The cultural route is conducive to strengthening cultural exchanges and shaping linear regional cultural heritage. However, rapid urbanization and standardized renovation policies are undermining the unique architectural identity along the route. This research examines the Tibetan vernacular architecture in the Gannan section of the Taomin–Chang'an Ancient Road and uses Space Syntax to analyze the spatial configuration and evolution of 24 dwellings in three zones of the ancient road. The results indicate that spatial evolution is related to the proximity of the ancient road, and the trajectory can be explained by a “gradient of adaptive intensity.” The ancient road is a catalyst and spatial regulator that promotes the influence of religious beliefs, natural environment, family structure, and technological dissemination on dwellings. Therefore, it accelerates the adaptive integration in the core and the radiant zones, while the relative isolation allows the architectural adaptive inheritance of the remote zone. This research proposes differentiated protection strategies: using guided mutation for the core zone, supporting fusion for the radiant zone, and preventive conservation for the remote zone. This replicable framework can be used to analyze vernacular heritage along the cultural route, providing evidence-based strategies for the sustainable protection of living architectural heritage.
Liu et al. (2026) studied this question.