# Spatial Differentiation of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South China and Its Influencing Factors

Authors: Pei Cai
Journal: Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing
 (2022)

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## Abstract

In recent years, a lot of work has been done in the protection and utilization of intangible cultural heritage in South China, while there are dilemmas such as the variation of inheritance content, the extinction of heritage, and the absence of inheritors, it is urgent to strengthen the protection of intangible cultural heritage with realistic reasons. This paper adopts human geography research methods, based on SPSS mathematical statistics, GIS spatial analysis, and econometric models, to analyze the spatial differentiation characteristics of 10 types of intangible cultural heritage in the region and their influencing factors based on 1,708 intangible cultural heritage data from various regions in South China, according to five regions, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Hong Kong, and Macao. It was found that (1) the intangible cultural heritage in South China is distributed in clusters, with the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong and Guinan in Guangxi being the core areas of high-density intangible cultural heritage; (2) the characteristics of spatial differentiation of intangible cultural heritage in the region are influenced by a combination of factors, among which the pattern distribution is obviously influenced by cultural factors such as the distribution of ethnic minorities and the number of museums. Finally, from the perspective of revitalization, protection, and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, the government should propose dialectical and integrated protection of intangible cultural heritage in South China while continuously enhancing its living and contemporary flavor.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

In August 2021, the State Council issued the “Opinions on Further Strengthening the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage,” which calls for giving full play to regional cultural advantages and maintaining a new level of national cultural security. Issued in February 2022, the “Notice on Comprehensively Strengthening the Protection of Historical and Cultural Heritage in the Spirit of Learning and Implementing the Important Speech of General Secretary Xi Jinping” called for comprehensively strengthening the protection of historical and cultural heritage in the new era, building a strong socialist cultural state and forge a new splendor of Chinese culture. Meanwhile, in terms of the comprehensive implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, the “Opinions of the State Council of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Key Work of Promoting Rural Revitalization in 2022” proposed to “launch the implementation of the cultural industry to empower rural revitalization plan” in order to empower rural social and economic development with cultural industry. At present, South China pays more attention to the protection of individual intangible cultural heritage items but ignores the overall regional distribution and coordinated conservation and inheritance. Therefore, exploring the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible cultural heritage and its influencing factors is crucial to optimizing the spatial distribution and heritage protection of intangible cultural heritage in the region.In fact, the concept of intangible cultural heritage was first proposed in Japan, and the research mainly focused on tourism development [1]; the connotation and evolution and the typology of intangible cultural heritage [2] and the protection and development and utilization system [3–5] have been gradually improved and revised. Although the study of intangible cultural heritage in China started late, it has been elevated to the level of national cultural development strategy and achieved fruitful results. Intangible cultural heritage is the crystallization of the wisdom of our working people, a collection of forms formed by the adaptation of various historical cultures to the natural geographical environment, a “living fossil” of national cultural characteristics [6], and a typical regional symbol [7]. China’s intangible cultural heritage demonstrates that the splendid achievements of Chinese civilization are not only endless treasures containing rich knowledge, wisdom, and art, but also an important source of firm cultural confidence. At present, the existing literature from China Journal Net, Wanfang Database, and Conference Papers Index are mainly focused on the value of intangible cultural heritage [8], protection and utilization [9], revitalization and inheritance [10], tourism development [11], and education and teaching research [12]. In recent years, we have made great efforts to protect and utilize intangible cultural heritage in China, but there are also some problems, such as the destruction of the living space that unites the public’s emotional memory, the distortion of authenticity, the lack of successors, and the marginalization. Based on the current situation, we investigate the spatial differentiation of intangible heritage and its influencing factors, which is a prerequisite for the preservation and transmission of intangible heritage. Although the above-mentioned studies do not cover the spatial differentiation of intangible heritage and its influencing factors in South China, the theories and practices provide the theoretical support and foundation for this study.South China is located in the southernmost part of China, with polycentric, international connections, and great potential for institutional potential. However, the problems such as uncoordinated and unbalanced regional development in South China still exist. The protection and transmission of intangible cultural heritage in South China must be based on maintaining the integrity of regional intangible heritage resources, actively dovetailing with the “Belt and Road” initiative, regionally coordinated development and other major national strategies, and protecting and maintaining the authenticity, integrity, and continuity of intangible cultural heritage in South China as a cluster. The results of qualitative and quantitative analysis of the spatial differentiation characteristics and influencing factors of intangible cultural heritage from the perspective of geography at national and provincial scales have been gradually improved [13–20], but there are exceedingly rare quantitative studies on the spatial differentiation and influencing factors of intangible cultural heritage in South China.In view of this, this paper focuses on the distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China, collects data on intangible cultural heritage in South China, and reveals the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible cultural heritage in South China by means of centralization indication, kernel density, and linear regression model and then elucidates the factors influencing its spatial differentiation by means of an econometric model, in this thesis. Firstly, the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible cultural heritage in South China will be revealed. Secondly, the econometric model will be used to clarify the influencing factors of the spatial differentiation of intangible cultural heritage in South China and to explore the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible cultural heritage in South China from two aspects of the whole and the difference. The goal is to promote the protection and tourism development of intangible cultural heritage in South China, and to play the role of “cultivating the roots and casting the soul”. In turn, it will be rooted in the South China region, and practical actions will be taken to keep the regional culture and make the intangible cultural heritage a “beautiful scenery” in Chinese culture.


## 2. Research Data and Methodology

### 2.1. Data Sources

South China is one of the seven geographical divisions of China, with higher economic diversity, an open environment, and more active ideas than other regions. At the same time, it maintains a leading position for many years in the construction of China’s three major strategies and the Belt and Road. With three provinces and two cities including Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hong Kong, and Macau, South China is the most frontier region of China’s economy.The data in this thesis are obtained from the Guangdong Provincial Culture Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage (http://www.gdsqyg.com/agdfyzg/index), Guangxi Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Network (http://www.gxfybhw.cn/), Hainan (http://lwt.hainan.gov.cn/), and China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center (https://www.ihchina.cn/index.html#page5). In this paper, the intangible cultural heritage list announced as of January 2022 is statistically counted one by one according to the division of intangible cultural heritage by the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, and the total number of intangible cultural heritage in South China is obtained as 1,708 items, which are divided into ten categories. We considered the list of intangible cultural heritage published as of January 2022, and according to the division of this intangible cultural heritage by the national intangible cultural heritage list, the statistics obtained a total number of 1,708 intangible cultural heritage items in South China, divided into ten categories. Statistics are conducted by regions, and there are 609, 979, 96, 13, and 11 items in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hong Kong, and Macao, respectively. The detailed data are shown in Table 1.Table 1
Distribution of intangible cultural heritage types-total number of regions.
Geography regionFolk literatureTraditional musicTraditional danceTraditional operaFolk artTraditional sportsTraditional fine artsTraditional techniquesTraditional medicineFolkloreTotal numberPercentage (%)Guangdong18489734422561612214760936.3Guangxi6414494772125252603323697956.6Hainan51911801727117965.72Hong Kong0211000036130.72Macau0102101024110.66Total87214203122264889448614101708


### 2.2. Research Methodology

#### 2.2.1. Concentration Index

The Lorenz curve was used in the study to characterize the degree of centralization and structural features among various categories of intangible cultural heritage in South China. The common formula for the centralization index is as follows [21]:
(1)I=C−KM−K.In equation (1), C is the sum of cumulative percentages of ICH types; M is the sum of cumulative percentages when fully pooled distribution; and K is the sum of percentages when fully averaged distribution.


