Village Regrouping in the Eastern Plains of China: A Perspective on Home-Field Distance

Rural decline caused by rapid urbanization is a global issue, and village regrouping is an effective way to revitalize the countryside. The eastern plains of China (EPC) were the first regions to implement the policy of village regrouping in China. Despite being one of the most critical factors in village regrouping, home-field distances (HFDs) in these areas have received little attention. In this study, we selected 240 sample points in the EPC through spatial stratified sampling, each of which is a square of 10 × 10 km2. Based on high-resolution remote sensing images, the inter-regional differences of rural settlements and home-field straight-line distances (HFLDs) in the EPC were systematically analyzed. Based on the central place theory (CPT), the influencing mechanism of the HFLD, the maximum HFLD acceptable to farmers, and the reasonable number, distribution pattern, and service scope of central villages in the EPC were further explored. The results indicate that HFLDs in the EPC have significant latitude zonality and spatial autocorrelation. In the northeastern China plain (NECP), north China plain (NCP), and middle and lower reaches plain of the Yangtze River (MLPYR), the ranges of the maximum HFLD are 1000–4000 m, 500–2200 m, and 500–1500 m, respectively. The distribution pattern of rural settlements, the traffic conditions, and the vehicles used by farmers during periods of land development directly impact the HFLD. HFLDs in the EPC should not exceed 3.6–4.2 km (NECP can use the higher standard-4.2 km, NCP and MLPYR can use the lower standard-3.6 km), the service range of each rural settlement should not exceed 33.6–45.8 km2, and the number of rural settlements per 100 km2 should be greater than three. The rural settlements should be discretely distributed so that each piece of farmland can be tended. The MLPYR demonstrates the greatest potential for village regrouping, and the Chinese government should invest more funds in village regrouping and central village construction in the MLPYR. This study can provide a case study for developing countries in the urbanization phase, so as to improve the rationality of village regrouping planning.