With the rapid growth of the digital economy, integrating the cultural and tourism industries has become a key driver of regional economic development and industrial upgrading. As a vital component of the cultural and digital sectors, the gaming industry facilitates integration through digital innovation and creative design. While existing research on cultural-tourism integration is extensive, little attention has been paid to how virtual cultural symbols transform and drive this process in the digital era. Recent advancements in gaming have blurred the boundaries between virtual and real experiences through virtual scene construction, cultural symbol reproduction, immersive interactions, and social media dissemination, accelerating the transformation of cultural resources into tourism assets. Understanding how the gaming industry promotes cultural-tourism integration enhances existing research frameworks, deepens insights into the dissemination and reproduction of cultural symbols in the digital economy, and offers new regional cultural tourism development strategies. Using Black Myth: Wukong as a case study, this research applies the field conversion theory to examine the flow and transformation of cultural symbols between virtual and real-world tourism contexts. It explores two key questions: (1) How does the gaming industry reconstruct traditional cultural symbols through digitalization and integrate them into real-world tourism using field conversion mechanisms? and (2) How does the participation and feedback of different groups influence the effectiveness of this integration, shaping the gaming industry's role in regional cultural tourism development? The findings indicate that digital technologies not only overcome spatial constraints on cultural resources but also enhance interactivity and dissemination, promoting the transformation of symbolic capital into cultural, social, and economic capital. However, engagement levels varied across groups. Players deeply immersed in virtual cultural symbols strengthened the connection between gaming and real-world tourism through social media, offline activities, and digital communities. In contrast, non-players rely on traditional tourism information sources and respond passively and indirectly to game-driven cultural symbols. This study identifies capital accumulation, habit migration, and stakeholder collaboration as the core mechanisms facilitating cultural-tourism integration. While gaming fosters cultural identity, tourism consumption, and economic diversification, it also presents challenges, such as infrastructure strain and tourism industry homogenization due to sudden visitor influxes. This research expands the scope of the theory's application by integrating the field conversion theory into the study of gaming and cultural-tourism integration. It examines how cultural symbols gain value through cross-field transformations. Furthermore, it highlights how digital games that leverage virtual reality, short videos, and social media facilitate cultural symbols' cross-regional flow and reproduction. Moving beyond static cultural transmission models, this study reveals the dynamic evolution of virtual culture and offers fresh perspectives on the development of the cultural industry in the digital economy.
As the pace of life accelerates and the demand for tourism quality increases, slow tourism, which emphasizes experiences, relaxation, and sustainability, has emerged. However, slow-tourism behaviors and perceptions differ widely across different urban contexts. We applied the basic framework of landscape perception theory to popular Citywalk routes in Chengdu, Wuhan, and Shanghai, which were obtained from the Xiaohongshu platform. By integrating spatial, multimodal data, and content analyses, as well as other methods, we explored the spatial behavioral patterns, perceptual differences, and the associated mechanisms of tourists during Citywalk activities in different urban contexts. The findings indicate that Citywalk activities mainly occurred within the second rings of cities, representing small-scale urban exploration that emphasizes experiential feelings over conventional mobile tourism. Tourists preferred culturally and artistically vibrant urban destinations. Citywalks are generally free, thereby embodying a subcultural phenomenon that contrasts with the stressful rhythm of life emitomized by "involution" and "996" work culture. Notable differences in cognitive imagery, emotional imagery, and cultural perception were present among the tourists in different cities, which shaped unique urban Citywalk tourism experiences. Based on different models and perceptual differences, Chengdu's Citywalk was defined as "a slow city tour centered around creative cultural districts that blends creative spaces and gourmet exploration," whereas those in Wuhan and Shanghai were defined as "a slow city tour centered around historical architecture, that blends cultural spaces and natural scenery" and "a slow city tour centered around urban landscapes that blends humanities, arts, and modern fashion," respectively. Differing geographical locations, planning concepts, development orientations, and historical backgrounds affected the Citywalk tourism experiences by influencing aspects such as the natural environment, spatial layout, developmental direction, and cultural characteristics of each city, which created different place perceptions. Geographical location affects the natural environment, tourism facilities, and cultural atmosphere of a city, whereas planning concepts influence urban spatial layouts, functional zoning, and the mode of tourism resource development, which affect the form and experiences in slow tourism. Development orientation determines the development direction of a city, thereby crafting unique attractions. Differing historical backgrounds create distinct urban cultural features, lifestyles, and tourism resources, which affect the direction of slow-tourism development. The findings of this study present the differences in Citywalk behaviors and perceptions in various urban contexts, filling a gap in comparative studies of cities within slow-tourism scenes. The findings also provide a new theoretical perspective for understanding the interactions between tourism behavior and urban spaces and offers reference experiences for other cities to develop slow tourism, enhance urban cultural tourism competitiveness, and promote sustainable urban tourism development.
