Spatial differentiation and constraints of rural multifunctionality under urban and rural demands in the Hangzhou Metropolitan Area, China
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Rural areas within metropolitan regions are increasingly shaped by expanding urban activity and internal rural transformation. This study develops a demand-oriented analytical framework that classifies rural functional indicators by whether they primarily reflect endogenous rural needs or exogenous urban demands, and applies it to assess rural multifunctionality. Drawing on township-level data from 2013 to 2023 in the Hangzhou Metropolitan Area, this study examines the spatial patterns, evolutionary dynamics, and constraints of rural multifunctionality. Rural multifunctionality generally increased over the period, and its spatial structure evolved from a scattered pattern in 2013 to a core–periphery gradient by 2023, with additional high-value areas around Jiaxing and Huzhou. Functional imbalances persist, with ecological dominance and relatively weak non-agricultural and cultural-recreational capacities characterising several peripheral areas. Based on the joint variation of the multifunctionality index and its coordination degree, four zones are delineated, namely priority promotion, potential promotion, collaborative optimisation, and moderate optimisation, and zone-specific constraints are diagnosed to inform differentiated planning. This study offers an analytical framework and township-scale evidence for advancing urban–rural integration.
Source: Scientific Reports
Authors: Yufan Chen, Kechen Xu, Qianhu Chen
Institutions: Zhejiang University of Technology, Zhejiang University
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
Award: G9000935236
OpenAlex ID: W7220993808