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With the large-scale development of urbanization in the world, phenomena such as the unbalanced allocation of various elements of the rural regional system, as well as the decline of the economic and social structure and functions in the process of urban and rural economic and social transformation and development in China, have endangered the healthy development of rural areas. The "hollowing" of rural areas is becoming more and more intense, and the governance of hollow villages has become a key link to stimulating the vitality of rural development and realizing the coordinated development of urban and rural areas. Taking a typical hollow village in Fangsi Town, Yucheng City, Shandong Province, China as an example, through the recognition method of hollow villages mode, the study adopted the in-depth interviews and questionnaires to obtain governance of hollow villages. Moreover, this study uses the actor–network theory to discuss the governance model mechanism and policy response of hollow villages, extract the applicable conditions of different hollow village governance modes, and provide the promotion of the hollow village governance mechanism. Our findings show that: (1) the governance modes of hollow villages are diverse. Under certain geographical conditions, the governance of hollow villages shows the relocation and merger–urban–rural integration mode, village integration-scale operation mode, village intensive-idle land revitalization mode, and original site optimization–sightseeing tourism development mode, along with other types. In the process of promotion and use, appropriate adjustments should be made in combination with differences and changes in system conditions, and the accurate governance of villages should be carried out. (2) The governance process of hollow villages is dynamic. The governance of hollow villages represents a heterogeneous network of actors led by key actors, which mainly realizes changes in the rural material space. With the change of development goals of the hollow village, the network of actors has been readjusted around the new OPP, and the role of the actors has changed, correspondingly showing a transition from the governance of the hollow village to the optimized development, thus further realizing the transformation of the hollow village. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with the ecological civilization strategy, it is necessary to conduct in-depth analyses and provide a systematic elaboration of the characteristics of territorial-space structure (TSS). In the present paper, we examine Shandong Province and construct a framework for the evolution and optimization of TSS based on regional functions. The evolutionary process, pattern, and driving mechanisms of TSS are clarified using a geo-information atlas, the gravity center shift model, spatial autocorrelation analyses, and a geographic detector model. Furthermore, multi-scenario territorial-space simulations are carried out using the CA–Markov model, based on which an optimal pattern of territorial space is constructed. The results show that the comprehensive dynamic degree of territorial space in Shandong Province was valued at 0.56% from 2000 to 2020. Furthermore, six geo-information Tupu of TSS evolution changed, with a total area of 35,485 km2, distributed mainly in the Yellow River Delta, the central and southern Shandong Mountain area, and the Jiaodong Peninsula. The migration route of the TSS gravity center curved over time. Territorial spaces are characterized by the exchange of ecological and agricultural space, while urban spaces occupy agricultural ones. The level of economic development, policy, and the institutional environment are driving forces in the transformation of ecological into agricultural spaces, as well as in transforming agricultural space into ecological and urban spaces. The trade-off connection of TSSs is made evident after a multi-scenario simulation of territorial space considering the 2020–2025 timeframe. Based on the goal of regional function co-ordination, Shandong Province is divided into three and four types of single and complex TSS, respectively. The obtained results may provide scientific reference for the co-ordination between human–land relationships and the sustainable use of territorial space, and serve to guide territorial spatial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Population decline and land expansion (PDLE)", as the general phenomenon in rural residential areas, which is viewed as an unfavorable issue in human-land interaction system. This paper identified and categorized human-land interaction within rural residential areas from 2010 to 2020 by applying an integrated framework into the process of assessing its effects on intensive land using pattern and human living environment quality. The conclusions illustrate that the study area—Shandong Province presents the phenomenon of "PDLE". Meanwhile, there are also some other changing types of human-land interaction at the county level, such as "Population Decline and Land Degradation (PDLD)", "Population Increase and Land Degradation (PILD)", "Population Increase and Land Expansion (PILE)". We found the types of incremental land, including housing land, industrial land, and public management and service land, are conductive to protecting people's livelihoods and promoting development through research on the structural changes in rural residential areas. Conversely, the governments' institutional constraints and location conditions are the dominant force for the formation and spatial differentiation of reducing land. Furthermore, rural residential areas with the "PDLD", the "PILD" and the "PILE" could improve the intensive land use pattern. Meanwhile, "PILE" and "PDLE" in rural residential areas have a great role in improving the living environment of those areas. Actually, human-land interactions such as "PDLD" and "PILD" have led to a decrease in the quality of production and living in rural residential areas, and "PDLE" will threaten the intensive land use pattern and eco-friendly environment. According to these results, this paper also provided critical research on the Chinese rural development policies and land use management. To some extent, the human-land elements allocation should be taken into consideration in the aspect of land use scale in rural residential