The homestay industry, an essential component of rural tourism, plays a crucial role in promoting the rural industries and realizing rural revitalization strategies. Female homestay owners, as important participants in this industry, have driven the development of rural tourism and the homestay sector and benefited from it. Therefore, further research is necessary to explore how female homestay owners leverage their feminine traits to become rural tourism elites, thus becoming a significant force in developing and revitalizing rural homestays. This study considerd 30 female homestay owners in Guangdong Province as research subjects, combines the four core principles of life course theory, and employs interviews and thematic analysis to explore the bidirectional interaction mechanism between the growth of female homestay owners and the development of rural homestays. This study divides the driving forces of female homestay owner growth into personal agency, accumulation of past resources, socio-historical conditions, and social relationship networks, thereby analyzing the growth path of female homestay owners. The results indicate that female homestay owners are key in promoting rural tourism development. Under certain socio-historical conditions, they actively exercise personal agency; integrate accumulated resources with family, social, and governmental relationship networks; obtain elite status; respond to rural development needs at different stages; and contribute to developing rural tourism and the homestay industry while achieving personal growth. In the exploration phase, they rely on developing rural tourism, seizing opportunities using social relationship networks, promoting the number of homestays, improving rural living environments, and responding actively to rural homestay development needs. In the foundation-building phase, they use accumulated resources and business experience to weave social relationship networks, drive outstanding homestay practitioners, and meet the need for standardization and branding in rural homestays. In the formation phase, they return to rural tourism, shape social images, pursue social recognition, address homestay clustering and branding issues, and promote exemplary development in the rural homestay industry. The feminine traits of female homestay owners play a vital role in this process; they use traits such as affinity, delicacy, and sensitivity to enhance homestays' competitiveness and customer satisfaction, create a warm accommodation environment, and keenly capture market changes. The traditional role of women in family structures influences homestay owners' career choices. They achieved economic independence through homestay businesses, enhanced their say in the family, and supported their families. In terms of care ethics, they focus on women's development, improving the employment situation of rural women, offering training and support, promoting economic independence and self-development of rural women, and contributing to rural revitalization. This study, from the perspective of integrating micro-individuals with macro-society, provides a reference for clarifying the formation and evolution mechanism of the positive interaction between local elites and local development, offers a new perspective for understanding the role of female homestay owners in rural revitalization, and provides a rich set of empirical data and a theoretical framework for future research.
Tourism corridors are a new type of activity carrier with the advent of self-driving tours and transportation integration in tourism. Tourism corridors can help to reconstruct spatial tourism patterns and optimize regional tourism industry structures. Performing tourism corridor maturity assessments can be used to guide corridor construction. However, few studies have included both linear corridor maturity assessments and obstacle factors. Using the entropy weight method and obstacle degree model, we constructed an evaluation index system for the Sichuan-Tibet tourism corridor maturity based on four aspects: resource endowment, reception level, infrastructure, and security guarantee. The obstacle factors of the corridor were combined with the results obtained from the evaluation system and discussed. The Sichuan-Tibet tourism corridor is currently at a relatively low maturity level and sections with low maturity levels and below account for 89.04% of the total mileage. Owing to the fact that the economic development level of Tibet lags behind that of Sichuan, as well as the geographical complexity, the low maturity sections were mostly concentrated in Tibet. The maturity of the tourism corridor exhibited a "high-low-high" spatial distribution, in which the high-maturity regions were located in Chengdu and Lhasa at both ends of the corridor. In contrast, the low-maturity regions were mainly concentrated in the Bomi-Mangkang and Litang-Yajiang sections in the central part of the corridor. The main obstacles to the maturity of the Sichuan-Tibet tourism corridor had effects that decreased in the order of reception level > infrastructure > security guarantee > resource endowment. Based on the specified indicators, service facilities, tourist catering, medical level, entertainment facilities, and communication conditions were the main obstacles. The main obstacle factors in each section of the tourism corridor differed and were divided into resource obstacle, reception facility obstacle, and security obstacle sections. Among these, security obstacle factors were present in most sections. Sections with differing obstacles should therefore take measures according to local conditions to reduce the impacts of their obstacles. This study addressed the spatial evaluation of linear corridor development and construction, which can be used to evaluate the maturities of other tourism corridors and provide support for the development and construction of the Sichuan-Tibet tourism corridor.
