Spatial Pattern and Influencing Factors of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Yellow River-adjacent Region of Henan Province
Article
Kai
Zhang
1
Emailkxeg95@126.com
Xinyu
Zhang
2
Emailwxry02@126.com
Liulin
Li
3✉
Emailliliulin2019@163.com
1
School of Management
Zhengzhou University
450001
Zhengzhou
China
2
School of Management
Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology
710055
Xi’an
China
3
School of Philosophy
Northwest University
710127
Xi’an
China
Kai Zhang
1,#
, Xinyu Zhang2,# and Liulin Li3,*
1 School of Management, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; kxeg95@126.com
2 School of Management, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, China; wxry02@126.com
3 School of Philosophy, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China; liliulin2019@163.com
* Correspondence: liliulin2019@163.com
★# Kai Zhang (K.Z.) and Xinyu Zhang (X.Z.) contributed equally to this study, sharing first authorship. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Abstract
Henan Province is located in the hinterland of the Yellow River Basin and serves as a crucial birthplace and carrier of Chinese civilization. Taking ten cities including Zhengzhou as the research area and focusing on 72 national-level Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) items within the region, this Research systematically analyzes their spatial distribution pattern using tools such as ArcGIS. The results show that: (1) In terms of spatial distribution, the ICH items in the research area present an agglomeration pattern of "Four Great Ancient Capitals + Jiaozuo and Puyang", which is closely linked to the profound historical and cultural heritage of the Four Great Ancient Capitals. Different types of ICH exhibit varying degrees of agglomeration in different regions, among which the performing arts category has the highest correlation with the overall agglomeration of ICH in the research area, showing the most similar distribution. Luoyang is a hotspot for all five major categories of ICH and a representative of ICH in ancient capitals. Traditional opera and traditional fine arts have the widest distribution, covering 7 out of the 10 cities in the Yellow River-adjacent areas. (2) Regarding influencing factors, geographical environment is a key factor affecting the distribution of ICH in the research area, with ICH mostly concentrated in the central and eastern plains. Humanistic history and socio-economic conditions directly influence the formation of ICH resources as well as the application and protection of ICH items.
Keywords:
Yellow River-adjacent Areas in Henan Province
Intangible Cultural Heritage(ICH)
Spatial Distribution
Influencing Factors
1. Introduction
A
"Yellow River culture is an important component of Chinese civilization and the root and soul of the Chinese nation". To tell the story of the Yellow River well, sustain its historical context and strengthen confidence in the value and vitality of Chinese culture, it is imperative to conduct comprehensive and objective research on the contemporary value of Yellow River culture from both theoretical and practical perspectives [1–3]. This holds great theoretical, historical and humanistic significance for further enhancing the cultural confidence and sustainable development of the Chinese nation [4].
Henan Province, located in the hinterland of the Yellow River Basin, is a key carrier of Chinese civilization and Yellow River culture. With the national emphasis on promoting Yellow River culture, scholars have begun to explore the entire Yellow River Basin ICH system from multiple dimensions. In domestic academia, systematic analyses of the spatial distribution pattern of ICH in the Yellow River Basin indicate an obvious agglomeration feature, forming a "multi-core and four belts" spatial pattern [2] and a "wide dispersion with small agglomerations" structure [5]. Additionally, in the field of ICH protection and dissemination, the sustainable development of Yellow River civilization can only be achieved through the organic integration of Yellow River cultural heritage [6]. Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan provinces should accelerate the construction of ICH studies, promote the integration and complementarity of ICH studies and Yellow River studies and realize the inheritance and innovation of ICH through the joint efforts of multiple stakeholders [7]. Using GIS to Research the spatial distribution and influencing factors of ICH [7] is of practical significance for improving the ecological environment of the Yellow River Basin and promoting regional sustainable development [9].
Foreign research on ICH started relatively early, initially focusing on concept definition, characteristics and protection methods. Before the 21st century, foreign countries, based on heritage laws, proposed a relatively objective and comprehensive conceptual system for ICH protection [10, 11] and developed a complete set of ICH protection measures based on the actual development of ICH [12]. Since the 21st century, foreign research has expanded the field of ICH studies through digital technology and virtual technology [13] and summarized the legal issues involved in the construction of ICH digital databases [14]. Economically developed regions may be more suitable for establishing ecological and cultural protection areas [15]. In recent years, research has extended to multiple fields such as ICH activation approaches, ICH stakeholders, consumer participation and digital protection technology [16, 17], which can provide useful references for the protection, inheritance and dissemination of ICH in the Yellow River-adjacent areas of Henan Province.
In recent years, scholars have begun to focus on ICH protection in the Yellow River Basin from a systematic and holistic perspective, with spatial distribution research and protection strategy research becoming the main trends [18–20]. However, research on ICH in the Yellow River-adjacent areas of Henan Province remains insufficient, particularly in the above two aspects and systematic research on ICH protection in this region urgently needs to be deepened. In view of this, this Research takes ten cities including Zhengzhou as the research area, focuses on 72 national-level ICH items in the region and systematically analyzes their spatial distribution pattern using tools such as ArcGIS, aiming to provide useful references for innovating Yellow River culture protection methods.2. Data sources and methodology
2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Research Area
The Planning for the Protection, Inheritance and Promotion of Yellow River Culture in Henan Province (Draft for Discussion) has established four strategic positions: the core area for the protection, inheritance and promotion of Yellow River culture, the demonstration area for the inheritance and innovation of Chinese culture, the pilot area for the construction of the Yellow River National Cultural Park and the demonstration area for the integrated development of Yellow River culture and tourism. Based on the "root" and "soul" status of Yellow River culture, it clarifies the main regions involved in Yellow River culture in Henan Province [21]. In the planning of the Yellow River National Cultural Park (Henan Section), its scope mainly includes 9 prefecture-level cities (Anyang, Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Hebi, Puyang, Xinxiang, Sanmenxia, Jiaozuo) and Jiyuan Demonstration Zone. In its work summary report, Henan Provincial Bureau of Statistics also classifies the above 9 prefecture-level cities and Jiyuan Demonstration Zone as part of the Yellow River Basin in Henan Province. Based on the hydrological and geographical characteristics of the Yellow River Basin and the discussions on the scope of the Yellow River Basin in various statistics and strategic plans of Henan Province, the above 9 prefecture-level cities and Jiyuan Demonstration Zone in the Yellow River-adjacent areas of Henan Province are defined as the research area of this Research.
