Understanding historic gardens for the sustainable land management of cultural landscapes: Chengde Mountain Resort (CMR) as a case study

Researchers have developed a three-level management model that connects dynamic authenticity and modern functionality, offering a systematic approach to sustainable land management for complex cultural landscapes where UNESCO's three categories coexist. The study used landscape mapping, digital reconstruction, and statistical analysis to characterize the Chengde Mountain Resort (CMR) based on four environmental factors: topography, accessibility, visibility, and land use changes. By identifying six distinct groups of scenes with targeted indicators, the research revealed how land use changes reflect ecological-dynamic authenticity and illuminated various landscape dynamics corresponding to all three UNESCO cultural landscape categories. This model provides valuable insights for urban policymakers navigating pluralistic cultural landscapes.

Lian, J., Nijhuis, S., Bai, N., Bracken, G., Zhang, H., Wu, X., Chen, D., & Li, J. (2025). Understanding historic gardens for the sustainable land management of cultural landscapes: Chengde Mountain Resort (CMR) as a case study. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 28, 100952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.100952