Recreational spaces play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of national life, fostering physical and mental health, and promoting social interaction. While previous research has predominantly examined the supply side of urban recreational spaces, there is a noticeable gap in the characterization of these spaces based on societal perceptions. Using Guangzhou as a case study, this study harnesses big data sourced from Ma Feng Wo and Ctrip. Based on machine learning techniques, it discerns recreational emotions and synergizes Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis with heat-emotion matching analysis. This approach facilitates a nuanced and precise examination of the structural and experiential characteristics of urban recreational spaces from the perspective of social perception. The objective of this study is to offer informed references for the strategic planning and management of urban recreational spaces. The findings indicate that: (1) The distribution of recreational spaces in Guangzhou exhibits a "core agglomeration, edge dispersion" pattern, characterized by a "one core, multiple centers" configuration. Notably, the central urban region and its proximate suburbs—specifically, the Panyu, Baiyun, and Huangpu Districts—show a marked concentration in both the number and popularity of recreational spaces. In contrast, peripheral urban zones primarily feature government residences, premium ecological recreational spaces, and hot spring resources. These areas—including the Huadu, Conghua, and Zengcheng urban areas, Conghua District's hot spring town, and Paitan town—stand out as secondary hubs in terms of recreational space concentration and popularity. Moreover, recreational spaces situated along waterfronts and in areas with dense road networks tend to follow a "point-axis" distribution model, with a staggering 90.45% of these spaces located within a 1 km radius of the road network. (2) The overall approval rate of urban recreational spaces in Guangzhou is significantly high, evidenced by an average positive emotion ratio of 86.99%. However, there is a marked polarization in terms of popularity, manifesting as a "core-edge" decline in spatial distribution. Recreational spaces that evoke predominantly positive emotions are primarily located in the city center and are proximate to the administrative seats of the Panyu, Baiyun, Huangpu, and Nansha Districts. These areas also record a low ratio of negative emotions. In contrast, neutral and negative emotions are more prevalent in the commercial streets and pedestrian zones of the central city, as well as the suburbs of the Conghua, Huadu, and Zengcheng Districts. A considerable emphasis on "cost performance" is observed across all emotional categories related to Guangzhou's urban recreational spaces, indicating a widespread concern among tourists/residents regarding the balance between the costs of these spaces and their service quality. (3) The congruence between popularity and emotional response in Guangzhou's urban recreational spaces is suboptimal. Spatially, this disconnect can be categorized into three distinct types: the "polarized" pattern in the central city, the "experience enhancement" pattern in the Huadu, Panyu, Baiyun, and Conghua Districts, and the "insufficient supply" pattern in the Zengcheng, Huangpu, and Nansha Districts. These findings provide valuable insights for metropolitan areas aiming to refine the layout and management of recreational spaces. By understanding social demands and experiences, cities can craft a more optimized group perception of urban recreational spaces, thereby enhancing tourists' satisfaction and elevating the well-being of residents.
With the trend of the "Internet of Everything" breaking the time and space boundaries of information dissemination, virtual and real interactive activity spaces are gradually replacing physical activity spaces and becoming the dominant form of carrying out human activities. For the tourist town, the "user-generated content" and community sharing platform represented by TikTok not only improves the convenience of tourists in planning trips, booking products, obtaining real-time information, and sharing experiences, but also enhances tourists' perception and interest in the living environment and cultural atmosphere of the ancient town. Under the background of the integration of virtual and real in the digital age, it is very important to explore the spatial characteristics and internal relations of the online and offline heat of the ancient town for understanding the phenomenon of large-scale tourist gathering. From the perspective of environmental behavior and attention economy theory, this study used multi-source heterogeneous data and spatial econometric analysis methods to take Dayan Ancient Town in Lijiang as an example to explore the following: 1) What are the spatial performance characteristics of online and offline popularity in tourist towns? 2) What is the potential relationship between online and offline popularity in tourist towns? The results were as follows: 1) The spatial correlation between online and offline popularity heat in Dayan Ancient Town was high, and the overall distribution was extremely uneven. The top 10% of the space unit's online popularity contributed to more than 90% of the traffic and attendance, showing clear power-law attenuation characteristics. The top 10% of the space units of offline popularity contributed more than 33.6% of the total tourists, showing a tourist gathering mode with Sifang Street as the core and decreasing to the periphery. 2) The spatial and temporal differentiation of tourist volume in ancient towns was the result of the interaction between online and offline environments. In the online dimension, the concentration of tourists, number of digital content punch cards, and number of digital content views formed a positive promotional effect. In the offline dimension, tourists' mobile behavior was positively affected by shopping service facilities, attractions, leisure and entertainment facilities, functional density, building density, and sDNA (spatial Design Network Analysis) proximity (r=400 m), and negatively affected by infrastructure, educational service facilities, and sDNA accessibility (r=n). Tourists' calling behavior was positively affected by accommodation service facilities, infrastructure, and functional density. 3) The online and offline popularity of ancient tourist towns was transformed by the influence of digital media traffic on tourists' punching and mobile behavior. In this process, the environmental characteristics and cultural landscapes of traditional villages were packaged as tourism attractions. Local tourism resources were transformed into digital content through tourists' card-making behavior. High-quality digital content accumulated attention capital through traffic transmission, drove tourist movement and consumption demand gathering, and created a new "net red card" in the physical geographical space.