The Yellow River in Henan Province starts from Lingbao, Sanmenxia in the west and ends at Qianxian, Puyang in the east, with a total length of 711 km. It flows through Luoyang, Jiyuan, Jiaozuo, Zhengzhou, Xinxiang and Kaifeng in sequence and its basin scope further includes Hebi and Anyang [22, 23], the entire research area. The region is located in north-central Henan Province, with geographical coordinates between 33°31′N-36°22′N and 110°21′E-116°5′E [22]. The terrain is high in the west and low in the east, with significant topographic variations, including mountains, hills and plains in sequence. The annual average rainfall in the region ranges from 500 to 900 mm and the annual average temperature is 12 to 15℃ [23]. The research area has four distinct seasons and belongs to a typical temperate monsoon climate zone.
The land area of the research area is 68,000 square kilometers, accounting for approximately 41% of Henan Province and it is the core of the province’s population, society and economy. In 2024, the permanent population of the research area reached 47.33 million, accounting for 48.4% of the province; the urbanization rate was 61.3%, 4.8 percentage points higher than the provincial average; the GDP was nearly 3.4 trillion yuan, with a per capita GDP of over 68,000 yuan, increasing at an average annual rate of 7.0% and 6.2% respectively compared with 2012. The region is rich in historical sites and precious heritage, accumulating profound Yellow River culture. In 2024, the total tourism revenue of the research area reached 600 billion yuan, which provides a valuable opportunity for the protection of Yellow River culture. The location of the research area is shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1
Location of the Research Area
2.2 Data Sources
2.2.1 Research Content
This Research comprehensively analyzes the spatial distribution pattern of ICH in the research area and explores its influencing factors using tools such as ArcGIS. On this basis, it sorts out and analyzes the main factors shaping the spatial distribution pattern of ICH in the Yellow River-adjacent areas of Henan Province from the perspectives of nature, humanity and socio-economics, to facilitate the better role of ICH in regional society, economy, ecology and people’s livelihood [24].
2.2.2 Data Sources of ICH
The data are mainly sourced from the China National Cultural Resource Repository, China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network, Henan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, Henan Intangible Cultural Heritage Network, official website of Henan Provincial People’s Government and the electronic journal of the Global Change Data Repository. The datasets used in this study is publicly available via the following webpages: 1. http://www.geodoi.ac.cn/WebCn/geodoi.aspx?Id=1925; 2. https://www.geodoi.ac.cn/doipaper/html/2022139402/202202139412.htm [25]. Among the five batches of national-level ICH lists announced by the State Council in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2021, Henan Province has a total of 125 national-level ICH items, with 72 located in the research area. No new items have been added since then until 2025.
2.3 Research Methods
2.3.1 Nearest Neighbor Index
In ArcGIS, corresponding tools and models are selected to conduct average nearest neighbor analysis to determine the distribution characteristics of various types of ICH in the Yellow River-adjacent areas. The model is as follows:
1
Where R is the nearest neighbor index, is the mean nearest neighbor spacing, is the theoretical nearest neighbor distance and D is the dot density [20,30]. is calculated according to model (2).
2
Where A is the area of the region and n is the number of research objects.
2.3.2 Kernel Density Estimation
This method is used to measure the agglomeration of ICH point elements in the Yellow River-adjacent areas. The closer to the core, the higher the density and the more concentrated the ICH distribution. The calculation formula is:
3
Where: f(x) is the kernel density value of ICH item points at spatial position x, a larger f(x) value indicates a denser distribution of ICH items; k(x) is called the kernel function; h is the bandwidth; x-Xi represents the distance from the evaluation point x to the ICH item point Xi.
2.3.3 Hotspot and Coldspot Analysis
This analysis explores the randomness of the spatial distribution of ICH items in the research area. The calculation formula is:
Where: 
is the local only correlation index of the i region;
and 
are respectively the values of the logarithm of the comprehensive dynamics of plot i and area j plus 1; 
is a spatial weight matrix; S is the standard deviation. When > 0, it indicates that the area is a hot spot area; when < 0, it indicates that the area is a cold spot area; When = 0, the results were generated randomly and were not statistically significant [5] .
2.3.4 Location entropy
This method is used to measure the spatial agglomeration degree of various types of ICH items in different regions of the research area. The calculation formula is:
Where: 
refers to the location entropy of type j ICH in city i; 
represents the number of type j ICH in city i; represents the total number of ICH in city i; 
represents the number of type j ICH in the Yellow River-adjacent areas; and M represents the total number of ICH in the Yellow River-adjacent areas. When 
> 1, type j ICH exhibits significant agglomeration in city i; when 
< 1, type j ICH has no agglomeration feature in city i [5].
2.3.5 Buffer analysis
Based on the distribution characteristics of ICH in the research area, the Four Great Ancient Capitals and 5A-level scenic spots are selected as "points" and high-speed railways as "lines". The spatial structure of ICH is analyzed using buffers based on points, lines and a combination of points and lines. For point-based buffers, the maximum buffer radius is 50 km, calculated and adjusted according to the nearest neighbor distance. The influence distance of linear elements depends on their level and length, with a maximum buffer radius of 30 km.