areas. At the same time, the decreasing plan approaches to some residential areas which fulfilled land degradation, as well as the increasing supply mechanism of other residential areas which fulfilled land expansion should also be feasible strategies for Chinese policy-makers and planners to realize rural sustainable developments. • Subjective demands and policy planning have jointly promoted the human-land interaction. • "Population decline and land expansion (PDLE)" shows dual effects on rural development. • The change of rural residential land should pay attention to both the results and the process. • Newly increased land use structure in rural residential areas satisfies rural residents' needs. • Promoting stock resources and incremental planning are feasible strategies for rural land use high-quality development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four different types of urban idle land and the corresponding formation process and characteristics are proposed. • The subject of urban idle land concerns the relative balance between government departments and land use units. • The spatial distribution rules are the comprehensive result of internal and external environmental factors. Urban idle land is a manifestation of urban system degradation in the process of rapid urbanisation. Scientifically and effectively identifying its multidimensional morphology and regional distribution rules is not only the core content of future urban sustainable development research but is also practically needed to carry out urban renewal and urban land renovation. From the 'space–society–time' perspective, this study constructed a theoretical framework for urban idle land research and used '3S' (RS, GPS, and GIS) spatial analysis technology, sample surveys, extensive correspondence, and other methods to obtain the spatial locations and basic attributes of 12,966 urban idle land plots in Shandong Province, China. Then, this study quantitatively determined the stage, subject, and spatial heterogeneity of urban idle land and analysed its spatial differentiation characteristics and formation mechanism using a spatial quantitative analysis. The results showed that the total area of urban idle land in Shandong Province is vast, the plot area has the characteristic of outlier 'fat tails' at the small scale, and the proportion of idle land is approximately 85 %. The types of urban idle land are dominated by the AIL type (idle land approved but not supplied) with a dense spatial distribution, which is highly related to the level of regional urbanisation and economic development. The behavioural subject of urban idle land mainly concerns the balance between government departments and land use units, which has obvious periodic differences. The AIL type is greatly influenced by the government's behaviour, while the SIL type (idle land supplied but unused) is greatly affected by the land use units. Moran's I index of the types of urban idle land exceeds 0.5, and there is a significant low-value agglomeration state between different county administrative regions, with 'one core and two zones' characterising the hotspots and cold spots throughout the area. The spatial differentiation of urban idle land results from the positive or negative response to land use behaviours for the interests given by government departments and land use units on different scales of urban interior space. Moreover, the differentiation is influenced by the restriction or promotion of urban external environmental factors, with different degrees of influence. In general, a greater advantage of the urban internal system elements results in the weaker constraint of the external system control elements. Moreover, when the interests of the government departments and land use units tend to reverse, the urban idle land scale tends to be large, and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a groundbreaking theoretical framework to examine the role of urban-rural system functions (URSFs) in the coordinated development of urban-rural integration (URI). The main emphasis is on the systematic, spatial, and procedural aspects of urban-rural relations (URRs), aiming to rectify the imbalances and deficiencies in URI development. Through multivariate measurement methods, the study evaluates the functional robustness of the urban-rural system (URS) from perspectives of living, production, and ecology, and distinguishes the degree of interaction and coordination. It introduces a spatial path for URI using module combinations and "point-axis" abstract logic. An empirical analysis of China's eastern provinces discloses a noticeable decrease in URS functionality from developed to underdeveloped regions. Although linkage and complementarity between urban and rural areas are significant, mutual promotion and equilibrium between urban and rural production and living functions remain suboptimal. In Shandong Province, the coordination attributes of the three primary URSFs are predominantly characterized by low coordination, an imbalance type of weaker R, and significant urban overshadowing of rural dynamics. Urban-rural synchronous promotion overwhelmingly defines URS functional relationship typologies. The integrated pattern of urban-rural development (URD) after the integration of system functions is a "point-area" feature, gradually expanding the scope from the URI model area, the URI pilot area, and the URI transition area to the URI key area, and shows the spatial structural layout of "two centers, three groups and six circles". To achieve URI development, comprehensive planning and coordinated promotion of new urbanization and rural revitalization strategies are needed, focusing on micro-level rural regional system issues. The study emphasizes a new model and path for URI development, wherein urban areas support rural development, both develop synchronously, and rural development takes precedence over urban development. • Urban-rural integration (URI) is an inevitable trend in sustainable development. • Novel framework probes URI development via urban-rural system functions coordination and linkage. • Spatial URI path proposed using 'point-axis' logic and module combinations. • Research exposes low coordination and rural imbalance in China's eastern provinces. • New model prioritizes rural development, with simultaneous urban support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]