An approach to developing and protecting linear heritage tourism: The construction of cultural heritage corridor of traditional villages in Mentougou District using GIS

There are about 180 villages in Mentougou District. The typical regional landscape characteristics and profound cultural, historical and geographical value of these ancient villages have rendered the district a unique tourism resource in the west of Beijing. With the ongoing social development and population migration, the cultural values carried by these villages are faced with the risk o f diminish ment. It is therefore of great significance to integrate and protect the traditional villages to promote the tourism development of this area. Based on 62 ancient villages, this paper uses the concept of linearity to define the spatial influence of each village culture from macro, meso and micro perspectives with the help of ArcGIS spatial analysis software to construct the corridor pattern of the ancient villages in Mentougou District. On this basis, the spatial levels, functional nature and characteristics of the corridor are finely delineated in conjunction with the actual situation. In this way, the fragmented ancient village resources are integrated from natural, social and transportation aspects to achieve spatial consistency, complete the existing roads, and form a comprehensive development pattern for the tourism of ancient villages in area of Mentougou District, especially the organisation of tourism routes, and the overall planning of heritage utilisation.