Objective Since the initiation of reform and opening-up, China’s urbanization process has significantly accelerated, driven predominantly by economic benefits. This rapid development has led to extensive demolition and reconstruction, which has compromised the character of these areas. New urban development projects often achieve swift renewal by replicating the styles of neighboring towns, neglecting local distinctiveness. Consequently, this approach results in indistinct landscape character and a high degree of homogenization in appearance, contributing to the phenomenon of “a thousand cities looking the same”, Such uniformity negatively impacts the competitiveness and attractiveness of regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in geographically similar areas like the Yangtze River Delta, where flat terrain and gentle land slopes facilitate large-scale development, further exacerbating the trend towards landscape homogenization. Therefore, in areas with similar geographical characteristics and lacking sufficient historical imagery data, accurately identifying and refining the management of landscapes remains a significant challenge. In recent years, there has been an increasing recognition of the need to preserve and enhance the unique character of urban and rural landscapes. The loss of local identity due to rapid urbanization not only diminishes the aesthetic value of these areas, but also affects their cultural heritage. In regions such as the Yangtze River Delta, characterized by plain water networks, the challenge is compounded by the similarity in natural environments and the ease of large-scale development. Thus, developing effective strategies for landscape management that respect and highlight local distinctiveness is crucial for fostering sustainable development and enhancing regional competitiveness.

Methods In response to the need for precise identification to highlight urban-rural landscape and the increasingly refined creation of distinctive spaces, as well as to address homogenization in regions with similar geographical features, this study reviews relevant literature, extends the conceptual connotation of urban-rural landscape , and summarizes the strengths and limitations of existing methods for landscape identification and delineation. An innovative approach integrating “spatial integrity” oriented landscape character identification with “temporal continuity” oriented semantic analysis of classical poetry is proposed. This methodology aims to discern character homogenization and accurately delineate character control zones in regions with similar geographical features. Using the Nanxun Region in Huzhou City as the study area, the research first employs landscape character assessment to define the study scope, utilizing tools such as ArcGIS and eCognition to identify and partition landscape character zones. Subsequently, based on the Ming and Qing dynasty poetry collection XunXiShiZheng, it employs Python and Gephi for semantic analysis to reconstruct historical scenes. These scenes are then spatially located and superimposed onto the identified character zones to provide a comprehensive understanding of landscape evolution and homogenization.

Results The study reveals that: 1) Character Zone Identification: The application of landscape character assessment delineated six feature zones in the Nanxun area. However, the descriptive semantics of these zones exhibit minimal differentiation, highlighting challenges in distinguishing unique landscape traits. 2) Historical Scene Reconstruction: This analysis enabled the reconstruction of five historical scenes: “A Distant Voyage by Boat,” “Residing in Harmony with the Waterside,” “Honoring the Land with Abundance of Game,” “Flourishing Flowers and Joyful Work,” and “Hidden Hermitage for Zen Meditation.” These scenes demonstrate historical associations with the identified character zones. 3) Overlaying character zones yielded two contrasting results: the cross-zone distribution of similar historical scenes and the co-occurrence of multiple historical scenes within the same character zone. The former indicates a certain degree of landscape homogenization in Nanxun during the Ming and Qing dynasties, possibly due to the spread of pond-dike reclamation techniques and the concentric distribution pattern of “commercial trading centers and surrounding settlements”. The latter identifies key zones in the Nanxun that require precise control, particularly those located at water transport hubs.

Conclusion The method of dividing landscape Management zones based on the integration of landscape character assessment and historical scene analysis aids in identifying critical zones for precising management in areas with similar geographical features, while also finding historical reasons for landscape homogenization. This study provides methodological evidence for the landscape Management of urban and rural areas in the Yangtze River Delta region, characterized primarily by plain water networks. It addresses the core issues of current landscape homogenization and the loss of local character, offering technical pathways for planning practices aimed at enhancing landscape distinctiveness in the Yangtze River Delta region. This approach contributes to boosting the overall attractiveness and sustainable development capacity of such regions.