Spatial-temporal distribution characteristics and tourism response of important agricultural cultural heritage in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River

The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River have a long history of farming, with agricultural heritage reflecting the evolution of regional agricultural civilization. Using ArcGIS Pro, this study applies nearest neighbor index and kernel density analysis to examine the spatial patterns and historical distribution of major agricultural heritage sites, and employs geographical linkage analysis to explore their tourism response. Results show: (1) The 58 sites were generally clustered, with random distribution across provinces, forming one core area and three sub-areas with distinct density differences. (2) Distribution patterns varied from random to uniform across historical periods, with significant growth during the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, expanding from the lower reaches to both the middle and lower reaches. (3) Tourism responses differed notably by heritage level; domestic tourism showed a stronger response than inbound tourism, and tourist numbers showed a greater response than revenue.