display and utilization have had a sustained impact over the past decade, which have driven the development of related industries, but the scores of principal components related to the restrictions of heritage protection have been decreased; (3) six functional type zones are designated, and the spatial pattern of TFRA presented a concentric circle with a core-periphery structure, which is influenced by heritage protection zoning; (4) high-value-added functional spaces form and expand along transportation lines; (5) the inherent demand for capital proliferation is the fundamental driving force for the differentiation and evolution of TFRA at heritage sites. Based on the results of the above analysis, strategies of coordinated development between society and space are proposed to address the issue of uneven regional development at heritage sites.