Spatio-Temporal Distribution Characteristics of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Tourism Response in the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal Basin in China

The Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal is renowned for being one of the longest and largest canals in the world. Running from Beijing to Hangzhou (north to south), it connects China’s five major water systems and has an important impact on the ecological environment and economy of northern and southern China. It also boasts a large quantity of intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Clarifying the spatio-temporal distribution pattern of ICH in the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal Basin and its influencing factors is essential for the protection and utilization of heritage resources and the formulation of management policies. In this study, 977 national ICH items in the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal Basin are analyzed with the help of ArcGIS spatial analysis technology, SPSS regression analysis, and human geography research methods. The results show that the national ICH in the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal Basin has complete categories but varies in provincial scale, particularly between the north and south parts. According to the analysis using tools such as kernel density estimation, standard deviation ellipse, and the center-of-gravity model, it is clear that the ICH in the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal Basin shows different degrees of sub-type aggregation, varying directional characteristics of each batch of ICH, and a centre of gravity of ICH with a tendency to shift in multiple directions. The main factors affecting the spatio-temporal distribution pattern of ICH in the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal Basin are natural geographical factors, socioeconomic factors, and policy environment factors. Moreover, there is a significant positive correlation between ICH resources and the tourism industry that cannot be ignored. This study provides an important reference for planning the reuse of ICH resource systems in northern and southern China.