#### 2.2.2. Kernel Density Method

The kernel density method is based on the kernel density function to generate two-dimensional discrete points into a continuous three-dimensional surface, which visually reflects the density process of the calculated points in the set surrounding neighboring space. Based on the results of calculating the kernel density of intangible cultural heritage items at all levels in South China, this paper analyzes the spatial distribution dynamics of intangible cultural heritage in the region and obtains the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible heritage in South China. In this thesis, on the basis of the results of calculating the kernel density of intangible cultural heritage items at all levels in South China, we analyze the spatial distribution dynamics of intangible cultural heritage in the region and obtain the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible heritage in South China. It can be expressed by the formula [22].
(2)fx=1nh∑i=1nkx−xih.In the equation,K() is the kernel function, Xi denotes the point coordinates i (i=1,2,⋯,n), and (x−xi) denotes the spatial distance from the valuation point to the calculation point; n is the number of points, and h>0, which denotes the search bandwidth of the calculation.


#### 2.2.3. Linear Regression Model

Linear regression is a regression analysis that models the relationship between one or more independent and dependent variables with the least square function called linear regression equation. Based on the analysis of linear regression of intangible cultural heritage items in South China, we obtain the influencing factors of intangible heritage and each category in South China and provide effective reference data for conservation and utilization paths, with the linear regression equation [23].
(3)Y=x,β+u.In equation (3), Y denotes the number of intangible cultural heritage inside the city, and X denotes the matrix composed of all the explanatory variables selected for this study, including physical geography (location, climate, rivers, etc.), economic development level (GDP, GDP per capita, the share of three industries, etc.), and folklore (presence of ethnic minorities, etc.). The city is used as the study unit, where the parameter β is commonly estimated by the least square method. The basic statistical description of the variables used is shown in Table 2.Table 2
Statistics of variables.
NameDefinitionAverage valueMaximum valueMinimum valueNumber of samplesAnnual precipitationThe sum of the average of monthly precipitation in a year is the annual precipitation1732.830561070.641Average annual temperatureIn a certain period of time22.125.81743GDP per capitaGross Domestic Product per capita8.235.043.0440Regional GDPThe total amount of production activities (final goods and services) in a country or region in a given period4083.930664.85359.4140Percentage of three industriesTertiary industry share ratio2297.820202.89223.4436Urbanization levelThe degree of urbanization achieved in a region0.610.420240PopulationSynthesis of a certain number of individuals, with emphasis on scale442.91881.060.233341Whether there are ethnic minoritiesSynthesis of a certain number of minorities, with emphasis on scale3.7511040Whether it is a famous historical and cultural cityA city with a rich cultural heritage and a history of significant events0.31040Number of museumsA place to collect, conserve, display, and study objects representing the cultural heritage of nature and humanity16.465139


## 2.1. Data Sources

South China is one of the seven geographical divisions of China, with higher economic diversity, an open environment, and more active ideas than other regions. At the same time, it maintains a leading position for many years in the construction of China’s three major strategies and the Belt and Road. With three provinces and two cities including Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hong Kong, and Macau, South China is the most frontier region of China’s economy.The data in this thesis are obtained from the Guangdong Provincial Culture Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage (http://www.gdsqyg.com/agdfyzg/index), Guangxi Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Network (http://www.gxfybhw.cn/), Hainan (http://lwt.hainan.gov.cn/), and China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center (https://www.ihchina.cn/index.html#page5). In this paper, the intangible cultural heritage list announced as of January 2022 is statistically counted one by one according to the division of intangible cultural heritage by the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, and the total number of intangible cultural heritage in South China is obtained as 1,708 items, which are divided into ten categories. We considered the list of intangible cultural heritage published as of January 2022, and according to the division of this intangible cultural heritage by the national intangible cultural heritage list, the statistics obtained a total number of 1,708 intangible cultural heritage items in South China, divided into ten categories. Statistics are conducted by regions, and there are 609, 979, 96, 13, and 11 items in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hong Kong, and Macao, respectively. The detailed data are shown in Table 1.Table 1
Distribution of intangible cultural heritage types-total number of regions.
Geography regionFolk literatureTraditional musicTraditional danceTraditional operaFolk artTraditional sportsTraditional fine artsTraditional techniquesTraditional medicineFolkloreTotal numberPercentage (%)Guangdong18489734422561612214760936.3Guangxi6414494772125252603323697956.6Hainan51911801727117965.72Hong Kong0211000036130.72Macau0102101024110.66Total87214203122264889448614101708


## 2.2. Research Methodology

### 2.2.1. Concentration Index

The Lorenz curve was used in the study to characterize the degree of centralization and structural features among various categories of intangible cultural heritage in South China. The common formula for the centralization index is as follows [21]:
(1)I=C−KM−K.In equation (1), C is the sum of cumulative percentages of ICH types; M is the sum of cumulative percentages when fully pooled distribution; and K is the sum of percentages when fully averaged distribution.


### 2.2.2. Kernel Density Method

The kernel density method is based on the kernel density function to generate two-dimensional discrete points into a continuous three-dimensional surface, which visually reflects the density process of the calculated points in the set surrounding neighboring space. Based on the results of calculating the kernel density of intangible cultural heritage items at all levels in South China, this paper analyzes the spatial distribution dynamics of intangible cultural heritage in the region and obtains the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible heritage in South China. In this thesis, on the basis of the results of calculating the kernel density of intangible cultural heritage items at all levels in South China, we analyze the spatial distribution dynamics of intangible cultural heritage in the region and obtain the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible heritage in South China. It can be expressed by the formula [22].
(2)fx=1nh∑i=1nkx−xih.In the equation,K() is the kernel function, Xi denotes the point coordinates i (i=1,2,⋯,n), and (x−xi) denotes the spatial distance from the valuation point to the calculation point; n is the number of points, and h>0, which denotes the search bandwidth of the calculation.


