Mixed Land Use Levels in Rural Settlements and Their Influencing Factors: A Case Study of Pingba Village in Chongqing, China

Spatial Coupling Coordination Evaluation of Mixed Land Use and Urban Vitality in Major Cities in China

Based on the data from 35 major cities in China in 2020, this paper applies the Simpson's diversity index, the entropy value method, and the coupling coordination degree model to comprehensively measure the coupling coordination level of mixed land use and urban vitality in major cities in China and further analyze their spatial distribution characteristics. In addition, this paper analyzes the factors affecting the spatial variation of the coupling coordination level with the help of the geographic probe model. The study finds that: (1) The overall level of coupling coordination between mixed land use and urban vitality is high in 35 major cities in China. There is no disorder between mixed land use and urban vitality. (2) In terms of the spatial distribution of the coupling coordination between mixed land use and urban vitality in 35 cities in China, five cities, namely Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, have the highest level of coupling coordination between mixed land use and urban vitality, reaching "good coordination" with a discrete spatial distribution. Central cities such as Hangzhou and Nanjing have the second highest level of coupling coordination and are at the "intermediate coordinate" with a "strip-like distribution" in space. Twenty cities in the north and south have the lowest coupling coordination levels and are in the "primary coordination." Among these twenty cities, seven cities in the south have a higher level of coupling coordination than thirteen cities in the north, with a spatial distribution of a "C" shape. The northern cities have the lowest level of coupling coordination, with a "W"-shaped distribution in space. (3) Population size plays an essential role in guiding the level of coupling coordination between mixed land use and urban vitality in major cities in China, followed by government regulation and economic level. At the same time, transportation conditions and industrial structure have the weakest influence on the level of coupling coordination between mixed land use and urban vitality in major cities in China.

The Functional Evolution and Dynamic Mechanism of Rural Homesteads under the Background of Socioeconomic Transition: An Empirical Study on Macro- and Microscales in China

With the development of China’s national economy from the middle- and low-income stages to the middle- and high-income stages, the function of homesteads has undergone a significant evolution. Clarifying the evolution laws, characteristics, and dynamic mechanisms of various functions of homesteads can provide a basis for revitalizing the use of idle homesteads and promoting rural economic development. It can also provide theoretical guidance for implementing the Rural Revitalization Strategy. This paper uses statistical data and household survey data to establish a theoretical analytical framework for the functional evolution of rural homesteads under the background of changes in national economic-income levels. This study adopts comprehensive index model evaluation methods, participatory rural assessments, and participatory rural-mapping methods. This study reveals the characteristics and driving mechanism of the functional evolution of homesteads at different stages of economic development in China and verifies it from a microscale through typical rural homestay villages. The results show that the functional evolution of rural homesteads in China has apparent stages. In the middle- and low-income stages, the basic functions of the rural homestead are the living function, agricultural-production function, and social-security function. In the middle- and high-income stages, the living function, the nonagricultural-production function, and the asset function are the main functions. The functional evolution of rural homesteads is driven by both macro and micro factors. The multifunctional use of rural homesteads can fully activate the use rights of homesteads, realize the appreciation of the functional value of rural homestead assets, and provide primary power for rural social and economic development. Furthermore, it can play an essential role in China crossing the “middle-income trap”. The research results provide evidence for understanding the functional evolution law of rural homesteads and contribute to the rural geography of multifunctionality.

The Functional Value Evolution of Rural Homesteads in Different Types of Villages: Evidence from a Chinese Traditional Agricultural Village and Homestay Village

China’s social and economic development is in a critical period of transition. With the implementation of the Rural Revitalization Strategy, new rural industries and new formats have developed rapidly. Profound changes have taken place in the human–land relationship, population structure, industrial structure, and rural functions in the vast rural areas, which have a huge impact on the function and value of rural homesteads. The functional evolution of rural homesteads has a strong driving effect on the change of function value of the homestead. The functional value of rural homesteads is affected by the social and economic development conditions, location, resource endowment, land use policy, rural land trading market, the development of new industries and new formats, and the evolution of homestead function; different homestead functions have different values, especially in the non-agricultural production function and asset function of the homestead. To revitalize the idle and inefficient use of the homestead and fully manifest its value when the homestead is transferred or withdrawn, it is necessary to scientifically calculate the homestead value according to the principle of “what function is lost and what value is compensated”. This paper adopts basic geographic data, rural land transaction data, and social and economic data, and it uses participatory rural appraisal, the land estimation method, and the comparative analysis method. According to the classic theory of “structure determines function and function determines value” in systems engineering, the equivalent substitution method and market value method are used to measure and compare the functional values of traditional agricultural villages and tourist homestay villages before and after the functional evolution. The results show that (1) the leading functional evolution of homestead landlords is closely related to the level of social and economic development. The change in the functional value of the homestead presents the same law as the evolution of its leading function. (2) The functional evolution of the homestead has a strong driving effect on its value change. The increase in value caused by the functional evolution of homesteads in homestay villages is significantly higher than that in traditional agricultural villages. (3) The functional value of the homestead is affected by the social economy, location, resource endowment, land use policy, rural land trading market, business development, and the functional evolution of the homestead. (4) It is suggested that the state formulates the compensation standard for voluntary and paid withdrawal of homesteads according to the “functional value theory of homesteads”, to reduce the unfair value compensation caused by location differences.