The spatial effect of tourism-led growth has long been confirmed by academia; however, the scope of its spatial effect, whether there is a boundary, and its regularity urgently need to be further studied. Based on the Tourism Economic Growth Hypothesis and the "First Law of Geography" hypothesis, using panel data from 88 county units in Guizhou Province from 2010 to 2020, this study tested the spatial spillover effect of county tourism economic growth on economic development based on the spatial panel Durbin model double fixed effect model and detected its spatial attenuation boundary. The research findings are as follows: (1) From 2010 to 2020, the growth of county-level tourism economy in 88 counties and districts in Guizhou Province had a significant positive spatial correlation with the level of economic development and showed stage differences. Based on the spatial panel Durbin model double fixed effects test results, it was evident that the growth of county-level tourism economy had a positive effect on the local economic development level. The growth of county-level tourism economy had significantly improved local economic development. Simultaneously, it achieved spillover and radiation to surrounding areas through spatial spillover, ultimately leading to an overall improvement in regional economic development. In addition, affected by the stage of development, the spillover coefficient of the indirect effects was lower than that of the direct effects, and the direct effects passed more stringent significance tests. (2) The spatial spillover effect of county-level tourism economic growth in Guizhou Province on the level of economic development had a spatial spillover attenuation boundary, and the spatial spillover effect formed an "inverted V-shaped" curve as the geographical distance changed. The minimum spatial spillover boundary for the spatial spillover of county-level tourism economic growth in Guizhou Province was 90 km. The optimal and maximum spatial spillover boundaries were 350 and 450 km, respectively. This study further infers that administrative boundary constraints affect the economic growth of counties in mountainous provinces. The contributions of this study are as follows. First, it revealed the spatial decay law of the spatial spillover effect of county-level tourism economic growth on the level of economic development and detected its decay boundary. Thisstudy verified the hypothesis of economic externalities and the first law of geography, effectively enriching the explanatory power of the "LTGH hypothesis" at the provincial and county levels and addressing the deficiencies in county-level research. Second, by studying this heterogeneity law from the perspective of spatial spillover distance, this study further explored the minimum, optimal, and maximum spatial spillover distance, aiming to facilitate regional spatial collaborative development in different areas, reduce the significant constraints of high time and transportation costs caused by geographical barriers, and provide theoretical and data references for the formulation of policies for high-quality regional collaborative development.
