Investigating the spatial distribution of China’s Dong ethnic drum towers: influencing factors and synergistic dynamics with human activity patterns

Abstract

China is a quintessential multi-ethnic integrated nation, where extensive cultural heritages have emerged through the process of ethnic convergence. The Dong ethnic drum tower stands as a highly regarded example. Although numerous studies have thoroughly examined the spatial features, construction techniques, and the relationship between drum towers and Dong settlements, the role of drum towers as cultural heritage in supporting the social organizational functions of these settlements remains insufficiently understood from a scientific perspective. This study therefore investigates the spatial distribution characteristics of Dong drum towers within settlements in Guizhou Province, China, employing space syntax and correlation analysis. The findings reveal that: (1) Dong drum towers are consistently situated at the core of Dong villages, exhibiting low spatial depth and high integration; (2) the areas surrounding drum towers serve critical roles in transportation connectivity and community social interaction; and (3) this research not only contributes actionable insights for the scientific preservation of Dong drum tower heritage, but also offers inspiration for the protection of similar point-like cultural heritage sites, thereby advancing the sustainable development of cultural heritage on a global scale.