3. Results
3.1Analysis of the Spatial Pattern Characteristics of ICH
Analyzing the spatial distribution characteristics of ICH is conducive to promoting the inheritance and activated utilization of ICH in the research area, meeting people’s demand for high-quality and characteristic culture and realizing the high-quality and sustainable development of the economy and culture in the Yellow River Basin [20]. This Research explores the spatial pattern of ICH in the research area from the perspectives of general overview, spatial distribution pattern, spatial agglomeration characteristics, spatial correlation characteristics, buffer analysis and establishment time distribution.
3.1.1 General Overview of ICH
The specific distribution of the 72 ICH items in the research area is shown in Table 1. Jiaozuo has the largest number of ICH items, while Jiyuan has the smallest. Anyang, Luoyang, Zhengzhou and Kaifeng together have 35 ICH items, accounting for 50% of the total, which is closely related to the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Four Great Ancient Capitals. In addition, there are many cross-regional ICH items (e.g., Yu Opera) with strong commonality, existing in almost all parts of the research area.
Among the types of ICH, traditional opera has the largest number (18 items), while traditional medicine and Quyi (folk opera) have the smallest (3 items each) and other types of ICH are at an average level. This indicates that Henan, as a major province for opera, has relatively mature exploration and protection of traditional opera ICH, while the exploration and protection of traditional medicine and Quyi ICH need to be strengthened.
|
Ⅰ
|
Ⅱ
|
Ⅲ
|
Ⅳ
|
Ⅴ
|
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
City
|
A
|
B
|
C
|
D
|
E
|
F
|
G
|
H
|
J
|
K
|
Percentage/%
|
|
Zhengzhou
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
15.28
|
|
Kaifeng
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
12.50
|
|
Luoyang
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
12.50
|
|
Anyang
|
0
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
9.72
|
|
Hebi
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
5.56
|
|
Xinxiang
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
6.94
|
|
Jiaozuo
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
18.06
|
|
Puyang
|
0
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
11.11
|
|
Sanmenxia
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
6.94
|
|
Jiyuan
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1.39
|
|
Total
|
3
|
18
|
8
|
6
|
7
|
6
|
5
|
10
|
6
|
3
|
100
|
| Note:Ⅰ is for Performing Arts category, Ⅱ is for Oral Traditions and Expressions category, Ⅲ is for Traditional Skills category, Ⅳ is for Social Practices, Rituals and Festivals category, Ⅴ is for Knowledge and Practices Concerning Nature and the Universe category;A is for Quyi, B is for Traditional Theater, C is for Traditional dance,D is for Traditional music, E is for Traditional Sports,recreation,and Acrobatics, F is for Folk Literature, G is for Traditional craftsmanship, H is for Traditional fine arts, J is for Folklore, K is for Traditional medicine.The serial numbers in the other charts in the text refer to the same content. | |||||||||||
3.1.2 Spatial Distribution Pattern of ICH
The average nearest neighbor indices of various types of ICH in the research area are shown in Table 2.
|
Type
|
Number
|
R
|
P
|
Spatial Distribution Type
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A
|
3
|
7.46
|
0.000
|
Uniform type
|
|
B
|
18
|
1.00
|
0.000
|
Random type
|
|
C
|
7
|
1.79
|
0.000
|
Uniform type
|
|
D
|
7
|
1.37
|
0.000
|
Uniform type
|
|
E
|
7
|
2.01
|
0.000
|
Uniform type
|
|
F
|
6
|
2.55
|
0.000
|
Uniform type
|
|
G
|
3
|
4.41
|
0.000
|
Uniform type
|
|
H
|
5
|
1.92
|
0.000
|
Uniform type
|
|
J
|
6
|
1.08
|
0.000
|
Random type
|
|
K
|
3
|
4.41
|
0.000
|
Uniform type
|
|
Total
|
72
|
0.45
|
0.000
|
Clustered type
|
The average nearest neighbor index of all ICH items in the research area is 0.45, showing a highly significant agglomerated spatial distribution pattern. The average nearest neighbor index of traditional opera ICH is 1 and that of folk custom ICH is 1.08—both are close to 1, belonging to a random spatial distribution type. The average nearest neighbor indices of other types of ICH are significantly greater than 1, belonging to a uniform spatial distribution type. This indicates that ICH in the research area generally shows an agglomerated spatial distribution, but specific types have different distributions, mostly uniform.
Further, average nearest neighbor analysis of all ICH items in Henan Province by region yields Table 3. The
|
City
|
Number
|
R
|
P
|
Spatial Distribution Type
|
City
|
Number
|
R
|
P
|
Spatial Distribution Type
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zhengzhou
|
11
|
1.42
|
0.00
|
Uniform type
|
Xuchang
|
3
|
150.13
|
0.00
|
Uniform type
|
|
Kaifeng
|
9
|
1.12
|
0.00
|
Random type
|
Luohe
|
1
|
|||
|
Luoyang
|
9
|
86.06
|
0.00
|
Uniform type
|
Sanmenxia
|
5
|
1.56
|
0.00
|
Uniform type
|
|
Pingdingshan
|
9
|
0.34
|
0.00
|
Clustered type
|
Nanyang
|
13
|
0.54
|
0.00
|
Clustered type
|
|
Anyang
|
7
|
1.38
|
0.00
|
Uniform type
|
Shangqiu
|
4
|
5.43
|
0.00
|
Uniform type
|
|
Hebi
|
4
|
0
|
0.00
|
Clustered type
|
Xinyang
|
4
|
2.47
|
0.00
|
Uniform type
|
|
Xinxiang
|
5
|
1.7
|
0.00
|
Uniform type
|
Zhoukou
|
10
|
1.5
|
0.00
|
Uniform type
|
|
Jiaozuo
|
13
|
0.68
|
0.00
|
Clustered type
|
Zhumadian
|
9
|
1.4
|
0.00
|
Uniform type
|
|
Puyang
|
8
|
1.09
|
0.00
|
Random type
|
Jiyuan
|
1
|
|||
|
Province
|
125
|
0.49
|
0.00
|
Clustered type
|
|||||
| Note: Luohe and Jiyuan each have 1 Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) item, so the average nearest neighbor analysis cannot be conducted | |||||||||
R-values of Pingdingshan, Hebi, Jiaozuo and Nanyang are 0.34, 0.00, 0.68 and 0.54 respectively, indicating that their ICH items have obvious agglomerated spatial distribution characteristics; the R-values of Kaifeng and Puyang are 1.12 and 1.09 respectively, indicating that their ICH items have random characteristics; the rest belong to a uniform spatial distribution pattern.