### 2.2.3. Linear Regression Model

Linear regression is a regression analysis that models the relationship between one or more independent and dependent variables with the least square function called linear regression equation. Based on the analysis of linear regression of intangible cultural heritage items in South China, we obtain the influencing factors of intangible heritage and each category in South China and provide effective reference data for conservation and utilization paths, with the linear regression equation [23].
(3)Y=x,β+u.In equation (3), Y denotes the number of intangible cultural heritage inside the city, and X denotes the matrix composed of all the explanatory variables selected for this study, including physical geography (location, climate, rivers, etc.), economic development level (GDP, GDP per capita, the share of three industries, etc.), and folklore (presence of ethnic minorities, etc.). The city is used as the study unit, where the parameter β is commonly estimated by the least square method. The basic statistical description of the variables used is shown in Table 2.Table 2
Statistics of variables.
NameDefinitionAverage valueMaximum valueMinimum valueNumber of samplesAnnual precipitationThe sum of the average of monthly precipitation in a year is the annual precipitation1732.830561070.641Average annual temperatureIn a certain period of time22.125.81743GDP per capitaGross Domestic Product per capita8.235.043.0440Regional GDPThe total amount of production activities (final goods and services) in a country or region in a given period4083.930664.85359.4140Percentage of three industriesTertiary industry share ratio2297.820202.89223.4436Urbanization levelThe degree of urbanization achieved in a region0.610.420240PopulationSynthesis of a certain number of individuals, with emphasis on scale442.91881.060.233341Whether there are ethnic minoritiesSynthesis of a certain number of minorities, with emphasis on scale3.7511040Whether it is a famous historical and cultural cityA city with a rich cultural heritage and a history of significant events0.31040Number of museumsA place to collect, conserve, display, and study objects representing the cultural heritage of nature and humanity16.465139


## 2.2.1. Concentration Index

The Lorenz curve was used in the study to characterize the degree of centralization and structural features among various categories of intangible cultural heritage in South China. The common formula for the centralization index is as follows [21]:
(1)I=C−KM−K.In equation (1), C is the sum of cumulative percentages of ICH types; M is the sum of cumulative percentages when fully pooled distribution; and K is the sum of percentages when fully averaged distribution.


## 2.2.2. Kernel Density Method

The kernel density method is based on the kernel density function to generate two-dimensional discrete points into a continuous three-dimensional surface, which visually reflects the density process of the calculated points in the set surrounding neighboring space. Based on the results of calculating the kernel density of intangible cultural heritage items at all levels in South China, this paper analyzes the spatial distribution dynamics of intangible cultural heritage in the region and obtains the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible heritage in South China. In this thesis, on the basis of the results of calculating the kernel density of intangible cultural heritage items at all levels in South China, we analyze the spatial distribution dynamics of intangible cultural heritage in the region and obtain the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible heritage in South China. It can be expressed by the formula [22].
(2)fx=1nh∑i=1nkx−xih.In the equation,K() is the kernel function, Xi denotes the point coordinates i (i=1,2,⋯,n), and (x−xi) denotes the spatial distance from the valuation point to the calculation point; n is the number of points, and h>0, which denotes the search bandwidth of the calculation.


## 2.2.3. Linear Regression Model

Linear regression is a regression analysis that models the relationship between one or more independent and dependent variables with the least square function called linear regression equation. Based on the analysis of linear regression of intangible cultural heritage items in South China, we obtain the influencing factors of intangible heritage and each category in South China and provide effective reference data for conservation and utilization paths, with the linear regression equation [23].
(3)Y=x,β+u.In equation (3), Y denotes the number of intangible cultural heritage inside the city, and X denotes the matrix composed of all the explanatory variables selected for this study, including physical geography (location, climate, rivers, etc.), economic development level (GDP, GDP per capita, the share of three industries, etc.), and folklore (presence of ethnic minorities, etc.). The city is used as the study unit, where the parameter β is commonly estimated by the least square method. The basic statistical description of the variables used is shown in Table 2.Table 2
Statistics of variables.
NameDefinitionAverage valueMaximum valueMinimum valueNumber of samplesAnnual precipitationThe sum of the average of monthly precipitation in a year is the annual precipitation1732.830561070.641Average annual temperatureIn a certain period of time22.125.81743GDP per capitaGross Domestic Product per capita8.235.043.0440Regional GDPThe total amount of production activities (final goods and services) in a country or region in a given period4083.930664.85359.4140Percentage of three industriesTertiary industry share ratio2297.820202.89223.4436Urbanization levelThe degree of urbanization achieved in a region0.610.420240PopulationSynthesis of a certain number of individuals, with emphasis on scale442.91881.060.233341Whether there are ethnic minoritiesSynthesis of a certain number of minorities, with emphasis on scale3.7511040Whether it is a famous historical and cultural cityA city with a rich cultural heritage and a history of significant events0.31040Number of museumsA place to collect, conserve, display, and study objects representing the cultural heritage of nature and humanity16.465139


## 3. Spatial Differentiation Characteristics of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South China

### 3.1. General Distribution of Space

In general, South China is divided into five different geographical regions, namely Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hong Kong, and Macao. There are large differences on the provincial scale, with Guangxi province having the largest number of intangible cultural heritage with 929, followed by Guangdong with 593, Hainan with only 93, and Hong Kong and Macao at the least (see Table1).The Lorenz curve concentration index of intangible cultural heritage in South China is 0.46 (0≤I≤1). The small concentration index indicates that the intangible cultural heritage of the South China region presents a weak and uneven structure (see Figure 1). Traditional arts (448) and folklore (410) dominate the intangible cultural heritage in South China; traditional music, dance, and opera follow in the ranking with numbers of 214, 203, and 122, respectively; traditional medicine, fine arts, and folklore are less than 100, 61, 89, and 87, respectively; traditional sports and opera have the least number, less than 50, 48, and 26, respectively.Figure 1
Lorenz curve of ICH types.


### 3.2. Uneven Spatial Distribution of Intangible Cultural Heritage

#### 3.2.1. Uneven Quantity

By region, among the three provinces and two cities in South China, each region has different amounts of intangible cultural heritage distribution (see Table2). The number of intangible cultural heritage varies widely within the provincial scale, with the Pearl River Delta region (46.5%) having the most intangible cultural heritage in Guangdong Province, followed by East Guangdong (23.2%), then North Guangdong (19.3%), and West Guangdong (11%). The northern coastal region of Guangxi province has the highest number of NRMS (30%), followed by western Guizhou (25.1%), while eastern Guizhou and northern Guizhou are not very different. The number of intangible cultural heritage in Hainan Province is mainly concentrated in the five county-level cities (Wuzhishan, Wenchang, Qionghai, Wanning, and Dongfang), which account for 62.5% of the province’s intangible cultural heritage, while the number of intangible cultural heritage in Haikou (23.9%), Sanya (7.3%), and Danzhou (6.3%) is less, and Sansha has no intangible cultural heritage. The number of intangible cultural heritage in Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions accounts for less than 1%. The results show that the provincial unevenness in the amount of intangible cultural heritage in South China reflects the attribute of geographical and spatial distribution differences of intangible cultural heritage. It can therefore be concluded that the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible cultural heritage should be paid attention to in the protection and utilization.


