Spatial combination pattern and type classification of characteristic villages and A-level scenic spots in the Yellow River Basin

As important components of regional cultural and tourism resources, characterizing the spatial configuration and compositional states of characteristic villages and A-level scenic spots is of great significance for promoting the integration and coordinated development of these two elements. Based on the theory of regional tourism resource combinations, this study takes five types of national-level characteristic villages and A-level scenic spots in the Yellow River Basin as the research objects. By integrating the landscape spatial association index and spatial dislocation index, we systematically analyze the spatial association characteristics of villages and scenic spots and construct a classification framework. The results show that: ①Both characteristic villages and A-level scenic spots in the Yellow River Basin exhibit significant spatial agglomeration and heterogeneity. Characteristic villages present a "one core and two wings" spatial differentiation pattern, with Shanxi as the core, a composite cluster area in Shandong and Henan, and a single cluster area in Qinghai forming the two wings. In contrast, A-level scenic spots display a"multi-point flowering and east-west continuity"spatial distribution pattern, forming a three-level progressive structure with Shandong, Henan, and Shaanxi as the core regions. ②Characteristic villages and A-level scenic spots in the Yellow River Basin show a significant positive spatial association overall, with notable differences in spatial association strength among different types of villages and scenic spots. ③The abundance of village-scenic resource combinations in the basin is predominantly characterized by medium-to-high negative dislocation, while the combination potential shows "insufficient interaction in low-potential areas and mismatched allocation in high-potential areas". Based on the abundance and potential adaptability of village-scenic resources, the study area is divided into four types of village-scenic combination zones: priority development zone, guided optimization zone, coordinated promotion zone, and resource integration zone, with corresponding directions and pathways for coordinated development identified.