The average nearest neighbor index of all ICH items in Henan Province is calculated: based on the 1:5,000,000 Henan Province map file, the average observed distance (
) is 9.81 km, the expected average distance is 19.84 km and R = 0.49. This shows that ICH items in Henan Province present an agglomerated spatial distribution pattern.
The average nearest neighbor index of all ICH items in the research area is 0.45, significantly lower than the theoretical random value of 1, indicating a highly significant agglomerated feature in their spatial distribution. Among them, the average nearest neighbor indices of traditional opera and folk custom ICH are 1.00 and 1.08 respectively, close to or slightly higher than 1 and their spatial distribution patterns tend to be random; the average nearest neighbor indices of other types of ICH are significantly greater than 1, showing a typical uniform spatial distribution feature. It can be seen that ICH in the research area generally presents an agglomerated distribution pattern, but there are differences at the specific category level, with most categories mainly showing uniform distribution.
Further, average nearest neighbor analysis of all ICH items in Henan Province by regional unit is conducted and the results are shown in Table 3. The R-values of Pingdingshan, Hebi, Jiaozuo and Nanyang are 0.34, 0.00, 0.68 and 0.54 respectively, all significantly less than 1, indicating that ICH items in these areas have obvious spatial agglomeration characteristics; the R-values of Kaifeng and Puyang are 1.12 and 1.09 respectively, close to 1, indicating that their distribution patterns are close to random; other cities belong to a uniform spatial distribution pattern.
Based on the 1:5,000,000 scale map data of Henan Province, the average observed distance of all ICH items is calculated as 9.81 km, the expected average distance is 19.84 km and the R-value is 0.49—this further verifies that ICH items in Henan Province generally present a significant agglomerated spatial distribution pattern.
3.1.3 Spatial Agglomeration Characteristics of ICH
Fig. 2
Distribution of Core Densities for Various Categories of ICH
For research convenience, ICH items in the research area are divided into five categories according to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage: performing arts, oral traditions and expressions, traditional skills, social practices/rituals/festivals and knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe (as shown in Table 1). The correlation and agglomeration of ICH in the research area are analyzed from these categories.
Kernel density estimation analysis of all ICH items and various types of ICH in the research area yields Fig. 2. All ICH items in the research area show obvious agglomeration characteristics in space, presenting an agglomeration pattern of "Four Great Ancient Capitals + Jiaozuo and Puyang", mainly forming three core agglomeration areas, one high-density area and two secondary dense areas. The core agglomeration areas are Luoyang, Jiaozuo and Anyang; the high-density area is Kaifeng; and the secondary dense areas are Zhengzhou and Puyang—almost all concentrated in the central and eastern regions along the Yellow River.
Among various types of ICH:The performing arts category forms one core agglomeration area, two high-density areas and two secondary dense areas. The core agglomeration area is Jiaozuo; the high-density areas are Puyang and Zhengzhou; and the secondary dense areas are Hebi, Anyang and Kaifeng. Its distribution is similar to the overall ICH distribution in the research area. The oral traditions and expressions category forms five core agglomeration areas in Sanmenxia, Luoyang, Jiyuan, Jiaozuo and Kaifeng, basically showing a uniform distribution pattern. This pattern is related to the small number of ICH items in this category in the research area. The traditional skills category forms two core agglomeration areas and two high-density areas. The core agglomeration areas are Luoyang and Kaifeng; the high-density areas are the region covering Anyang, Hebi and Puyang and the region covering Sanmenxia. The social practices/rituals/festivals category forms two core agglomeration areas and two high-density areas. The core agglomeration areas are Luoyang and Hebi; the high-density areas are Xinxiang and Zhengzhou. The knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe category forms three core agglomeration areas in Luoyang, Jiaozuo and Xinxiang.
3.1.4 Spatial Correlation Characteristics of ICH
Through hotspot and coldspot analysis, spatial statistics tools in ArcToolbox are used to conduct hotspot analysis on the quantity of all ICH items and the five major types of ICH in the research area. Using the natural breaks method, Fig. 3 is obtained. The hotspot areas of ICH in the research area are Jiaozuo and Zhengzhou; the sub-hotspot areas are Luoyang, Kaifeng, Anyang and Puyang; the sub-coldspot areas are Sanmenxia, Xinxiang and Hebi; and the coldspot area is Jiyuan.
Fig. 3
Distribution of Hotspots and Coldspots for Various Types of ICH
Among various types of ICH:For performing arts ICH: hotspots are Jiaozuo and Zhengzhou; sub-hotspots are Anyang and Puyang; sub-coldspot is Kaifeng; other areas are coldspots. For oral traditions and expressions ICH: hotspot is Luoyang; sub-hotspots are Sanmenxia, Jiyuan, Jiaozuo and Kaifeng; other areas are coldspots. For traditional skills ICH: hotspots are Sanmenxia, Luoyang and Kaifeng; coldspot is Jiyuan; other areas are sub-hotspots.
