Identification and Evaluation of Cultural Landscape Genes in a Traditional Village: A Case Study of Wengxiang Village, Suzhou

Abstract

Under the dual pressures of global urbanisation and tourism development, the cultural landscapes of traditional villages are increasingly threatened by homogenisation. To effectively protect and transmit the cultural landscape characteristics of traditional villages, this study introduces the concept of “cultural landscape genes” and takes Wengxiang Village, a representative case in the Suzhou region, as the study site. A cultural landscape gene identification model incorporating both tangible and intangible cultural elements is developed, and a corresponding cultural landscape genealogy is constructed. Using survey data from residents and visitors, we combined the entropy weight method with fuzzy comprehensive evaluation to quantify the evaluation scores of cultural landscape genes in Wengxiang Village and examine differences between the two groups. The overall evaluation of cultural landscape genes in Wengxiang Village fell within the “moderate” category, although scores varied across different gene categories. Village morphology and cultural practices and skills received relatively high scores, whereas heritage sites and remains, materials and colour palette, and architectural layout received lower scores. These findings highlight aspects of cultural landscape conservation and public perception that warrant further attention. Statistically significant differences between residents and visitors were identified for seven of the 14 secondary indicators, indicating differences in their evaluations of selected spatial forms, architectural characteristics and sociocultural elements. Residents tended to place greater emphasis on functional needs and spatial order, whereas visitors focused more on the visual recognition of spatial forms and cultural legibility. This study establishes an integrated analytical framework linking cultural landscape gene identification, perception-based evaluation, group comparisons and conservation problem diagnosis. The findings provide an empirical basis for the conservation and adaptive reuse of Wengxiang Village’s cultural landscape and offer a case-based reference for more detailed evaluations of traditional village cultural landscapes in the Jiangnan region.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Sustainability, 2026 · DOI ↗