A Study on the Reconstruction of Linear Cultural Heritage Corridors and Regional Collaborative Development: The Case of the Shu dao in China

As key links connecting regional cultural, economic, and social development, linear cultural heritage corridors have exhibited significant spatial discontinuities and structural fragmentation due to long-term natural evolution and urbanization, resulting in a gradual loss of their regional synergy functions. Based on this, this study adopts a regional coordinated development perspective to construct a research framework comprising “resistance modeling—discontinuity identification—network construction—regional synergy.” The study comprehensively employs Geographic Information System (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods to establish an integrated resistance evaluation system covering three dimensions: ecological environment, socio-economics, and cultural heritage. Based on the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model and cost-path analysis, it identifies potential discontinuous sections of the Shu dao and simulates spatial pathways to explore how linear cultural heritage corridors can drive the coordinated development of the regional cultural and tourism industries. The research results indicate that: (1) The cultural heritage of the Shu dao exhibits a spatial pattern characterized by “core clustering—linear connectivity—peripheral dispersion,” with discontinuities primarily concentrated in areas marked by significant modern transportation alternatives and urban expansion; (2) Cultural heritage density is the primary factor influencing the formation of potential corridors, with a weight of 0.29, followed by cultural heritage type (0.17) and slope (0.14); (3) Through the reconstruction of the minimum cumulative resistance path, a four-axis, three-cluster cultural heritage corridor network pattern emerged within the study area, characterized by “northern clustering—central connectivity—eastern and western extensions—southern supplementation.” This study expands the value of linear cultural heritage corridors by closely integrating heritage conservation with regional development to achieve living heritage conservation. It can serve as a model for research on world linear cultural heritage sites, such as the Way of St. James in Spain and the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range in Japan.