Driven by rapid urbanization, many traditional villages are undergoing a dynamic process of spatial alienation and functional transformation. Research on the typological differentiation of traditional villages and the formulation of guidelines for their regeneration and revitalization is of significant academic and practical importance. Taking 81 traditional Chinese villages in the Pearl River Delta as the research object, this study uses a combination of quantitative index evaluation and qualitative case analysis to reveal the differentiation types, spatial evolution characteristics, and strategies for regeneration and revitalization. The findings reveal that: (1) In terms of type differentiation, traditional villages in the study area have been divided into two types—heterogenization and vacancy—under the dual influences of urban expansion and the siphoning effect of resources. These villages are gradually undergoing a shift towards vitality in the process of urban-rural integration. (2) In terms of spatial characteristics, heterogeneous traditional villages are characterized by varying degrees of fragmentation and separation between the natural ecological base and the built environment. Vacated villages experience varying levels of decay and damage to their historic spaces due to population decline. In contrast, revitalized villages have formed differentiated spatial organizational patterns through spatial remediation, the introduction of new industries, and functional replacement. (3) In terms of regeneration and revitalization strategies, heterogeneous villages should integrate ecological corridors with localized cultural heritage restoration to achieve spatial reconstruction. Vacated villages should adopt a progressive revitalization model, involving "intelligent monitoring—tiered intervention—regeneration". Revitalized villages need to strengthen institutional innovation, encourage villager participation, and implement industry regulation to promote high-quality renewal and revitalization. This study constructs a classification and identification system for traditional villages driven by rapid urbanization, expanding the theory of vernacular heritage preservation under the dynamic interaction between urban and rural areas. It aims to provide valuable insights for the protection, renewal, and revitalization of traditional villages in the New Era.

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.

Traditional village is a unique type of living heritage, functioning as both precious historical and cultural heritage and practical human settlements for current residents. Residents constitute the core subject of traditional villages, and exploring their heritage responsibility behavior from the lens of their perceived value of human settlements is deemed a key prerequisite for balancing the dual attributes of traditional village-community and heritage-and facilitating their long-term sustainable development. Based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, this research establishes a multi-dimensional structural framework for the perceived value of human settlements among residents in traditional villages. Furthermore, grounded in the ABC attitude model, it formulates research hypotheses and develops a theoretical model following the influence pathway of "perceived value of human settlements-place attachmen-heritage responsibility behavior". To validate the theoretical model, this study selects 14 traditional villages located in southern Hunan as research cases, and employs structural equation modeling (SEM) to empirically examine the impact of perceived value of human settlements on heritage responsibility behavior, as well as the mediating role of place attachment in this pathway, based on the data collected from 306 valid questionnaires. The results show that: (1) The perceived value of human settlements of traditional village residents comprises five distinct dimensions: living value, safety value, social value, cultural value, and spiritual value. (2) Both safety value and place attachment exert a significant positive direct effect on heritage responsibility behavior. (3) Place attachment plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between safety value and heritage responsibility behavior, while exerting a full mediating effect between living value, social value and heritage responsibility behavior. (4) Cultural value and spiritual value do not demonstrate significant influences on either place attachment or heritage responsibility behavior. Drawing on these results, the study puts forward targeted suggestions: Firstly, give priority to ensuring and enhancing village's safety value. Secondly, strengthen the emotional connection between residents and traditional villages, stimulating their internal motivation to participate in heritage conservation. Lastly, after effectively meeting residents' basic needs, promote their perceptual response to growth-oriented needs, inspire their cultural awareness and cultural confidence, and further enhance their subjectivity in heritage protection and village development.

The conservation and utilization of underdeveloped traditional villages face significant challenges stemming from the absence of effective internal agency and insufficient external institutional support. This study adopts Taixiangsi village in Yanchuan county, Shaanxi province as a representative case to examine these issues through qualitative research methods. By introducing the "participation-feedback-response" analytical framework, this research systematically investigates the primary constraints hindering the revitalization of such development-challenged traditional settlements and explores sustainable governance approaches. (1) The preservation and utilization dilemmas manifest in three interconnected dimensions: difficulties in transforming resource values into sustainable development outcomes coupled with inadequate external support systems; insufficient benefits for community members leading to diminished participation motivation; and capacity limitations among key stakeholders constraining effective conservation actions. (2) The study identifies a potential pathway for breaking this cycle through the synergistic interaction of three mechanisms: comprehensive stakeholder mobilization to enhance villagers' engagement willingness, internal structural transformation that generates catalytic effects to attract external resources, and strategic external activation to improve the endogenous system's adaptability. This research demonstrates that achieving sustainable revitalization requires establishing a mutually reinforcing relationship between internal and external systems. The continuous interplay of these elements can create a virtuous cycle that addresses both the structural and motivational barriers to conservation. The study contributes to the field by providing a novel theoretical framework, a practical action logic, and valuable implementation insights for the regeneration of traditional villages, with important implications for policymakers and practitioners engaged in rural revitalization and cultural heritage preservation.