Table 3 Evaluation system for development potential of traditional villages

Value of traditional architecture

Earliest construction dates back to Ming Dynasty and earlier scores 9 points; Qing Dynasty to Republic of China scores 6 points; post-1949 scores 3 points.

Cultural heritage protection unit grade: national level scores 9 points; provincial or prefectural level scores 6 points; county or city level scores 3 points.

Number of traditional buildings: more than 400 scores 9 points; 100 to 400 scores 6 points; less than 100 scores 3 points.

Village layout

Harmony between the village and its surroundings scores 9 points; fair scores 6 points; significant conflicts score 3 points.

Preservation of traditional village layout: well-preserved and clustered layout scores 9 points; moderately preserved with some clustering scores 6 points; poorly preserved with scattered layout scores 3 points.

Earliest village establishment: Ming and Qing dynasties scores 9 points; late Qing to early Republic of China scores 6 points; post-1949 scores 3 points.

Intangible cultural heritage

Possession of world-level intangible cultural heritage scores 9 points; national level scores 6 points; provincial level scores 3 points.

Number of provincial-level or higher categories of intangible cultural heritage: more than 3 categories scores 9 points; 2-3 categories scores 6 points; 1 category scores 3 points.

Integrity of intangible cultural heritage preservation: intact preservation scores 9 points; moderate preservation scores 6 points; poor preservation scores 3 points.

Local hospitality

Number of tourists received last year: more than 60,000 scores 9 points; 40,000 to 60,000 scores 6 points; less than 40,000 scores 3 points.

Presence of provincial exemplary hotels, homestays, inns, or agritourism: more than 10 establishments scores 9 points; 10 or fewer scores 6 points; fewer than 10 scores 3 points.

Living environment

Reflection of village infrastructure such as water supply, wastewater treatment, education, healthcare, and living environment: fully completed scores 9 points; partially completed scores 6 points; general condition scores 3 points.

Continuation and coordination of overall traditional village style: complete continuity without modern architecture mixing, rich and diverse ecological environment scores 9 points; relatively complete continuity with some modern architecture mixing, rich ecological environment scores 6 points; basic continuity with significant modern architecture mixing, relatively good ecological environment scores 3 points.

Government support

Titles: national-level historic and cultural village, national-level intangible cultural heritage, or national-level featured village titles score 9 points; provincial-level titles score 6 points; other titles score 3 points.

Village status: national-level key rural tourism village scores 9 points; provincial-level key rural tourism village scores 6 points; Guizhou rural construction demonstration village scores 3 points.

Location conditions

Distance from city or well-connected important attractions: within 30 minutes scores 9 points; 30 minutes to 1 hour scores 6 points; more than 1 hour scores 3 points.