A Study on the Spatial Relationship and Driving Mechanisms Between Traditional Settlements and Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Miaojiang Corridor Region of China

As a vital cultural corridor in Southwest China, the Miaojiang Corridor has long served as a cradle for the formation and evolution of multi-ethnic settlements and intangible cultural heritage (ICH). However, the spatial relationship and underlying mechanisms between the two remain insufficiently explored. This study focuses on Hunan, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces along the Miaojiang Corridor, employing kernel density analysis, Phi coefficient, coupling coordination degree model, geographically weighted regression (GWR), and geographical detector methods to systematically investigate the spatial relationships and influencing factors of traditional settlements (TS) and ICH.The results reveal that TS and ICH exhibit strong overall spatial coupling but low coordination, presenting a distinct “dual-pattern” of spatial heterogeneity. The Miaojiang Corridor exerts a significant spatial attraction effect on both TS and ICH, yet regional differences in spatial dependence are evident. Rural revitalization, GDP, ethnic diversity, dialect diversity, and their interactions are identified as the main driving forces, with cultural and socio-economic factors playing a much greater role than natural environmental ones. These findings provide theoretical support and practical insights for the coordinated conservation of TS and ICH and the sustainable development of ethnic regions.