For social practices/rituals/festivals ICH: hotspots are Luoyang and Hebi; sub-hotspots are Zhengzhou and Xinxiang; other areas are coldspots. For knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe ICH: hotspots are Luoyang, Jiaozuo and Xinxiang; other areas are coldspots. Luoyang is a hotspot for all five major categories of ICH, reflecting its profound historical, cultural, political and economic heritage and making it a representative of ICH in ancient capitals.
Location entropy can effectively measure the spatial agglomeration degree of various types of ICH in different regions. The location entropy of ten types of ICH in the research area is calculated, as shown in Table 4. Different types of ICH exhibit varying agglomeration characteristics in different regions:Folk literature ICH shows obvious agglomeration in Kaifeng, Luoyang, Sanmenxia and Jiyuan. Folk custom ICH shows obvious agglomeration in Zhengzhou, Luoyang and Xinxiang. Traditional medicine ICH shows obvious agglomeration in Luoyang, Xinxiang and Jiaozuo. Traditional skills ICH shows obvious agglomeration in Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Jiaozuo and Sanmenxia. Traditional fine arts ICH shows obvious agglomeration in Kaifeng, Anyang, Hebi, Xinxiang and Sanmenxia. Traditional sports, entertainment and acrobatics ICH shows obvious agglomeration in Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Jiaozuo and Puyang. Quyi ICH shows obvious agglomeration in Zhengzhou, Luoyang and Sanmenxia. Traditional opera ICH shows obvious agglomeration in Anyang and Puyang. Traditional dance ICH shows obvious agglomeration in Kaifeng, Anyang and Jiaozuo. Traditional music ICH shows obvious agglomeration in Zhengzhou, Kaifeng and Xinxiang.
|
Type
|
Zhengzhou
|
Kaifeng
|
Luoyang
|
Anyang
|
Hebi
|
Xinxiang
|
Jiaozuo
|
Puyang
|
Sanmenxia
|
Jiyuan
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A
|
2.18
|
0
|
2.67
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4.80
|
0
|
|
B
|
0.73
|
0.44
|
0
|
2.86
|
1
|
0.80
|
0.62
|
3.00
|
0
|
0
|
|
C
|
0.94
|
1.14
|
0
|
1.47
|
0
|
0
|
3.16
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
D
|
2.81
|
2.29
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2.06
|
0.79
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
E
|
1.87
|
1.14
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2.37
|
1.29
|
0
|
0
|
|
F
|
0
|
1.33
|
2.67
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.92
|
0
|
2.40
|
12.00
|
|
G
|
1.31
|
0
|
3.20
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1.11
|
0
|
2.88
|
0
|
|
H
|
0
|
2.40
|
0.80
|
1.03
|
1.80
|
1.44
|
0
|
0.90
|
2.88
|
0
|
|
J
|
1.09
|
0
|
2.67
|
0
|
6
|
2.40
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
K
|
0
|
0
|
2.67
|
0
|
0
|
4.80
|
1.85
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
The regional differences in location entropy are small for traditional fine arts, traditional music, traditional skills and traditional sports/entertainment/acrobatics; while the differences are large for folk literature, folk customs, and Quyi. Among them: Luoyang has the highest location entropy and agglomeration degree for folk custom, traditional skills, and Quyi ICH. Jiaozuo has the highest location entropy and agglomeration degree for traditional sports/entertainment/acrobatics and traditional dance ICH. Anyang has the highest location entropy and agglomeration degree for traditional opera ICH. Zhengzhou has the highest location entropy and agglomeration degree for traditional music ICH. Xinxiang has the highest location entropy and agglomeration degree for traditional medicine ICH. Sanmenxia has the highest location entropy and agglomeration degree for traditional fine arts ICH.
Jiyuan has the highest location entropy and agglomeration degree for folk literature ICH.
3.1.5 Buffer Analysis Based on Points, Lines and Point-Line Combination
The Four Great Ancient Capitals (Anyang, Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng) in the research area are important economic, cultural and transportation hubs. Establishing buffers centered on them can further clarify the correlation between the Four Great Ancient Capitals and ICH resources and intuitively reflect the spatial distribution and accessibility of ICH resources. Based on the deduction of the nearest neighbor distance, buffers are established in GIS spatial analysis with an interval of 10 km and a maximum radius of 50 km. By overlaying the distribution map of ICH in the research area with the map of the Four Great Ancient Capitals, the buffer analysis of ICH relative to the Four Great Ancient Capitals is obtained (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4
Buffer Analysis Map of ICH Items Centered on the Four Great Ancient Capitals
Due to the overlap of the buffers of Zhengzhou and Kaifeng, the Four Great Ancient Capitals eventually form three buffers: Zhengzhou-Kaifeng, Luoyang and Anyang, which contain 19, 9 and 7 ICH items respectively, totaling 36 items (accounting for 50% of the total ICH items in the research area). The 50 km-radius buffers of the Four Great Ancient Capitals gather rich ICH resources, fully reflecting their profound historical and cultural heritage.
Taking 11 national 5A-level scenic spots in the research area as centers, buffers for 5A-level scenic spots are established with a maximum radius of 50 km and an interval of 10 km, to explore the spatial distribution attributes and traffic accessibility of ICH relative to 5A-level scenic spots. In the ArcGIS spatial analysis module, the distribution map of ICH in the research area is overlaid with the map of 5A-level scenic spots, obtaining the buffer distribution of ICH relative to 5A-level scenic spots (Fig. 5). A total of 49 ICH items are included in the buffers of 5A-level scenic spots, accounting for 68% of the total ICH items in the research area.