#### 3.2.2. Uneven Types

According to the distribution of intangible cultural heritage types in South China (Table3), western Guangxi has the largest number of 23 intangible cultural heritages, followed by southern Guangxi, and the smallest number of 0 in Sansha City, Danzhou City, Hong Kong, and Macao. The number of traditional music intangible cultural heritages in western Guangxi is 35, and there is little difference in south Guangxi (27), central Guangxi and eastern Guangxi (21), and Pearl River Delta (23). In the Pearl River Delta region, there are the most traditional dance intangible cultural heritages (40), while the least is in Sansha City, Danzhou City, and Macao with 0.The number of traditional operas intangible cultural heritages in southern Guangxi is 25, and 0 in Sanya, Sansha, and Danzhou. The distributions of folk art intangible cultural heritages in different regions in South China are not more than 10, with west Guangxi (8), north Guangxi (6), Pearl River Delta (3), east Guangxi and central Guangxi (2), Beibu Gulf coast (3), west Guangdong (1), Macao (1), and the rest of the region has 0. Traditional sport intangible cultural heritages are mainly concentrated in the Pearl River Delta (14) and the coastal area of Beibu Gulf (11). Traditional arts intangible cultural heritages are mainly concentrated in Pearl River Delta (22), eastern Guangdong (17), and northern Guangdong (12). The Pearl River Delta has the most traditional skills (74), followed by Guangxi and Southern Guangxi (70). Guangxi Autonomous Region, Sanya City, Sansha City, Hong Kong, and Macao all have 0. Traditional medicine intangible cultural heritages were mainly concentrated in Pearl River Delta (17) and Beibu Gulf (11), with 0 in north Guangdong, Haikou, Sanya, Sansha, and regions directly under the jurisdiction of the province. In folk customs category, Beibu Gulf coast (79) ranked first, and Pearl River Delta (78) ranked second. From the analysis of the current status, Guangdong Pearl River Delta region ranked first in the 5 types of intangible cultural heritages, namely, traditional dance, sports, art, skills, and medicine; the west Guangxi ranked first in folk literature, traditional music, and Chinese Quyi; and the south Guangxi ranked first in traditional opera and folk custom. Sansha City in Hainan province has a long history, but the intangible cultural heritage resources are still relatively weak, with 0 for all the 10 types. It can be seen that the quantity of intangible cultural heritage types in South China presents an unbalanced distribution.Table 3
Distribution of the number of intangible cultural heritage types-geographic subregions.
Geographical regionsRegional scopeFolk literatureTraditional musicTraditional danceTraditional operaFolk artTraditional sportsTraditional fine artsTraditional artsTraditional medicineFolklorePercentage (%)GuangdongNorthern Guangdong412251105122402519.3Eastern Guangdong59191102174443023.2Western Guangdong141381151911411Pearl River Delta8234043142274177846.5GuangxiEastern Guangxi52117202434972916.5Northern Guangxi410866083772411.6Western Guangxi233528158335626525.1Central Guangxi102111112734863916.7Southern Guangxi22273025311870117931HainanHaikou222400440523.9Sanya13200000017.3Sansha00000000000Danzhou03000001116.3Province-administered211920132201062.5Hong KongTotal0211000036MacauTotal0102101024


### 3.3. Kernel Density Analysis

#### 3.3.1. General Distribution Characteristics of Kernel Density

With the kernel density tool in ArcGIS10.3 software, the overall location distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China (shown in Figure2) and the kernel density of intangible cultural heritage in South China (shown in Figure 3) were measured. The spatial distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China formed two high-density core areas and five subdensity core areas, where the high-density areas were mainly distributed in Nanning and Baise in Guangxi, and the subdensity was formed in Liuzhou, Guilin, and Hechi in Guangxi and the Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan, Shenzhen, Huizhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, and Jiangmen) and Jieyang and Chaozhou in Guangdong, with obvious clustering trends and an overall cluster distribution structure. The overall distribution characteristics of intangible cultural heritages in South China clearly show that the intensity of the spatial distribution of intangible cultural heritage is influenced by the cultural agglomeration of ethnic minorities and the level of economic development.Figure 2
Distribution of the nuclear density of intangible cultural heritage in South China.Figure 3
General location distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China.


#### 3.3.2. Analysis of the Clustering Areas of Each Type of Intangible Cultural Heritage

As shown in Figure4, the clustering areas of intangible cultural heritage in South China are different by type. Folk literature intangible cultural heritages are mainly distributed in the V-shaped structure in the western, central, and southern regions of Guangxi; traditional music, dance, and opera intangible cultural heritages show a piecewise distribution in Guangxi and a concentrated distribution at the junction of two provinces, while traditional dance intangible cultural heritages also have a piecewise distribution in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region of Guangzhou and the eastern region of Guangdong; Chinese Quyi intangible cultural heritages show a concentrated distribution and are mainly contained in Guangxi and the PRD region of Guangzhou. Traditional sports intangible cultural heritages are also mainly concentrated in Western, Central, and Southern Guangxi and Guangzhou Pearl River Delta region. Traditional arts intangible cultural heritages are mainly concentrated in the high-density areas of northern Guangxi, the Pearl River Delta, and eastern Guangdong, with southern Guangxi and Haikou as the subdensity distribution areas. Traditional skills and folklore intangible cultural heritages show multipoint scattered distribution, among which there are six high-density distribution areas and five subdensity distribution areas for traditional skills and seven high-density and three sub-density distribution areas for folklore. Traditional medicine intangible cultural heritages are mainly concentrated in northern, southern, and central Guangxi and the Pearl River Delta region. From the above analysis, it can be seen that Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China has a cluster of intangible cultural heritage, and the Pearl River Delta has rich and diverse types of intangible cultural heritage in regions with high economic development level.Figure 4
Distribution of nucleus density of each type of intangible cultural heritage in South China.


## 3.1. General Distribution of Space

In general, South China is divided into five different geographical regions, namely Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hong Kong, and Macao. There are large differences on the provincial scale, with Guangxi province having the largest number of intangible cultural heritage with 929, followed by Guangdong with 593, Hainan with only 93, and Hong Kong and Macao at the least (see Table1).The Lorenz curve concentration index of intangible cultural heritage in South China is 0.46 (0≤I≤1). The small concentration index indicates that the intangible cultural heritage of the South China region presents a weak and uneven structure (see Figure 1). Traditional arts (448) and folklore (410) dominate the intangible cultural heritage in South China; traditional music, dance, and opera follow in the ranking with numbers of 214, 203, and 122, respectively; traditional medicine, fine arts, and folklore are less than 100, 61, 89, and 87, respectively; traditional sports and opera have the least number, less than 50, 48, and 26, respectively.Figure 1
Lorenz curve of ICH types.


## 3.2. Uneven Spatial Distribution of Intangible Cultural Heritage

### 3.2.1. Uneven Quantity

By region, among the three provinces and two cities in South China, each region has different amounts of intangible cultural heritage distribution (see Table2). The number of intangible cultural heritage varies widely within the provincial scale, with the Pearl River Delta region (46.5%) having the most intangible cultural heritage in Guangdong Province, followed by East Guangdong (23.2%), then North Guangdong (19.3%), and West Guangdong (11%). The northern coastal region of Guangxi province has the highest number of NRMS (30%), followed by western Guizhou (25.1%), while eastern Guizhou and northern Guizhou are not very different. The number of intangible cultural heritage in Hainan Province is mainly concentrated in the five county-level cities (Wuzhishan, Wenchang, Qionghai, Wanning, and Dongfang), which account for 62.5% of the province’s intangible cultural heritage, while the number of intangible cultural heritage in Haikou (23.9%), Sanya (7.3%), and Danzhou (6.3%) is less, and Sansha has no intangible cultural heritage. The number of intangible cultural heritage in Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions accounts for less than 1%. The results show that the provincial unevenness in the amount of intangible cultural heritage in South China reflects the attribute of geographical and spatial distribution differences of intangible cultural heritage. It can therefore be concluded that the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible cultural heritage should be paid attention to in the protection and utilization.


