Objective In the Xitiaoxi Watershed, floods and droughts have been common since ancient times, and a distinctive cultural landscape known as dike − polder has been progressively created. Studying the traditional human settlement system that integrates the production, living, and disaster prevention functions of the paddy field landscape can help us better apply ecological thinking to cope with water and drought disasters, and can provide guidance for the protection and renewal of local cultural landscape, which is especially important given the backdrop of global climate change and frequent extreme weather events. Nevertheless, a thorough analysis of the Xitiaoxi Watershed’s historic human settlement system and an interpretation of its distinct regional features are absent from the current research.

Methods With a research area of around 840 km², this research focuses on the dike − polder areas in the plain area of the Xitiaoxi Watershed. Field investigation and ArcGIS analysis are the primary techniques employed. To better comprehend the distinctive environment and customary way of life of the local area, the research draws on historical satellite pictures, contemporary Google satellite imagery, local chronicles, and a variety of literary materials in addition to field investigation, and creates a geographic information database for polder and dike fields using the ArcGIS platform. To guarantee fundamental error-free results, the research coordinates the calibration and positioning of historical satellite pictures and compares them with the size of the polder − dike areas indicated in the planning documents. Moreover, the research determines the locations of polder villages and dike settlements through ArcGIS’s place name catalog, imports such information as elevation, and water system data from the national open-source data website, and adopts spatial analysis methods such as fishing net and kernel density analysis in quantitative statistics. The research also examines from a morphological point of view the features of agriculture, settlement systems, and water conservation in the dike − polder landscape of the Xitiaoxi Watershed.

Results The Xitiaoxi Watershed’s human settlement system exhibits both similarities and distinctions. Together, a comprehensive water conservation system, an environmentally conscious agricultural system, and a settlement system located high above the water create a harmonic environment that unites production, ecology, and life. Differentiated living systems have emerged in the upper, middle, and lower parts of the watershed as a result of zonal changes in the hydrological environment and natural terrain. The Xitiaoxi River experiences a gradual drop in topography from its upstream to downstream sections, accompanied by increasing density of water network, and declining embankment height. The pattern of local water network has steadily evolved from an irregular grid structure to a regular one, and the emphasis of water conservancy construction has shifted from creating high river embankments to extensively excavating river ditches. As a result of the division of water networks, farmland texture is getting increasingly dispersed. Contrary to the density of water network, the density of settlements initially rises and then falls. The physical features and settlement siting perspectives indicate that distinct influencing elements are important in each area. The interaction between water system, polder settlement morphology, and site selection is increasing. Between the settlement and the water network, there is a change from passive to active water adaptation. These traits show how local human settlements have adapted to the surrounding natural environment.

Conclusion This research explores the distinct regional features of traditional human settlement systems by examining the overall, local, hierarchical, and regional dike − polder landscape in the Xitiaoxi Watershed, where the prevailing conventional wisdom of “adapting to local conditions” is still of significant directional value in modern times. However, traditional rural settlements are experiencing problems such as dwindling ecological storage capacity, delayed economic development, and landscape homogenization as a result of the fast urbanization process. In view of this, this research proposes several measures such as adhering to the conventional ecological pattern, streamlining the water network system, improving ecological security, stressing the use of ecological methods to improve water adaptability, and adopting a flexible approach during disasters. In addition, it is also supposed to eamine site benefits, encourage the growth of composite agriculture, step up marketing initiatives, support the expansion of tourist, accomplish industrial upgrading, foster rural rejuvenation, preserve unique village qualities, steer clear of homogeneity, emphasize the relationship between traditional villages and other landscape features, execute work in accordance with local requirements, and safeguard a peaceful rural environment. This research can serve as a reference for the preservation and revitalization of traditional agricultural landscapes in other areas, in addition to providing context and guidelines for the preservation of local landscapes and future site design.