The transformation of livelihood tourism is a key factor for fishermen in optimizing their livelihood strategies and achieving sustainable development. This is an effective strategy for improving the marine ecological environment, protecting marine biodiversity, and supporting the development of destination tourism. Recent research has demonstrated that the transformation of livelihood tourism is one of the most promising strategies for rural tourism destinations. In addition to considering the individual livelihood capital status, livelihood tourism transformation must assess the risks and uncertainties that may exist. Based on sustainable livelihood and prospect theories, this study considered the unique characteristics of coastal fishermen and established a livelihood capital evaluation index system for them. An integrated model was constructed using livelihood capital, risk cognition, and livelihood tourism transformation intention. An empirical test was conducted using 310 valid questionnaires obtained from a survey of fishermen in Tanmen Town, Qionghai City, Hainan Province, China. The results were as follows. (1) The overall level of sustainable livelihood among coastal fishermen was relatively low, with significant differences in its dimensions. The level of natural capital was relatively high, with a livelihood capital value of 0.646. Human and material capital were at moderate levels, with livelihood capital values of 0.555 and 0.510, respectively. Financial and social capital levels were relatively low, with livelihood capital values of 0.280 and 0.192, respectively. The livelihood capital levels of coastal fishermen were generally lower than those of farmers in other regions. (2) Livelihood capital significantly influenced fishermen's willingness to engage in livelihood tourism transformation, with human, material, and social capital showing significant positive effects, consistent with previous research findings. Natural and financial capital had significant negative effects. Owing to the unique attributes of coastal fishermen, the impact of financial capital on their willingness to engage in livelihood tourism transformation differedO from previous research conclusions. (3) Risk cognition had an intermediate effect between human, social, and financial capital on livelihood tourism transformation intention. The mediating effects of natural and material capital on livelihood tourism transformation intention were not significant. This study revealed the relevant factors influencing livelihood tourism transformation intention. It innovatively discusses the mediating role of risk perception in the influence of livelihood capital on livelihood tourism transformation intention by combining it with prospect theory. It deepens the understanding of existing studies on the livelihood level and structure of coastal fishermen and enriches the application of prospect theory in tourism research. It provides theoretical support and a scientific basis for improving the livelihood level of fishermen and the driving force of livelihood tourism transformation, offering new insights for optimizing livelihood strategies and sustainable development of coastal fishermen.
China's urban development is currently in the new stage of upgrading existing resources. In response to the insufficient innovation vitality of existing spaces in current urban renewal practices, major cities have successively implemented the "City Silicon Alley" project, attempting to explore new paths for the innovative development of existing spaces in old urban areas. This study used the Nanjing Jinchuan Silicon Alley as a typical case, combined with the Actor-network theory, through qualitative methods, such as on-site observation and in-depth interviews. The study analyzed the spatial evolution process of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley and conducted a dialectical assessment of its spatial effectiveness, summarizing the multidimensional promoting effects of urban renewal on material and social spaces, thereby providing experience references for the in-depth construction of urban silicon alleys. The research concludes the following: (1) The Jinchuan Silicon Alley realizes spatial innovation through the combined force of market capital and policy systems. As a key actor, the Silicon Alley operator takes on capital power and completes the identity transformation. Through various means, such as creating cultural landscapes and developing industrial chains, it promotes the reconfiguration of the action network and shapes a material space with a prominent innovative vitality atmosphere, significant scientific and technological clusters, and diverse social group integration. (2) The development mechanism of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley is based on the leading role of superior innovation policies, actively exploring potential key actors and practical places and requiring the government and operator to coordinate the diverse needs of internal action subjects, leveraging the feedback effect of human and non-human action subjects on the action network, while adopting community-based operation governance ideas to ensure the completion and long-term stable development of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley. (3) The success of the Jinchuan Silicon Alley relies on government guidance, emphasizing the use of market mechanisms to promote urban renewal. Through the "up and down linkage" role of the operator in innovation policies, capital markets, and community residents, it builds an operation model of "industry recruitment + diversified sharing," achieving old city industrial renewal and coexistence of diverse populations, and weakening the spatial isolation induced by gentrification. This study supplements the empirical research on the transformation of existing spaces into innovative spaces from a micro perspective, proving that as a type of alternative path for urban renewal, the internal operation logic of "City Silicon Alley" must possess the traditional renewal "government-market-society" operation mechanism, rely on the overall planning of the market operator, and actively consider the spatial rights of disadvantaged groups, such as community residents. Future research should focus on internal population differences and the social promotion paths of innovative space renovation, promoting the high-quality development of urban silicon alleys.