### 3.2.2. Uneven Types

According to the distribution of intangible cultural heritage types in South China (Table3), western Guangxi has the largest number of 23 intangible cultural heritages, followed by southern Guangxi, and the smallest number of 0 in Sansha City, Danzhou City, Hong Kong, and Macao. The number of traditional music intangible cultural heritages in western Guangxi is 35, and there is little difference in south Guangxi (27), central Guangxi and eastern Guangxi (21), and Pearl River Delta (23). In the Pearl River Delta region, there are the most traditional dance intangible cultural heritages (40), while the least is in Sansha City, Danzhou City, and Macao with 0.The number of traditional operas intangible cultural heritages in southern Guangxi is 25, and 0 in Sanya, Sansha, and Danzhou. The distributions of folk art intangible cultural heritages in different regions in South China are not more than 10, with west Guangxi (8), north Guangxi (6), Pearl River Delta (3), east Guangxi and central Guangxi (2), Beibu Gulf coast (3), west Guangdong (1), Macao (1), and the rest of the region has 0. Traditional sport intangible cultural heritages are mainly concentrated in the Pearl River Delta (14) and the coastal area of Beibu Gulf (11). Traditional arts intangible cultural heritages are mainly concentrated in Pearl River Delta (22), eastern Guangdong (17), and northern Guangdong (12). The Pearl River Delta has the most traditional skills (74), followed by Guangxi and Southern Guangxi (70). Guangxi Autonomous Region, Sanya City, Sansha City, Hong Kong, and Macao all have 0. Traditional medicine intangible cultural heritages were mainly concentrated in Pearl River Delta (17) and Beibu Gulf (11), with 0 in north Guangdong, Haikou, Sanya, Sansha, and regions directly under the jurisdiction of the province. In folk customs category, Beibu Gulf coast (79) ranked first, and Pearl River Delta (78) ranked second. From the analysis of the current status, Guangdong Pearl River Delta region ranked first in the 5 types of intangible cultural heritages, namely, traditional dance, sports, art, skills, and medicine; the west Guangxi ranked first in folk literature, traditional music, and Chinese Quyi; and the south Guangxi ranked first in traditional opera and folk custom. Sansha City in Hainan province has a long history, but the intangible cultural heritage resources are still relatively weak, with 0 for all the 10 types. It can be seen that the quantity of intangible cultural heritage types in South China presents an unbalanced distribution.Table 3
Distribution of the number of intangible cultural heritage types-geographic subregions.
Geographical regionsRegional scopeFolk literatureTraditional musicTraditional danceTraditional operaFolk artTraditional sportsTraditional fine artsTraditional artsTraditional medicineFolklorePercentage (%)GuangdongNorthern Guangdong412251105122402519.3Eastern Guangdong59191102174443023.2Western Guangdong141381151911411Pearl River Delta8234043142274177846.5GuangxiEastern Guangxi52117202434972916.5Northern Guangxi410866083772411.6Western Guangxi233528158335626525.1Central Guangxi102111112734863916.7Southern Guangxi22273025311870117931HainanHaikou222400440523.9Sanya13200000017.3Sansha00000000000Danzhou03000001116.3Province-administered211920132201062.5Hong KongTotal0211000036MacauTotal0102101024


## 3.2.1. Uneven Quantity

By region, among the three provinces and two cities in South China, each region has different amounts of intangible cultural heritage distribution (see Table2). The number of intangible cultural heritage varies widely within the provincial scale, with the Pearl River Delta region (46.5%) having the most intangible cultural heritage in Guangdong Province, followed by East Guangdong (23.2%), then North Guangdong (19.3%), and West Guangdong (11%). The northern coastal region of Guangxi province has the highest number of NRMS (30%), followed by western Guizhou (25.1%), while eastern Guizhou and northern Guizhou are not very different. The number of intangible cultural heritage in Hainan Province is mainly concentrated in the five county-level cities (Wuzhishan, Wenchang, Qionghai, Wanning, and Dongfang), which account for 62.5% of the province’s intangible cultural heritage, while the number of intangible cultural heritage in Haikou (23.9%), Sanya (7.3%), and Danzhou (6.3%) is less, and Sansha has no intangible cultural heritage. The number of intangible cultural heritage in Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions accounts for less than 1%. The results show that the provincial unevenness in the amount of intangible cultural heritage in South China reflects the attribute of geographical and spatial distribution differences of intangible cultural heritage. It can therefore be concluded that the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible cultural heritage should be paid attention to in the protection and utilization.


## 3.2.2. Uneven Types

According to the distribution of intangible cultural heritage types in South China (Table3), western Guangxi has the largest number of 23 intangible cultural heritages, followed by southern Guangxi, and the smallest number of 0 in Sansha City, Danzhou City, Hong Kong, and Macao. The number of traditional music intangible cultural heritages in western Guangxi is 35, and there is little difference in south Guangxi (27), central Guangxi and eastern Guangxi (21), and Pearl River Delta (23). In the Pearl River Delta region, there are the most traditional dance intangible cultural heritages (40), while the least is in Sansha City, Danzhou City, and Macao with 0.The number of traditional operas intangible cultural heritages in southern Guangxi is 25, and 0 in Sanya, Sansha, and Danzhou. The distributions of folk art intangible cultural heritages in different regions in South China are not more than 10, with west Guangxi (8), north Guangxi (6), Pearl River Delta (3), east Guangxi and central Guangxi (2), Beibu Gulf coast (3), west Guangdong (1), Macao (1), and the rest of the region has 0. Traditional sport intangible cultural heritages are mainly concentrated in the Pearl River Delta (14) and the coastal area of Beibu Gulf (11). Traditional arts intangible cultural heritages are mainly concentrated in Pearl River Delta (22), eastern Guangdong (17), and northern Guangdong (12). The Pearl River Delta has the most traditional skills (74), followed by Guangxi and Southern Guangxi (70). Guangxi Autonomous Region, Sanya City, Sansha City, Hong Kong, and Macao all have 0. Traditional medicine intangible cultural heritages were mainly concentrated in Pearl River Delta (17) and Beibu Gulf (11), with 0 in north Guangdong, Haikou, Sanya, Sansha, and regions directly under the jurisdiction of the province. In folk customs category, Beibu Gulf coast (79) ranked first, and Pearl River Delta (78) ranked second. From the analysis of the current status, Guangdong Pearl River Delta region ranked first in the 5 types of intangible cultural heritages, namely, traditional dance, sports, art, skills, and medicine; the west Guangxi ranked first in folk literature, traditional music, and Chinese Quyi; and the south Guangxi ranked first in traditional opera and folk custom. Sansha City in Hainan province has a long history, but the intangible cultural heritage resources are still relatively weak, with 0 for all the 10 types. It can be seen that the quantity of intangible cultural heritage types in South China presents an unbalanced distribution.Table 3
Distribution of the number of intangible cultural heritage types-geographic subregions.
Geographical regionsRegional scopeFolk literatureTraditional musicTraditional danceTraditional operaFolk artTraditional sportsTraditional fine artsTraditional artsTraditional medicineFolklorePercentage (%)GuangdongNorthern Guangdong412251105122402519.3Eastern Guangdong59191102174443023.2Western Guangdong141381151911411Pearl River Delta8234043142274177846.5GuangxiEastern Guangxi52117202434972916.5Northern Guangxi410866083772411.6Western Guangxi233528158335626525.1Central Guangxi102111112734863916.7Southern Guangxi22273025311870117931HainanHaikou222400440523.9Sanya13200000017.3Sansha00000000000Danzhou03000001116.3Province-administered211920132201062.5Hong KongTotal0211000036MacauTotal0102101024


