A Syntactical Spatio-Functional Analysis of Four Typical Historic Chinese Towns from a Heritage Tourism Perspective

This study presents a quantitative approach to exploring the spatio-functional characteristics of historic Chinese towns (HCTs) from heritage tourism perspective. In recent years, HCTs have evolved being resident-oriented more tourist-oriented, in part due their significance for attracting tourists. Spatio-functional qualities town are essential elements town’s urban morphology and great concern preservation. Previous studies that discussed this issue often used qualitative descriptions, only limited systematically explored HCTs. Thus, there is presently lack understanding around issue, especially based on rigorous approaches. examines using space syntax, commonly method enables measurement spatial through mathematical means. Four with significance, Pingyao, Lijiang, Kulangsu, Wuzhen, were selected as case studies. The has examined role results show tourist-focused functions tend distribute aggregate core By contrast, cultural relics freely distributed not expanded over time. patterns four theorised, paper concludes suggestions regarding future land-use optimisation concerning tourism.