During the current critical stage in China's urbanization transition from rapid expansion to high-quality development, stock planning and renewal strategies have become important topics that drive urban sustainability. Urban villages, as remnants of rapid urbanization, pose major challenges to urban governance owing to their complex spatial forms, socioeconomic structures, and disconnection from the mainstream urban system. The government has implemented multidimensional measures such as policy guidance, environmental remediation, and industrial upgrading, which have achieved certain results in addressing urban villages. However, issues such as a lack of development momentum, insufficient self-renewal capabilities, and low integration with the city remain. The successful transformation of Gaopu Village in Xiamen City is a valuable example of an autonomous development path for urban villages. We focused on the transformation practices used in Gaopu Village to determine the underlying reasons behind the village transformation. An analytical model was constructed that comprehensively considered dynamic policy, market, and culture mechanisms, as well as exploring their impacts on the development of Gaopu Village and the changes in interactive relationships among the three factors. The benign development of Gaopu Village was found to have benefited from synergy between policy, market mechanisms, and local culture. Government policies, as external driving forces, provide directional guidance and resource support to Gaopu Village, injecting new vitality. Market mechanisms, particularly the establishment of the Xinglin Industrial Zone, increased tourism while industrial upgrading enhanced the economic level of Gaopu Village and facilitated the optimization of spatial functions. In addition, the profound local culture in Gaopu Village, including historical memory, community identity, and values, had an implicit stabilizing role in the transformation, which strengthened the villagers' sense of belonging and cohesion and promoted the coordination of multiple interests and consensus formation. When market driving forces weaken or the external environment changes, local culture transformed into an endogenous driving force that supported the sustained development of the village, which allowed it to achieve modern transformation while preserving its unique characteristics. The transformation of Gaopu Village offers important insights for other urban villages: to achieve benign and autonomous development, it is necessary to explore and fully utilize intrinsic resources, particularly cultural resources, and construct a transformation mechanism where internal and external dynamics mutually reinforce and synergize each other. This study not only enriches the theoretical framework of urban village transformation and development but also provides practical guidance for urban planners, policymakers, and community managers. The findings provide new perspectives for exploring the harmonious coexistence of cultural inheritance and modern governance in urban villages, emphasize the importance of self-renewal capabilities in urban villages, and offer valuable lessons for future urban governance.
Urban commercial banks are a primary force that supports local economies and alleviates the financing challenges faced by small- and medium-sized enterprises. However, these banks have experienced substantial changes in their overall strengths and diversified management capabilities over the past two decades of development. Previous studies have indicated that numerous issues persist amid these ongoing changes and expansions. It is therefore crucial to investigate the expansion pathways and associated effects to ensure the sustainable development of urban commercial banks in China. Therefore, we used unbalanced panel data from 46 urban commercial banks in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 1996 to 2023 with spatial network analysis and econometric modeling to delineate the spatiotemporal changes related to both endogenous and exogenous expansions. We also examined how remote expansion influenced the efficiency levels of urban commercial banks. The endogenous expansion of urban commercial banks exhibited notable fluctuations in its intensity and geographical reach. Under the combined influence of mechanisms that favor optimal selection and neighboring connections, inter-city, inter-provincial, and regional administrative barriers were dismantled. Consequently, some expansion-path heterogeneity existed across different regions and scales. Nevertheless, these expansion networks were consistently concentrated within the Yangtze River Economic Belt, which is characterized by concentrated activity in its eastern segments, and exhibited sporadic distributions beyond this belt. Notably, radial expansions within provinces were predominant. The intensity of exogenous expansion was relatively limited. Rural banks acted as the primary focus of their expansion efforts. Urban commercial banks tend to favor out-of-province expansions, particularly among eastern urban commercial banks (e.g., Chouzhou and Mintai banks). The expanded numbers and geographic reaches of urban commercial banks significantly enhanced their efficiency levels at the 1% significance level. Scale and time heterogeneity analyses indicate that small-sized urban commercial banks have a greater propensity to increase their efficiencies. There was a pronounced contribution to the asset scale of these banks during the early stages of urban commercial banking development. The robust expansion capacity during this initial phase facilitated more effective improvements in market share and capital adequacy ratios, thereby consolidating foundational strength. However, owing to data limitations, this study did not conduct a more comprehensive analysis of the effects. Future research should conduct more detailed comparative studies of the expansion and contraction dynamics within urban business networks by utilizing richer datasets and broader methodological approaches.