## 3.3. Kernel Density Analysis

### 3.3.1. General Distribution Characteristics of Kernel Density

With the kernel density tool in ArcGIS10.3 software, the overall location distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China (shown in Figure2) and the kernel density of intangible cultural heritage in South China (shown in Figure 3) were measured. The spatial distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China formed two high-density core areas and five subdensity core areas, where the high-density areas were mainly distributed in Nanning and Baise in Guangxi, and the subdensity was formed in Liuzhou, Guilin, and Hechi in Guangxi and the Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan, Shenzhen, Huizhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, and Jiangmen) and Jieyang and Chaozhou in Guangdong, with obvious clustering trends and an overall cluster distribution structure. The overall distribution characteristics of intangible cultural heritages in South China clearly show that the intensity of the spatial distribution of intangible cultural heritage is influenced by the cultural agglomeration of ethnic minorities and the level of economic development.Figure 2
Distribution of the nuclear density of intangible cultural heritage in South China.Figure 3
General location distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China.


### 3.3.2. Analysis of the Clustering Areas of Each Type of Intangible Cultural Heritage

As shown in Figure4, the clustering areas of intangible cultural heritage in South China are different by type. Folk literature intangible cultural heritages are mainly distributed in the V-shaped structure in the western, central, and southern regions of Guangxi; traditional music, dance, and opera intangible cultural heritages show a piecewise distribution in Guangxi and a concentrated distribution at the junction of two provinces, while traditional dance intangible cultural heritages also have a piecewise distribution in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region of Guangzhou and the eastern region of Guangdong; Chinese Quyi intangible cultural heritages show a concentrated distribution and are mainly contained in Guangxi and the PRD region of Guangzhou. Traditional sports intangible cultural heritages are also mainly concentrated in Western, Central, and Southern Guangxi and Guangzhou Pearl River Delta region. Traditional arts intangible cultural heritages are mainly concentrated in the high-density areas of northern Guangxi, the Pearl River Delta, and eastern Guangdong, with southern Guangxi and Haikou as the subdensity distribution areas. Traditional skills and folklore intangible cultural heritages show multipoint scattered distribution, among which there are six high-density distribution areas and five subdensity distribution areas for traditional skills and seven high-density and three sub-density distribution areas for folklore. Traditional medicine intangible cultural heritages are mainly concentrated in northern, southern, and central Guangxi and the Pearl River Delta region. From the above analysis, it can be seen that Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China has a cluster of intangible cultural heritage, and the Pearl River Delta has rich and diverse types of intangible cultural heritage in regions with high economic development level.Figure 4
Distribution of nucleus density of each type of intangible cultural heritage in South China.


## 3.3.1. General Distribution Characteristics of Kernel Density

With the kernel density tool in ArcGIS10.3 software, the overall location distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China (shown in Figure2) and the kernel density of intangible cultural heritage in South China (shown in Figure 3) were measured. The spatial distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China formed two high-density core areas and five subdensity core areas, where the high-density areas were mainly distributed in Nanning and Baise in Guangxi, and the subdensity was formed in Liuzhou, Guilin, and Hechi in Guangxi and the Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan, Shenzhen, Huizhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, and Jiangmen) and Jieyang and Chaozhou in Guangdong, with obvious clustering trends and an overall cluster distribution structure. The overall distribution characteristics of intangible cultural heritages in South China clearly show that the intensity of the spatial distribution of intangible cultural heritage is influenced by the cultural agglomeration of ethnic minorities and the level of economic development.Figure 2
Distribution of the nuclear density of intangible cultural heritage in South China.Figure 3
General location distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China.


## 3.3.2. Analysis of the Clustering Areas of Each Type of Intangible Cultural Heritage

As shown in Figure4, the clustering areas of intangible cultural heritage in South China are different by type. Folk literature intangible cultural heritages are mainly distributed in the V-shaped structure in the western, central, and southern regions of Guangxi; traditional music, dance, and opera intangible cultural heritages show a piecewise distribution in Guangxi and a concentrated distribution at the junction of two provinces, while traditional dance intangible cultural heritages also have a piecewise distribution in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region of Guangzhou and the eastern region of Guangdong; Chinese Quyi intangible cultural heritages show a concentrated distribution and are mainly contained in Guangxi and the PRD region of Guangzhou. Traditional sports intangible cultural heritages are also mainly concentrated in Western, Central, and Southern Guangxi and Guangzhou Pearl River Delta region. Traditional arts intangible cultural heritages are mainly concentrated in the high-density areas of northern Guangxi, the Pearl River Delta, and eastern Guangdong, with southern Guangxi and Haikou as the subdensity distribution areas. Traditional skills and folklore intangible cultural heritages show multipoint scattered distribution, among which there are six high-density distribution areas and five subdensity distribution areas for traditional skills and seven high-density and three sub-density distribution areas for folklore. Traditional medicine intangible cultural heritages are mainly concentrated in northern, southern, and central Guangxi and the Pearl River Delta region. From the above analysis, it can be seen that Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China has a cluster of intangible cultural heritage, and the Pearl River Delta has rich and diverse types of intangible cultural heritage in regions with high economic development level.Figure 4
Distribution of nucleus density of each type of intangible cultural heritage in South China.


## 4. Influencing Factors of Spatial Differentiation of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South China

The spatial distribution and evolution of intangible cultural heritage are influenced by the intersection of climatic, socioeconomic, and cultural factors, among which climatic factors establish the basic conditions of intangible cultural heritage, cultural factors bear the environmental space for the protection and transmission of that, and socioeconomic development factors present the development level of regional economy and cities. In this study, we combine the real situation of South China with expert opinions, take the prefecture-level cities where intangible cultural heritage is located as the statistical unit, and obtain a total of 43 samples. We use linear regression model to analyze the influencing factors of spatial distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China from 10 specific factors of climate, social economy, and culture. The dependent variable of regression analysis is the quantity of intangible cultural heritage in South China, and the 10 specific factors are independent variables.


### 4.1. Climatic Factors

The formation of intangible cultural heritage is closely related to the regional climatic environment. Places with favorable climatic environments, abundant water, fertile soil, pleasant climate, large population, and frequent activities are conducive to the generation and dissemination of intangible cultural heritage. In this thesis, we choose the average annual temperature and average annual precipitation to characterize the correlation between climatic factors and intangible cultural heritage. In the correlation analysis between the number of intangible cultural heritage and climate indicators, the number of intangible cultural heritage is negatively correlated with the average annual precipitation and the average annual temperature. The regression coefficients were -0.010 and -0.722, respectively, and reached significance at the 5% level. The number of intangible cultural heritage shows high-low and low-high characteristics with the regional temperature and annual precipitation in South China. This indicates that natural climatic factors are fundamental but not decisive factors in the number and type of intangible cultural heritages in South China.