Fig. 5
Buffer Analysis Map of ICH Items Centered on 5A-level Scenic Spots
Henan Province has formed a "rice-shaped" high-speed railway network with Zhengzhou as the axis. This network connects famous historical and cultural cities in Henan, creating new opportunities for the development of cultural tourism in the research area. Buffer analysis centered on high-speed railways can reveal the spatial distribution law of ICH resources in the research area relative to high-speed railway lines, further clarify the spatial accessibility and traffic convenience of different ICH resources and provide a basis for the development and utilization of ICH tourism resources in the research area.
Taking the Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, Beijing-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway, Zhengzhou-Xi’an High-Speed Railway, Zhengzhou-Taiyuan High-Speed Railway, Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-Speed Railway, Zhengzhou-Xuzhou High-Speed Railway and the Zhengzhou-Puyang section of the Zhengzhou-Jinan High-Speed Railway as axes, analysis is conducted in the ArcGIS spatial analysis module with a maximum buffer radius of 30 km and an interval of 10 km (Fig. 6). The high-speed railway lines are spatially connected and an integrated buffer is formed after merging overlapping buffers [31]. A total of 67 ICH items are included in the buffers with a maximum radius of 30 km along the high-speed railways, accounting for 93% of the total ICH items in the research area. This means that the "rice-shaped" high-speed railway network built in Henan basically covers all ICH items in the Yellow River-adjacent areas of the province, laying a solid foundation for ICH protection and the development of cultural tourism resources.
Fig. 6
Buffer Analysis Map of ICH Items Centered on High-Speed Railways
3.1.6 Establishment Time Distribution of ICH
The natural breaks method is used to analyze the establishment time of ICH in the research area, obtaining the map of ICH establishment years in the research area (Fig. 7). Among them, the largest number of new ICH items were added in the research area in 2008, with new additions in almost all ten cities; the smallest number of new ICH items were added in 2021, with only 3 items.
Fig. 7
Establishment Years of ICH
By classifying ICH types, cities and the five batches of establishment time in detail, Tables 5 and 6 are obtained. Among them, the number of newly added ICH items in the research area in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2021 was 18, 34, 7, 10 and 3 respectively. New ICH items in Kaifeng and Luoyang were mainly concentrated in 2008; those in Zhengzhou, Jiaozuo and Puyang were mainly concentrated in 2006 and 2008; and those in Anyang were concentrated in 2006, 2008 and 2011.
|
Ⅰ
|
Ⅱ
|
Ⅲ
|
Ⅳ
|
Ⅴ
|
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year
|
A
|
B
|
C
|
D
|
E
|
F
|
G
|
H
|
J
|
K
|
Total
|
|
2006
|
2
|
10
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
18
|
|
2008
|
0
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
5
|
2
|
34
|
|
2011
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
|
2014
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
10
|
|
2021
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
|
Total
|
3
|
18
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
6
|
5
|
10
|
6
|
3
|
72
|
|
Type
|
Zhengzhou
|
Kaifeng
|
Luoyang
|
Anyang
|
Hebi
|
Xinxiang
|
Jiaozuo
|
Puyang
|
Sanmenxia
|
Jiyuan
|
Total
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2006
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
18
|
|
2008
|
5
|
6
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
34
|
|
2011
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
7
|
|
2014
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
10
|
|
2021
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
|
Total
|
11
|
9
|
9
|
7
|
4
|
5
|
13
|
8
|
5
|
1
|
72
|
The largest number of folk literature ICH items were added in 2014 (3 items). The largest number of folk custom, traditional fine arts, traditional dance and traditional music ICH items were added in 2008 (5, 7, 5 and 4 items respectively). The largest number of traditional opera ICH items were added in 2006 (10 items).
2006 and 2008 were the two years with the largest number of newly added ICH items in the research area, which is consistent with the national ICH development process. Since China acceded to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2004, ICH protection has gradually become institutionalized. By 2011, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted and implemented. It can be said that the early 21st century was a critical period for the rapid development of ICH protection in China.
3.2 Influencing Factors of the Spatial Pattern of ICH
ICH in the research area presents an agglomerated distribution pattern centered on the Four Great Ancient Capitals (Anyang, Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng), while some categories show random or scattered distribution characteristics. This Research sorts out and analyzes the main factors influencing the spatial distribution pattern of ICH from the perspectives of nature, humanity, and socio-economics.
3.2.1 Natural Geographical Factors
It is no coincidence that Chinese civilization originated in the Yellow River Basin, especially in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. The Yellow River flows through the Loess Plateau, and the large amount of sediment it carries has formed the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain with flat terrain and loose soil [26]. Coupled with a warm climate and sufficient precipitation, this plain is the most suitable area for agriculture. Ancestors who migrated to the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River reclaimed and cultivated a large amount of land, producing sufficient food, which allowed some people to be freed from farming to engage in governance, defense, management, ritual ceremonies, jade making, and other work, forming urban civilizations. From the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties to the Tang and Song dynasties, agriculture in the Yellow River Basin was the foundation for imperial states to maintain their rule. It was during this period that Chinese civilization gradually matured and improved, providing sufficient conditions for the development of ICH in the Yellow River Basin.
The research area is located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, with four distinct seasons and a temperate monsoon climate. ICH items are mainly densely distributed along the river in the Four Great Ancient Capitals and the central-eastern plains (e.g., Jiaozuo, Puyang), and less distributed in the southwestern mountainous areas (Fig. 8). The central-eastern plains have relatively flat terrain, more suitable climate, and fertile land, which are conducive to human settlement and provide a favorable natural environment for the emergence and distribution of various types of ICH.
