Multiple values and holistic conservation pathways of regional traditional villages: A case study of Jixi county, Anhui province

In the context of the vigorous promotion of deep integration of cultural heritage protection with rural revitalization, the holistic conservation and utilization of regional traditional villages has emerged as both a strategic imperative and a central scholarly challenge for the field's development in the New Era. Traditional villages are multifunctional complexes that integrate diverse values, serving as vital carriers of historical and cultural heritage, distinctive models of human settlement, and important foundations for local economic production. Taking Jixi county, Anhui province as a case study, this paper systematically analyzes the multiple value characteristics of regional traditional villages by comprehensively applying the indicator method, mechanical equilibrium model, and social network analysis. Subsequently, from the perspective of value conservation and utilization, it proposes holistic conservation and development pathways for traditional villages. The research indicates that: (1) The multiple values of traditional villages in the study area exhibit three significant characteristics: Firstly, the level of multiple values shows hierarchical differentiation, with particularly notable inter-village disparities in historical/cultural value and economic production value. Secondly, there are significant structural differences in multiple values, demonstrating diversified value features. Thirdly, the strength of spatial correlations among village values varies significantly, showing characteristics of local cluster agglomeration. (2) Based on the multiple value characteristics of traditional villages in Jixi, conservation and development pathways are proposed: Firstly, based on the level of multiple values, traditional villages are classified into three protection levels—core protected villages, key protected villages, and general protected villages—implementing a hierarchical protection strategy. Secondly, according to their distinct value features, traditional villages are categorized into four types: comprehensive development, cultural experience, ecological livability, and characteristic industry, adopting targeted measures to foster differentiated and distinctive development pathways. Finally, based on the characteristics of value spatial correlations, traditional village clusters are identified to construct a networked spatial pattern, promoting the holistic conservation and coordinated development of traditional villages across the county. This study aims to provide practical guidance for the construction of Jixi as a "National Demonstration County for the Concentrated and Contiguous Conservation and Utilization of Traditional Villages", while offering a referential framework for holistic conservation and development research on traditional villages in other regions.