Sustainability of Chinese Village Development in a New Perspective: Planning Principle of Rural Public Service Facilities Based on “Function-Space” Synergistic Mechanism

Abstract

Public service facilities are important carriers of sustainable rural development. However, the “holistic” planning principle for cities has resulted in the inefficient use of public service facilities in villages. Under the guidance of the sustainable development of rural areas in China, relying on the theory of “destination attractiveness” in tourism studies, this research puts forward the assumption that the real logic of the operation of rural facilities lies in the synergistic attraction between function and space for villagers. This study applied research methods such as field survey, questionnaire survey, importance–performance analysis, space syntax, and Spearman correlation analysis. It builds the “demand-frequency” coupling model of the facilities and explains the functional attractive attributes and degrees of four types of facilities in the coupling between different demands and use frequencies. Through analyzing the accessibility and traffic potential of rural facilities and the correlation between facility numbers and their spatial distribution characteristic parameters, the study reveals the synergistic mechanism between the functional and spatial attraction of the “selected facilities”. It is to clarify the planning principle of rural public service facilities based on villagers’ demands, to put forward the basic guarantee framework for different combinations of “functional attributes and spatial distribution” under the goal of good facility operation, and to achieve the goal of improving the resource efficiency and upgrading the level of the rural living environment. Eventually, it contributes to the sustainable development of rural China with theoretical and methodological support.

The Influence of Spatial Functions on the Public Space System of Traditional Settlements

“…Secondary political public spaces, such as the Ancestral Hall and the Reception Officials' Hall, are located in the prominent position of residential buildings in the village's geographical center and are frequently used by villagers. This conclusion is consistent with the findings of Qiu and Peng that the patriarchal system and various other social forces were intrinsic driving forces for the development and evolution of traditional village settlement structures [78][79][80]. The living public spaces in Zhang Guying Village are mostly attached to habitable spaces; as the main carriers of villagers' daily lives, they are distributed in the largest number in the village's public spaces and show a high degree of spatial aggregation, which makes the surrounding roads more accessible and highly reachable.…”

Study on Tourism Responsiveness and Habitat Environment-Influencing Factors of Traditional Villages in Huizhou Area

“…Third, the enhancement of the local tourism development surroundings inside the construction of public centers, medical and health services affects the comfort and safety of tourists in the traditional villages in Huizhou [50]. Meanwhile, within the context of the transformation of the national financial improvement mode, industrial and commercial waste management has been further strengthened, and exhaust emissions have been significantly reduced.…”

How Do Population Changes and Land Use Policies Affect the Relationship between the Urban Economy and Public Services?

“…Public services is an essential component of a city for achieving high-quality and sustainable development [44]. The level of local public service is closely related to the economic level of a region and often plays a significant supporting role [45].…”