Geomorphological and Environmental Influences on the Spatial Distribution of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Bashu Region of China

The Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is a cornerstone of sustainable development. However, the influence of geomorphological and environmental conditions, particularly geology and geomorphology, in shaping its spatial distribution remains inadequately quantified. This study investigates the ICH of China’s Bashu region, an area shaped by the geological framework of the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding orogenic belts. We employ Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and standard deviation ellipse analysis to characterise the spatial patterns of ICH. We further integrate geomorphological and environmental data (elevation, slope, proximity to major rivers) with socioeconomic factors in a quantitative framework using overlay analysis and quantile regression. In the regression analysis, kernel density values of ICH distribution at the county level are used as the dependent variable to evaluate how environmental and socioeconomic factors influence the spatial intensity of heritage resources. The results reveal a pronounced dual-core spatial pattern, with major clusters in western Sichuan ( Chengdu-Deyang-Aba) and Chongqing (Banan-Yubei-Beibei), aligned along an east-west axis that correlates with major basin structures and low-elevation corridors. Analysis confirms that ICH is predominantly concentrated at low elevations (70~950 m) on gentle slopes, indicating strong geomorphological constraint. Furthermore, heritage sites exhibit a clear affinity with major river valleys and transportation routes, shaped by the underlying geological framework. Quantile regression reveals that while socioeconomic factors (urbanisation, GDP) exert influence, their effects are secondary and vary across high- and low-density ICH regions. This study concludes that geological and geomorphological settings provide important environmental contexts and spatial constraints that shape human settlement, resource utilisation, and cultural practices, which in turn shape the spatial distribution of ICH in the Bashu region. These findings provide a geoscientific basis for targeted cultural conservation and for developing geo-cultural tourism strategies that acknowledge this deep Earth-human connection.