### 4.2. Socioeconomic Factors

The development and protection of intangible cultural heritage are influenced by the level of regional economic development, population size, and distribution. The results of regression analysis in Table4 show that there is a nonsignificant causal relationship between GDP per capita, regional GDP, urbanization level, and population size and the number of intangible heritages in South China, with regression coefficients of 0.491, -0.002, 29.751, and 0.102, respectively. The value of the correlation coefficient between the number of intangible cultural heritages and the output value of the three industries was -0.009 and reached significance at the 5% level.Table 4
Table of influencing factors and their correlation analysis.
IndicatorsRegression coefficientT-valueSignificance levelClimate CharacteristicsAnnual Precipitation-.010-.743.465Average annual temperature-.722-.217.830Socioeconomic factorsGDP per capita.491.138.891Regional GDP-.002-.913.370Share of three industries-.009∗-1.781.088Urbanization level29.751.580.567Population.102∗∗2.485.020Cultural factorsWhether there are ethnic minorities3.297∗∗2.579.016Whether it is a famous historical and cultural city-10.086-.815.423Number of museums1.615∗∗2.436.023Constant items-2.658-.031.976a. Dependent variable: number of NRMs.


### 4.3. Cultural Factors

Ethnic distribution, historical and cultural cities, museums, and policy support have a certain influence on the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage. The development of intangible cultural heritage is rooted in the spread and development of culture, and it is the cultural development of human society to a certain extent that advances the declaration and acquisition of intangible cultural heritage. There is a multitude of ethnic minorities in South China, and the unique human customs of different ethnic groups promote the richness and diversity of regional intangible cultural heritage. The rich and long history and culture superimposed in South China have formed the unique Lingnan culture. Guangxi region is a multiethnic region with long history and culture, a complex geographical environment, and a special human environment, which make the Guangxi region form a diversity of ethnic and unique ICH. As shown in Table4, from the results, the number of museums and the number of intangible cultural heritages show a positive and significant regression coefficient of 1.615 and reach significance at the 1% level. Secondly, the number of intangible cultural heritages is significantly correlated with the presence of ethnic minorities, with a regression coefficient of 3.297, which is significant at the 1% level. Therefore, it can be concluded that sociocultural factors are the active factors affecting the number and distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China.


## 4.1. Climatic Factors

The formation of intangible cultural heritage is closely related to the regional climatic environment. Places with favorable climatic environments, abundant water, fertile soil, pleasant climate, large population, and frequent activities are conducive to the generation and dissemination of intangible cultural heritage. In this thesis, we choose the average annual temperature and average annual precipitation to characterize the correlation between climatic factors and intangible cultural heritage. In the correlation analysis between the number of intangible cultural heritage and climate indicators, the number of intangible cultural heritage is negatively correlated with the average annual precipitation and the average annual temperature. The regression coefficients were -0.010 and -0.722, respectively, and reached significance at the 5% level. The number of intangible cultural heritage shows high-low and low-high characteristics with the regional temperature and annual precipitation in South China. This indicates that natural climatic factors are fundamental but not decisive factors in the number and type of intangible cultural heritages in South China.


## 4.2. Socioeconomic Factors

The development and protection of intangible cultural heritage are influenced by the level of regional economic development, population size, and distribution. The results of regression analysis in Table4 show that there is a nonsignificant causal relationship between GDP per capita, regional GDP, urbanization level, and population size and the number of intangible heritages in South China, with regression coefficients of 0.491, -0.002, 29.751, and 0.102, respectively. The value of the correlation coefficient between the number of intangible cultural heritages and the output value of the three industries was -0.009 and reached significance at the 5% level.Table 4
Table of influencing factors and their correlation analysis.
IndicatorsRegression coefficientT-valueSignificance levelClimate CharacteristicsAnnual Precipitation-.010-.743.465Average annual temperature-.722-.217.830Socioeconomic factorsGDP per capita.491.138.891Regional GDP-.002-.913.370Share of three industries-.009∗-1.781.088Urbanization level29.751.580.567Population.102∗∗2.485.020Cultural factorsWhether there are ethnic minorities3.297∗∗2.579.016Whether it is a famous historical and cultural city-10.086-.815.423Number of museums1.615∗∗2.436.023Constant items-2.658-.031.976a. Dependent variable: number of NRMs.


## 4.3. Cultural Factors

Ethnic distribution, historical and cultural cities, museums, and policy support have a certain influence on the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage. The development of intangible cultural heritage is rooted in the spread and development of culture, and it is the cultural development of human society to a certain extent that advances the declaration and acquisition of intangible cultural heritage. There is a multitude of ethnic minorities in South China, and the unique human customs of different ethnic groups promote the richness and diversity of regional intangible cultural heritage. The rich and long history and culture superimposed in South China have formed the unique Lingnan culture. Guangxi region is a multiethnic region with long history and culture, a complex geographical environment, and a special human environment, which make the Guangxi region form a diversity of ethnic and unique ICH. As shown in Table4, from the results, the number of museums and the number of intangible cultural heritages show a positive and significant regression coefficient of 1.615 and reach significance at the 1% level. Secondly, the number of intangible cultural heritages is significantly correlated with the presence of ethnic minorities, with a regression coefficient of 3.297, which is significant at the 1% level. Therefore, it can be concluded that sociocultural factors are the active factors affecting the number and distribution of intangible cultural heritage in South China.


## 5. Conclusions and Implications

### 5.1. Conclusion of the Study

The protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage in South China is a necessary way to promote Lingnan culture. It is an important tool to promote the declaration and high-quality development of ecological reserves in the region. The study of the spatial distribution and influencing factors of intangible cultural heritage is a key detail for the region of Lingnan to manifest the cultural connotation, create its distinctive culture, highlight the foundation of ecological reserve construction, and realize the high-quality development of regional cultural industry and tourism. The spatial structure and influencing factors of 1,708 intangible cultural heritages were analyzed in South China from a macroscopic perspective, which has certain significance for the overall protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage in South China. The following important conclusions are obtained.(a)
The intangible cultural heritages in South China show a cluster distribution structure. Among them, the clustering characteristics of Chinese Quyi, traditional sports, and Chinese medicine are the most obvious; traditional music, dance, opera, skills, and folklore are relatively strongly clustered; traditional art is the least clustered in the region; and folklore is more clustered within the region(b)
The intangible cultural heritages in South China show obvious provincial differentiation and uneven quantitative structure. Traditional skills and folklore types of intangible cultural heritage are the most numerous, while the number of operatic arts and traditional sports, amusement, and acrobatics are the least. Meanwhile, the 10 types of intangible cultural heritage have obvious regional differences in concentration, with the Pearl River Delta and western Guizhou regions being the high-density core areas for the 10 types of intangible cultural heritage(c)
The influence of climate, socioeconomics, and culture on the spatial distribution of intangible cultural heritages in South China is divergent. Among the cultural factors, the number of ethnic minorities and museums have more influence on the distribution of intangible cultural heritages in South China, while the climate factors are less influential


