Traditional villages are key repositories of agrarian civilization, and transportation accessibility critically affects their preservation. Most existing accessibility studies on northern China’s Taihang Mountains neglect slope as a mobility barrier. This study examines 186 national‑level traditional villages in Jincheng City, integrates multi‑source data (road networks, land use, DEMs), and constructs a grid‑based cost‑distance accessibility model with terrain correction. Results show: villages are highly clustered along the Qinhe and Danhe River valleys, forming three high‑density clusters; travel times range from 0.23 to 166.86 min (mean 13.88 min), with accessibility higher in central river valleys and lower in east/west/mountains; 89.8% of villages lie within the 30‑min high‑accessibility zone, which fully overlaps with high‑density clusters. This research provides a scientific basis for tiered protection and road network optimization of traditional mountain villages.

Liu Jin, Li Haidong. A Study on the Coupled Characteristics of Transportation Accessibility and Spatial Distribution in Traditional Villages of Jincheng City. Academic Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (2026), Vol. 9, Issue 4: 75-82. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJHSS.2026.090410.

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