The Grand Canal Basin contains exceptionally rich historical and cultural heritage, and understanding the spatial distribution patterns and determinants of this heritage can provide a scientific basis for conservation and sustainable development. This study aims to reveal the spatiotemporal synergy and dislocation–coupling relationship between immovable and intangible cultural heritage in the Grand Canal Basin, and to provide a scientific basis for the emergency management of cultural heritage and the integrated protection of Grand Canal culture. The results indicate that both heritage categories generally exhibit “coaxial agglomeration with local differentiation” in the Grand Canal Basin; although their spatial distributions differ, they co-exist geographically and complement each other functionally, forming a dislocation–coupling system that links “historical space–modern space” and “material carriers–living practices.” These findings provide theoretical support for integrated conservation and the activation-oriented safeguarding and inheritance of cultural heritage in the Grand Canal Basin.
Ding et al. (Sat,) studied this question.