Fig. 8
Elevation and Water Body Distribution Map
3.2.2 Humanistic and Historical Factors
Yellow River culture is the product of historical development. Before the Qin and Han dynasties, only the Yellow River was referred to as "He" (River). Henan got its name because its main jurisdiction is located south of the Yellow River, as detailed in the Book of Documents · Yu Gong. The Yellow River roughly divides the Central Plains into three river regions: south of the Yellow River, north of the Yellow River, and east of the Yellow River—all of which are important birthplaces of Chinese civilization [27]. From the Peiligang Culture (8,000–9,000 years ago) in Xinzheng, Henan, to the Yangshao Culture (5,000–7,000 years ago) in Mianchi, Henan, and from the Xia, Shang, Zhou, and Qin dynasties to the Han, Tang, and Northern Song dynasties, the main birthplaces and heyday of Chinese civilization were in the Yellow River Basin. It can be said that Yellow River culture has witnessed the entire development process of Chinese civilization [28]. Four of China’s Eight Great Ancient Capitals (Anyang, Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng) are located in the research area, all of which have witnessed the vicissitudes and development of Chinese history. For thousands of years, the struggle for hegemony in the Central Plains ("Whoever gains the Central Plains gains the world") has gradually made the research area the core of ancient China’s politics, economy, culture, and social civilization, providing a profound historical and cultural heritage for ICH in the research area.
3.2.3 Socio-Economic Factors
The research area is not only the core area for ICH distribution but also the core of the Yellow River Economic Zone in Henan Province. According to data from Henan Provincial Bureau of Statistics, the research area accounts for nearly 41% of Henan’s total area, is the core of the province’s population and economy, and to a large extent, serves as the engine driving the high-quality economic development of the entire province.
ICH in the research area is also closely related to regional economic development. In 2024, the urbanization rate of the research area reached 61%, entering a fast track of urban development. Currently, two-thirds of China’s 6 major heritage protection sites are distributed in areas such as Luoyang and Zhengzhou-Kaifeng within the research area. In 2024, the total tourism revenue of the research area exceeded 600 billion yuan, twice that of 2012 (the spatial distribution of GDP is shown in Fig. 9); there are 233 museums in the research area, nearly three times that of 2012 [29].
Fig. 9
Spatial Distribution of GDP in 2024
The distribution of ICH in the research area is influenced by policy preferences. In previous batches of newly added ICH items in Henan Province, the number of ICH items in the Yellow River-adjacent areas showed a decreasing trend, but they still accounted for the majority in terms of total quantity (Table 7). This also means that in the early stage of ICH protection work, the Yellow River-adjacent areas, relying on their location and policy advantages, remained in the first echelon in terms of ICH approval. Since then, with the increasing improvement of Henan’s ICH protection system, ICH work in adjacent areas has also made new progress, leading to more balanced development.
|
2006
|
2008
|
2011
|
2014
|
2021
|
Total
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Regions along the Yellow River
|
18
|
34
|
7
|
10
|
3
|
72
|
|
Other regions
|
8
|
22
|
6
|
8
|
9
|
53
|
|
Henan Province
|
26
|
56
|
13
|
18
|
12
|
125
|
|
Proportion of regions along the Yellow River
|
69.23%
|
60.71%
|
53.85%
|
55.56%
|
25.00%
|
57.60%
|
4. Discussion
This Research systematically analyzes the spatial pattern and influencing factors of 72 national-level ICH items in the Yellow River-adjacent areas of Henan Province using multiple spatial analysis methods based on ArcGIS. The research results not only enrich the empirical research on ICH in the Yellow River Basin but also provide targeted references for regional cultural heritage protection and inheritance, which is of important theoretical and practical significance.
4.1. Spatial Pattern of ICH: Scale Differences and Core Characteristics
The spatial distribution pattern of "Four Great Ancient Capitals + Jiaozuo and Puyang" revealed in this Research is consistent with the general agglomeration characteristics of ICH in the Yellow River Basin summarized in existing studies [2,5]. However, compared with the macro "multi-core and four belts" pattern of the entire Yellow River Basin, this Research refines the spatial pattern of the Henan section, highlighting the core driving role of the Four Great Ancient Capitals (Anyang, Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng) in ICH agglomeration. This difference stems from the research scale: macro-scale studies focus on the overall distribution of the entire basin, while this regional Research reveals more refined spatial characteristics, which complements the hierarchical research system of ICH spatial patterns in the Yellow River Basin. Notably, Luoyang, as a hotspot for all five major categories of ICH, fully reflects the accumulation of historical and cultural heritage in ancient capitals. This finding verifies the view that "ancient political and cultural centers are important carriers of ICH" [7,18], and further clarifies the uniqueness of Luoyang's dual status as both an ancient capital and an ICH concentration area.
4.2. Distribution Characteristics and Protection Imbalance of Different ICH Types
The analysis of different ICH types shows that the performing arts category has the highest correlation with the overall agglomeration pattern, while traditional opera and traditional fine arts have the widest distribution. This is closely related to the regional cultural characteristics of Henan Province as a "major opera province"—traditional opera, as a popular art form, has strong cultural commonality and dissemination, thus forming a relatively extensive distribution pattern. In contrast, traditional medicine and Quyi have fewer items, indicating insufficient exploration and protection of these types. This finding echoes the existing research conclusion that "the protection of ICH types in the Yellow River Basin is unbalanced" [8], and further specifies the types and regional manifestations of the imbalance, providing a basis for optimizing the regional ICH protection system.
