Objective This research examines the spatiotemporal distribution, evolutionary mechanisms, and sustainability of cultural heritage in the Liao River Basin, located in Northeast Asia. The focus is on the transitional zone between nomadic and agrarian civilizations, with the aim to: 1) Explore the geographic selectivity of cultural heritage distribution under environmental constraints; 2) quantify phased transitions driven by the interactions between climatic and institutional factors; 3) identify spatial clustering anomalies linked to ecological fragility; 4) develop a framework for cultural heritage conservation in ethnic convergence corridors. The research investigates how geographical, climatic, and institutional factors have shaped heritage landscapes and reveals how the interactions between these factors inform modern conservation practices.

Methods A geospatial database has been utilized, encompassing 11 151 heritage sites across six categories such as ancient ruins, tombs, and buildings, as well as five historical periods ranging from prehistoric period to modern period. The data are analyzed using spatial statistical techniques and historical mapping, with the primary methods being described as follows: spatiotemporal analysis employs standard deviation ellipses and kernel density estimation to analyze distribution and density ; spatial autocorrelation analysis utilizes Global Moran’s I and Local Moran’s I to assess spatial clustering and dispersion; environmental modeling incorporates elevation and slope buffers as well as DEM-derived landforms to assess the influence of natural geography on the spatial distribution of heritage sites; historical layering analysis focuses on policy maps to track how institutional changes and infrastructure development influence the distribution of heritage sites. Multivariate regression and path analysis are used to quantify the effects of climatic and institution on the heritage evolution .

Results  1) Distribution determinants: The majority of heritage sites (95.2%) are located in optimal environmental conditions: elevation: below 500 m (mean value: 217.3±134.8 m); slope: less than 6° (84.7% ranging from 0° to 3°); distance river: within 7 km from. Buffer zone analysis reveals that 63.9% of heritage sites are concentrated in areas with an elevation of 200–400 m, a slope of 2–5°, and a distance to river of 3–5 km. Neolithic sites cluster along the Xiliao River Valley (42.5°N), with kernel density peaking at 2.8 sites/km², reflecting favorable conditions for millet agriculture and early settlements.2）Phased Transition: Cold-Dry Shift (post-1000 CE): Climate deterioration led to a temperature drop of －1.2°C and a 15% decline in precipitation, compressing agricultural margins and shifting cultural heritage cores from 42.5°N to 41.5°N. This reflects how human settlements adapted to changing climate conditions. Institutional Catalysts: The Yuan Dynasty’s postal network expansion along the 123°E longitude line increased heritage site density by 180%, lowering ethnic dissimilarity indices from 0.68 to 0.41, indicating greater ethnic integration through institutional support. Polarization: Modern industrialization concentrated 74.3% of heritage sites in the Liaodong Plains, with a Moran’s I value of 0.32 (z92.61). In contrast, regions like the Horqin Sandy Land had site densities below 0.2 sites/km², highlighting significant cultural and environmental decline. 3）Clustering Dynamics: Global Moran’s I four distinct of clustering: initial aggregation, dispersion, re-aggregation, and strong polarization. 4）Institutional Drivers: The Qing government’s “Zhanchi” land reform system promoted agricultural expansion and helped overcome climatic constraints. This institutional innovation facilitated the movement of cultural heritage sites southward during the transitions from Liao to Yuan and Qing, underscoring the interaction between environmental stress and institutional responses. The expansion of imperial infrastructure, such as the postal network, also supported the concentration of heritage sites along major transport routes, highlighting the synergy between governance and heritage development.

Conclusion The heritage landscape in the Liao River Basin demonstrates three key synergies. Eco-Institutional Coevolution: In history, the interactions between climatic thresholds and institutional innovations (e.g., Yuan postal network) shaped spatial patterns of ethnic integration and cultural heritage development, and climate change set the stage for policy adaptations that promoted ethnic convergence. Transitional Zoning: Based on the findings above, a tripartite conservation framework is proposed, comprising core reserves in the Liaodong Plains, ecological buffers along the Horqin fringe, and cultural corridors associated with historical postal routes. This framework aims to protect the region’s cultural heritage from the perspectives of both ecological degradation and modern industrial pressures. Validation of Pluralistic Unity: The basin-scale Global Moran’s I index suddenly rebounded to 0.157, empirically validating the theory of pluralistic unity, revealing nested clusters of Han-majority and ethnic-minority heritage that contribute to the formation of a shared national identity. This research introduces a dynamic conservation paradigm that integrates ArcGIS-based monitoring with adaptive governance, essential for the long-term sustainability of heritage sites in China’s borderland regions. The research’s findings also emphasize the importance of preserving the Liao River Basin’s heritage within a broader global context, offering a valuable insight for cultural heritage management in multi-ethnic, ecologically sensitive regions.