Analysis of spatial distribution characteristics and driving factors of ethnic-minority villages in China using geospatial technology and statistical models

This study aims to reveal the spatial structural characteristics of 1,652 Ethnic-Minority Villages (EMV) in China and to analyze the mechanisms driving their spatial heterogeneity. EMV are a special type of settlement space that preserve a large number of historical traces of the ethnic culture of ancient China. They are important carriers of China’s excellent traditional culture and are key to the implementation of rural revitalization strategies. In this study, 1652 EMV in China were selected as the research subjects. The Nearest Neighbor Index, kernel density, and spatial autocorrelation index were employed to reveal the spatial structural characteristics of minority villages. Neural network models, spatial lag models, and geographical detectors were used to analyze the formation mechanism of spatial heterogeneity in EMV. The results indicate that: (1) EMV exhibit significant spatial differentiation characterized by “single-core with multiple surrounding sub-centers,” “polarization between east and west,” “decreasing quantity from southwest to east coast to northeast to northwest,” and “large dispersion with small agglomeration.” (2) EMV are mainly distributed in areas rich in intangible cultural heritage, with high vegetation coverage and low altitude, far from central cities, and having limited arable land and an underdeveloped economy and transportation, particularly in shaded or riverbank areas. (3) Distance from the nearest river (X3), distance from central cities (X8), national intangible cultural heritage (X9), and NDVI (X10) were the main driving factors affecting the spatial distribution of EMV, whereas elevation (X1) and GDP (X5) had the weakest influence. As EMV are a relatively unique territorial spatial unit, the identification of their spatial heterogeneity characteristics not only deepens the research content of settlement geography, but also involves the assessment, protection, and development of Minority Villages, which is of great significance for the inheritance and utilization of excellent ethnic cultures in the era.