### 5.2. Research Insights

South China has accumulated a large number of cultural resources during its long-term historical development, and intangible cultural heritage is an important part of this cultural system. The revitalization and innovation of the intangible cultural heritages in South China is also an important way to promote Lingnan culture. At present, as the protection of national intangible cultural heritage continues to progress, its revitalization and conservation are receiving more and more attention. Based on the above research results, we propose to coordinate the spatial layout and deepen the utilization of intangible cultural heritage in South China from the perspective of revitalization protection and inheritance.Firstly, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao-Great Bay region is economically developed, and in the process of intangible cultural heritage conservation, most of the original cultural ecological space of intangible cultural heritage has been stripped away, and the protection has turned into a kind of performative public behavior. The natural and historical-cultural environment should be protected holistically, and the suggestions for the construction of national cultural and ecological protection areas should be put into practice, so as to establish interprovincial cultural and ecological protection areas in South China and strengthen the practice of holistic protection from objects to people to space.The second is the spatial reconstruction of material forms and the construction of cultural identity of intangible cultural heritages in South China. The reconstruction of intangible cultural heritage space in material form can fully activate the emotion, culture, memory, and spirit of local people so that they can develop cultural identity, identify with intangible heritages from their heart, and inherit them. At the same time, it can also enhance the cultural confidence of local community residents, gradually make everyone become “inheritors,” condense regional people’s cultural identity and national identity, build brands, and promote the intangible cultural heritages in South China to “become strong” and “go out.”Thirdly, in the national strategy of high-quality development in South China, we should deeply explore the value of intangible cultural heritage resources in South China and take the path of integrated development of cultural tourism in the region in the multipath of “ intangible cultural heritage+.” On the basis of paying attention to people’s needs, it is necessary to combine nature and culture and material and spiritual, to construct regional system development, reshape a “holistic + related + inter-constructed” sociocultural community of South China, and contribute to the high-quality development of South China.Most intangible cultural heritages in South China are produced and developed without material entities, have certain geographical limitations, and cannot bring economic benefits, and thus, they are not explored, and some of them have disappeared. Intangible cultural heritage in South China is an important symbol of regional cultural identity, carrying the memory and living cultural genes of South China, and embodying the spirit and wisdom of South China. By analyzing the spatial distribution characteristics of intangible cultural heritage in South China, we can grasp the distribution pattern of intangible cultural heritage in South China; at the theoretical level, we can find a logical starting point for the inheritance and exploitation of intangible cultural heritage and provide an important reference basis for the establishment of a landscape gene map of intangible cultural heritage in traditional villages in South China. On the practical level, it is a guiding role for the development of ICH tourism in South China, cultivating the foundation of traditional villages in South China, the mass base and avoiding the deformation of ICH brought by the commercial nature of Kenan. This study is both a difficult point of work for the future in-depth study of ICH in traditional villages in South China and a focus for the future study of the development of tourism in traditional villages in South China combined with ICH culture.


## 5.1. Conclusion of the Study

The protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage in South China is a necessary way to promote Lingnan culture. It is an important tool to promote the declaration and high-quality development of ecological reserves in the region. The study of the spatial distribution and influencing factors of intangible cultural heritage is a key detail for the region of Lingnan to manifest the cultural connotation, create its distinctive culture, highlight the foundation of ecological reserve construction, and realize the high-quality development of regional cultural industry and tourism. The spatial structure and influencing factors of 1,708 intangible cultural heritages were analyzed in South China from a macroscopic perspective, which has certain significance for the overall protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage in South China. The following important conclusions are obtained.(a)
The intangible cultural heritages in South China show a cluster distribution structure. Among them, the clustering characteristics of Chinese Quyi, traditional sports, and Chinese medicine are the most obvious; traditional music, dance, opera, skills, and folklore are relatively strongly clustered; traditional art is the least clustered in the region; and folklore is more clustered within the region(b)
The intangible cultural heritages in South China show obvious provincial differentiation and uneven quantitative structure. Traditional skills and folklore types of intangible cultural heritage are the most numerous, while the number of operatic arts and traditional sports, amusement, and acrobatics are the least. Meanwhile, the 10 types of intangible cultural heritage have obvious regional differences in concentration, with the Pearl River Delta and western Guizhou regions being the high-density core areas for the 10 types of intangible cultural heritage(c)
The influence of climate, socioeconomics, and culture on the spatial distribution of intangible cultural heritages in South China is divergent. Among the cultural factors, the number of ethnic minorities and museums have more influence on the distribution of intangible cultural heritages in South China, while the climate factors are less influential


## 5.2. Research Insights

South China has accumulated a large number of cultural resources during its long-term historical development, and intangible cultural heritage is an important part of this cultural system. The revitalization and innovation of the intangible cultural heritages in South China is also an important way to promote Lingnan culture. At present, as the protection of national intangible cultural heritage continues to progress, its revitalization and conservation are receiving more and more attention. Based on the above research results, we propose to coordinate the spatial layout and deepen the utilization of intangible cultural heritage in South China from the perspective of revitalization protection and inheritance.Firstly, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao-Great Bay region is economically developed, and in the process of intangible cultural heritage conservation, most of the original cultural ecological space of intangible cultural heritage has been stripped away, and the protection has turned into a kind of performative public behavior. The natural and historical-cultural environment should be protected holistically, and the suggestions for the construction of national cultural and ecological protection areas should be put into practice, so as to establish interprovincial cultural and ecological protection areas in South China and strengthen the practice of holistic protection from objects to people to space.The second is the spatial reconstruction of material forms and the construction of cultural identity of intangible cultural heritages in South China. The reconstruction of intangible cultural heritage space in material form can fully activate the emotion, culture, memory, and spirit of local people so that they can develop cultural identity, identify with intangible heritages from their heart, and inherit them. At the same time, it can also enhance the cultural confidence of local community residents, gradually make everyone become “inheritors,” condense regional people’s cultural identity and national identity, build brands, and promote the intangible cultural heritages in South China to “become strong” and “go out.”Thirdly, in the national strategy of high-quality development in South China, we should deeply explore the value of intangible cultural heritage resources in South China and take the path of integrated development of cultural tourism in the region in the multipath of “ intangible cultural heritage+.” On the basis of paying attention to people’s needs, it is necessary to combine nature and culture and material and spiritual, to construct regional system development, reshape a “holistic + related + inter-constructed” sociocultural community of South China, and contribute to the high-quality development of South China.Most intangible cultural heritages in South China are produced and developed without material entities, have certain geographical limitations, and cannot bring economic benefits, and thus, they are not explored, and some of them have disappeared. Intangible cultural heritage in South China is an important symbol of regional cultural identity, carrying the memory and living cultural genes of South China, and embodying the spirit and wisdom of South China. By analyzing the spatial distribution characteristics of intangible cultural heritage in South China, we can grasp the distribution pattern of intangible cultural heritage in South China; at the theoretical level, we can find a logical starting point for the inheritance and exploitation of intangible cultural heritage and provide an important reference basis for the establishment of a landscape gene map of intangible cultural heritage in traditional villages in South China. On the practical level, it is a guiding role for the development of ICH tourism in South China, cultivating the foundation of traditional villages in South China, the mass base and avoiding the deformation of ICH brought by the commercial nature of Kenan. This study is both a difficult point of work for the future in-depth study of ICH in traditional villages in South China and a focus for the future study of the development of tourism in traditional villages in South China combined with ICH culture.



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*Source: 7714161-2022-10-10.xml*