4.3. Multi-Dimensional Influencing Mechanisms of ICH Spatial Pattern
The influencing factors analysis confirms the joint action of natural geography, humanistic history, and socio-economic conditions on the ICH spatial pattern. The central and eastern plains with flat terrain and suitable climate provide a favorable natural foundation for human settlement and cultural development, which is consistent with the research on the correlation between ICH distribution and natural environment [26]. The profound historical heritage of the Four Great Ancient Capitals and the long-standing Yellow River culture constitute the core driving force for ICH agglomeration, reflecting the path-dependent characteristics of cultural heritage formation [28]. The close correlation between ICH distribution and high-speed railway networks, 5A-level scenic spots, and economic indicators such as GDP and tourism revenue indicates that socio-economic development and infrastructure construction not only provide material support for ICH protection but also enhance the accessibility and dissemination of ICH resources. This finding enriches the understanding of the interaction mechanism between ICH and regional development, supplementing the existing research that mainly focuses on natural and historical factors [5,19].
4.4. Research Limitations
However, this Research also has certain limitations. First, the research data only include national-level ICH items announced by 2021, and the latest ICH resources added in recent years are not included, which may affect the comprehensiveness of the spatial pattern analysis. Second, the research method mainly focuses on spatial quantitative analysis, and the qualitative exploration of the living inheritance, cross-regional communication mechanism, and cultural connotation of ICH is insufficient. Third, although the influencing factors are sorted out from three dimensions, the quantitative measurement of the relative importance and interaction of each factor needs to be further strengthened, such as the application of geographic detector models to deepen the analysis of driving mechanisms.
4.5. Directions for Future Research
Future research can be carried out in the following directions: First, update the research data by incorporating newly announced national-level and provincial-level ICH items to realize the dynamic monitoring and analysis of the ICH spatial pattern. Second, combine field research methods such as interviews and questionnaires to supplement qualitative analysis, and explore the interaction between ICH living inheritance and regional social and economic development. Third, expand the research scope to carry out cross-regional comparative studies with the Yellow River-adjacent areas of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, so as to reveal the overall law of ICH distribution in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. Fourth, construct a dynamic spatial database of ICH with the support of digital technology, and provide technical support for the scientific decision-making of regional cultural heritage protection and the construction of the Yellow River National Cultural Park.
5. Conclusions
Using ArcGIS software, this Research adopts methods such as nearest neighbor index, kernel density estimation, hotspot and coldspot analysis, location entropy, and buffer analysis to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of 72 national-level ICH items in the research area, obtaining the spatial distribution pattern of ICH resources in the research area and laying a theoretical foundation for better systematic protection.
(1) In terms of quantitative distribution, the Four Great Ancient Capitals (Anyang, Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng) have the largest number of ICH items, accounting for 50% of the total. Among various types of ICH, traditional opera has the largest number of items, while traditional medicine has the smallest.
(2) In terms of spatial distribution, ICH in the research area presents an agglomeration pattern of "Four Great Ancient Capitals + Jiaozuo and Puyang". The ancient capitals (Anyang, Luoyang, Zhengzhou) and adjacent areas (Jiaozuo, Xinxiang, Puyang) are density agglomeration areas, which is closely related to the profound historical and cultural heritage of the Four Great Ancient Capitals.
(3) Different types of ICH exhibit varying degrees of agglomeration in different regions. Among them, the performing arts category has the highest correlation with the overall agglomeration of ICH in the research area, showing the most similar distribution.
(4) Luoyang is a hotspot for all five major categories of ICH in the research area and a representative of ICH in ancient capitals.
(5) Traditional opera and traditional fine arts have the widest distribution, each covering 7 out of the 10 cities in the research area.
(6) ICH in the research area shows obvious traffic orientation, with the highest correlation with high-speed railway lines, and also has a close correlation with factors such as 5A-level scenic spots and the Four Great Ancient Capitals, laying a good foundation for the development and utilization of ICH resources.
In addition, this Research sorts out the causes of the spatial pattern of ICH in the research area from three dimensions: geographical environment, humanistic history, and socio-economic factors. It is expected to build a systematic protection pattern from a comprehensive, holistic, and coordinated perspective, further innovate the protection strategies and dissemination methods of ICH in the research area, explore the contemporary value contained in Yellow River culture, implement the national strategy for ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, and further enhance the cultural confidence and sustainable development of the Chinese nation.
★Author Contributions:
Conceptualization: L.L. (Liulin Li)
Methodology: K.Z. (Kai Zhang) & X.Z. (Xinyu Zhang) (equal contribution as co-first authors)
Software: K.Z. & X.Z. (equal contribution)
Formal Analysis: K.Z. & X.Z. (equal contribution)
Data Curation: X.Z. & K.Z. (equal contribution)
Writing—Original Draft: K.Z. & X.Z. (equal contribution)
Writing—Review & Editing: L.L., X.Z.
Project Administration: L.L.
Funding Acquisition: L.L.
A
Funding:
This research was funded by the National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFD1700900), the National Development and Reform Commission Energy Bureau Project ([2017]20–24).
A
Data Availability
The dataset used in this study is publicly available via the following webpages: 1. http://www.geodoi.ac.cn/WebCn/geodoi.aspx?Id=1925; 2. https://www.geodoi.ac.cn/doipaper/html/2022139402/202202139412.htm.
Conflicts of Interest:
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Electronic Supplementary Material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material
A
Author Contribution
Conceptualization: L.L. (Liulin Li)Methodology: K.Z. (Kai Zhang) \& X.Z. (Xinyu Zhang) (equal contribution as co-first authors)Software: K.Z. \& X.Z. (equal contribution)Formal Analysis: K.Z. \& X.Z. (equal contribution)Data Curation: X.Z. \& K.Z. (equal contribution)Writing-Original Draft: K.Z. \& X.Z. (equal contribution)Writing-Review \& Editing: L.L., X.Z.Project Administration: L.L.Funding Acquisition: L.L.
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