Objective This research aims to propose the construction of a regional cultural landscape system for the Long March National Cultural Park and to deeply explore the interaction between tourism flow space and place space, so as to guide the optimization of the spatial organization model for regional thematic exhibition areas within the park. By constructing a well-organized regional cultural landscape system, the research seeks to better showcase and preserve the spirit of the Long March within the region, thus enhancing the overall coherence, hierarchical structure, and visitor experience of regional cultural landscape.

Methods Based on the “flow space – place space” perspective, the research proposes six spatial structure elements for the regional cultural landscape system: “Flow – chain – network – domain – field – point”. Social Network Analysis (SNA) is employed to identify and analyze the regional tourism flow network structure in the Yan’an section of the park. Through data collection, 228 travel routes and 86 cultural landscapes within the Yan’an section are reviewed. By virtue of SNA tools, an in-depth analysis is conducted on the distribution characteristics of tourism flow, network density, node weighted degree, and betweenness centrality. Based on relevant analysis results, the research optimizes three spatial organization model of “patch – corridor – node” to delineate the thematic exhibition areas within the Yan’an section.

Results The research results indicate a significant interaction between tourism flow space and place space: Tourism flow space provides perceptual demand for place space, while place space offers behavioral objectives for tourism flow. This interactive relationship reveals the functional and value characteristics of the spatial structure within the regional cultural landscape system. The six spatial structure elements of “flow – chain – network – domain – field – point” can effectively construct a regional cultural landscape system, which may be specifically described as follows. 1) Flow: Serving as the foundation for constructing the regional cultural landscape system, flow represents the event connections formed between different places within the region, reflecting the types of events each place carries. 2) Network: As the network structure of the regional red cultural landscape system, the network consists of multiple intersecting Long March routes within the region, embodying the spirit of the Long March. 3) Chain: Acting as the corridor of the regional cultural landscape system, the chain is the main axis among the multiple Long March routes, typically centered on the Central Red Army, and reflects the development trajectory of representative historical events in the region. 4) Domain: As the material carrier of the regional cultural landscape system, the domain represents the districts or counties that the chain passes through within the region. Each domain reflects a unique aspect of the Long March spirit and forms an integral part of the overall Long March narrative in the region 5) Field: As the field within the regional cultural landscape system, it represents the landscape clusters formed by representative historical events within the domain, showcasing the areas with the most profound Long March spirit within the domain. 6) Point: As the center of the regional cultural landscape system, the point is the central place within landscape clusters, serving as a focal point for cultural and historical narratives. Based on these elements and the identification results of the regional spatial structure of tourism flow, specific places within the “patch – corridor – node” model can be precisely located to delineate regional thematic exhibition areas. In the empirical research on the Yan’an section, six thematic exhibition areas are successfully delineated. In Ganquan County, one key exhibition park, one concentrated exhibition belt, and two special exhibition points are identified. The key exhibition park is centered around the significant historical event of the “Snow Speech”, while the concentrated exhibition belt follows the Central Red Army’s route in Ganquan County. The special exhibition points rely on sites of particular historical significance, such as the “Laoshan Battle Martyrs Cemetery” and the “Former Site of Shanxi-Gansu Border Material Station”, which play crucial intermediary roles.

Conclusion From the perspective of “flow space – place space”, the construction of the regional cultural landscape system should further explore and reflect regional characteristics, especially in the transmission and display of the Long March spirit. The optimization of the spatial organization model for regional thematic exhibition areas must comprehensively consider the real needs of both supply and demand sides, so as to ensure that the optimized model meets the perceptual needs of visitors while fully utilizing the historical and cultural values of the sites. These findings not only provide a new theoretical perspective and structural framework for studying the spatial functions of regional cultural landscapes, but also offer scientific guidance and direct support for the practical construction of the Long March National Cultural Park. Future research should further explore different organizational models of landscape layouts to enhance the functionality and expression of regional cultural landscapes, thus ensuring their long-term stability and sustainable development.