Island vegetation is crucial for maintaining the stability and security of island ecosystems. With increasing human development of islands, understanding spatiotemporal changes in island vegetation over long periods, and their relationship with human activity are vital for ecological management. In the Xisha Islands, where development adheres to conservation-first and green approaches, detailed long-term vegetation data remain incomplete, hindering future development and vegetation management efforts. Herein, we focused on Yongxing Island, which is characterized by prolonged and intense human development, using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to represent vegetation characteristics and the Landscape Ecological Risk (LER) index to evaluate the impact of human development on island vegetation. Using spatial trend and correlation analyses, we explored the spatiotemporal trends of the NDVI and LER from 1991 to 2020 and clarified how human-driven alterations in landscape patches influence island vegetation characteristics. Yongxing Island generally exhibited low NDVI values; nevertheless, a statistically significant increasing trend was observed over the 30-year period at a rate of 0.003 per year (P<0.05), which is primarily attributable to a combination of development and ecological restoration. From 2001 to 2008, the NDVI on Yongxing Island exhibited a significant increase (P<0.05), followed by a pronounced decline from 2008 to 2020 (P<0.05). Spatially, the NDVI on Yongxing Island exhibited a pronounced center-to-margin gradient, with higher values concentrated in the island's core and lower values toward the periphery. Vegetation improvement, dominated by arboreal and shrub communities, was detected across 38.3% of the island, whereas 6.2%, primarily shrublands, underwent a pronounced NDVI decline. Human activities elevate the LERs on Yongxing Island. The contraction of forest cover and concurrent expansion of construction land, bare ground, shrublands, and grasslands have resulted in high LER. Specifically, the LER on Yongxing Island revealed a pronounced core-to-edge gradient, low in the interior and elevated along the periphery, signaling a statistically significant intensification of anthropogenic pressure (P<0.05). The LER and NDVI of Yongxing Island were spatially and temporally correlated. Human activities exert a dual influence on vegetation: positive effects are concentrated in the central forest and grassland, whereas negative effects prevail in the northern shrubland. Development and utilization have enhanced vegetation growth over 20.48% on Yongxing Island, with 12.14% showing extremely significant positive correlations. Conversely, 8.12% of the island, primarily the northern shrublands, experiences significant negative impacts and should be prioritized for future ecological management. Moderate human activity can promote vegetation growth on ecologically fragile islands, such as Yongxing Island; however, it must remain within appropriate thresholds because intense activity can restrict vegetation, as observed in the northern region of the island. For future ecological management, creating diverse landscape patches and enhancing landscape diversity can improve vegetation quality. Understanding the degradation mechanisms and implementing restoration measures are essential for strengthening the monitoring and management of shrub areas. The findings of this study clarify the spatiotemporal changes in island vegetation and quantitatively analyze the impacts of China's island development activities, which can be used as a reference for future land-use planning and ecological protection of Yongxing Island and its surrounding area.
The south China Sea, a crucial passage for international shipping, features a complex and hazardous navigational environment; therefore, effective emergency response mechanisms are vital. Numerous islands and reefs distributed around shipping routes have the potential to serve as rapid-response locations for handling maritime emergencies. Therefore, evaluating the search and rescue (SAR) reachability of South China Sea islands and reefs from shipping routes is crucial. In this study, a Voronoi diagram was used to spatially configure the South China Sea islands and reefs and indicate their functional areas. Subsequently, multilevel buffer zones were utilized to grade their SAR ranges. The shipping routes located closer to islands and reefs had higher SAR intensity weights for the buffer zone. We then performed a quantitative analysis on the relationship between the SAR intensities of 138 South China Sea islands and reefs and shipping routes to assess the SAR reachability and strategic values of above-water inhabited, above-water uninhabited, and submerged islands and reefs. The results indicate that the SAR reachability of islands and reefs to shipping routes largely depends on their spatial relationships with other islands and reefs. Specifically, the distance from an island or reef to a shipping route is a key determinant of its SAR reachability. Islands/reefs located close to the shipping routes had higher SAR intensities and higher SAR reachability. However, in regions containing relatively dense distribution of islands and reefs, the SAR buffer zones may be reduced owing to competition and squeezing by other islands and reefs, which resulted in weakened SAR intensity. Conducting effective SAR operations on shipping routes may be impossible in such cases, thereby lowering the SAR reachability. Among the above-water inhabited islands and reefs, Dongdao Island, Swallow Reef, Zhongjian Island, and Beizi Island exhibited more prominent SAR reachability for different shipping routes and had the highest values. Among the above-water uninhabited islands and reefs, Huangyan and Quanfu Islands had relatively high SAR reachability and the highest development potentials. Among the submerged islands and reefs, the comprehensive advantages of Commodore Reef, Haima Shoal, Investigator Shoal, Wood Bank, Langhua Reef, and Royal Charlotte Reef were clear, with relatively high potential development values.
Optimizing land-use policies to enhance carbon storage has become a strategic priority in reaching the dual carbon goals in China. Among these policies, the Demolition and Reclamation (D&R) initiative for rural construction land provides a substantial opportunity to increase carbon sequestration through ecological restoration. Guangdong Province was selected as a representative case study for developing a comprehensive multi-stage evaluation framework for carbon storage, structured across three sequential stages: System Design (SD), Construction (CO), and Quality Effect (QE). The primary objectives were to quantify the differences in carbon storage capacity before and after reclamation and to analyze the key influencing factors at each stage to increase policy effectiveness in supporting the carbon neutrality goal. A stage-wise quantitative model was constructed to evaluate the carbon storage changes associated with reclaiming rural land. Data were collected from multiple counties using satellite imagery, soil surveys, vegetation coverage assessments, and policy implementation records. The carbon storage levels were calculated using established biomass and soil carbon estimation methods. Performance metrics such as carbon realization ratios and contribution rates were used to determine the effectiveness of the implementation of the policy in different stages and regions. The results showed the following: (1) The carbon storage markedly increased after reclamation, especially in counties located at provincial boundaries, with a nearly nearly five-fold increase in the per mu carbon storage. The average province-wide carbon storage contribution rate was 0.16%, with the highest single-county contribution reaching 5.25% (Maonan). (2) The carbon storage realization ratio was 5.81% in the SD stage, indicating a considerable potential gap of approximately 36.27 million tons in unrealized carbon storage. (3) The realization ratio was higher at 24.71% in the CO phase but with wide variation among counties, ranging from 1.26% to 97.55% (Jinping and Yingde, respectively). (4) The realization ratio was 65.03% in the QE stage, being spatially higher in the east and lower in the west. The carbon performance was stronger in the eastern counties, which was largely attributed to the adoption of professional land management and post-reclamation care practices. This study contributes to the literature by offering a multi-stage evaluation framework that links the SD, CO, and QE stages to measurable carbon storage performance. The results of the analysis revealed that the D&R policy has the potential for enhancing carbon sequestration; however, each stage has experienced specific institutional and operational challenges. The carbon realization ratio was low in the SD stage, reflecting an insufficient alignment between the top-down policy and the carbon neutrality goal. This finding could be attributed to the lack of effective bottom-up feedback mechanisms, low public acceptance, and limited access to localized, reliable data, which were factors that strictly constrained the operational relevance of carbon-related policy objectives. The wide disparities in the carbon storage realization in the CO stage across counties were primarily due to differences in organizational capacity. High-performing counties typically had clear task assignments, defined project timelines, integrated project management, and strong inter-program coordination. In contrast, low-performing counties tended to adopt vague and informal approaches, such as verbal agreements, which hindered implementation consistency and effectiveness. The carbon realization was highest in the QE stage among the three stages; however, room for optimization remains. Counties with superior performance often established designated maintenance personnel and enforced regular management practices. Issues such as weed overgrowth, stagnant water, and restricted tree growth emerged in areas where post-reclamation maintenance was absent, which directly inhibited carbon accumulation. Several policy implications are proposed based on these findings to enhance the effectiveness of the D&R policy in achieving carbon neutrality. First, county-specific implementation guidelines should be developed to bridge fiscal and technical disparities, especially in underdeveloped regions, such as western Guangdong, to increase the regional adaptability of policy instruments. Second, professional post-reclamation stewardship must be institutionalized through long-term ecological management funds to ensure continuous carbon sequestration and ecological stability. Third, an integrated SD-CO-QE approach should be prioritized in high-carbon-potential areas and supported by remote-sensing-based dynamic monitoring to enable timely feedback, adaptive management, and precise interventions. These strategies collectively offer a coherent and targeted policy pathway for maximizing the carbon storage potential of D&R and reinforcing their strategic role in achieving the carbon neutrality agenda in China.
In this study, we used the optimal parameters-based Geographical Detector Model to investigate how digital technological innovations, urban-rural income inequality, energy efficiency, and their interactions affect urban carbon emissions in China. Data from 279 cities during 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2019 were used. The finding indicate that: (1) Digital technology innovation (q: 0.159~0.290), gross domestic product per capita (q: 0.249~0.296), and urbanization rate (q: 0.120~0.204) were the main factors driving carbon emissions as single-factor effects, with digital technology innovation becoming increasingly significant over time. (2) At the national level, the relationship between digital technology innovation and urban-rural income inequality followed an N-shaped curve, initially intensifying then weakening and intensifying again (q: 0.202~0.303). Regionally, the interaction shifted from nonlinear weakening to bivariable enhancement in the northeast (q: 0.325~0.802), whereas it strengthened continuously in the central (q: 0.278~0.512) and western regions (q: 0.198~0.588). In contrast, the interaction transitioned from bivariable enhancement to nonlinear weakening in the east (q: 0.056~0.301). Notably, in 2015, the q value of this interaction was 0.056, which was only three-tenths of the unidirectional effect of urban-rural income inequality, thereby indicating that the interaction between digital technology innovation and urban-rural income inequality can suppress carbon emissions. This suggests that, in the path towards achieving carbon neutrality, it is crucial to fully leverage the role of digital innovation technology, reduce urban-rural income inequality, and, more importantly, harness their combined effect to lower urban carbon emissions.
