AccScience Publishing / JCAU / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/jcau.4226
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Reconstructing Minyue Kingdom’s roads: A least-cost path approach to cultural heritage networks

Li Wang1* Xiaowen Zhao1 Kui Zhou1 Linlin Sun1 Rui Zhang1 Chenchen Li1 Feiya Su1 Zhiqiang Mu1
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1 Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, Kashi University, Kashi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
Journal of Chinese Architecture and Urbanism, 4226 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4226
Submitted: 12 July 2024 | Revised: 14 November 2024 | Accepted: 2 December 2024 | Published: 14 March 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
Abstract

This study utilizes high-resolution digital elevation models (DEM) and Landsat 8 remote sensing imagery to reconstruct the ancient road networks of the Minyue Kingdom in present-day Fujian province, China, focusing on the Qin dynasty (221 – 206 BCE) and Eastern Han dynasty (25 – 220). Using 12.5 m precision DEMs for elevation and Landsat 8 for land use and environmental data, a cost surface model was developed, leveraging the region’s stable geographical environment. Least-cost path (LCP) analysis was applied to identify the most efficient travel routes, accounting for natural and human-made barriers. The findings highlight five key insights: (i) mapping over 10,000 km of ancient pathways, emphasizing their significance in military logistics, trade, and cultural exchanges; (ii) identification of critical nodes, such as forts and trading posts, that facilitated strategic control and economic development; (iii) the influence of Fujian’s diverse topography on road network configurations; (iv) cultural narratives facilitated by these routes during the Minyue period (306 – 110 BCE); and (v) validation of LCP models in predicting undocumented routes and enhancing understanding of ancient transportation systems. This interdisciplinary approach integrates historical research, geographic information systems (GISs), and digital preservation, enriching archaeological knowledge and offering practical tools for cultural heritage management. The findings underscore the potential of GIS technologies in reconstructing historical landscapes and suggest broader applications for heritage preservation and education. The digital visualization of these networks provides a valuable resource for researchers and cultural heritage professionals worldwide.

Keywords
Minyue Kingdom
Ancient road networks
Geographic information system technology
Least-cost path analysis
Cultural heritage preservation
Funding
This research was funded by University-level Project at Kashi University: Changes in Carbon Emissions of Blue-Green Spaces in the Landscape Pattern of the Kashgar Region Over the Past 40 Years (Grant number: 20232874) and University-level Key Project at Kashi University: Research on the Structure and Function of Roofs in Traditional Chinese Architecture (Grant number: 20222754).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Journal of Chinese Architecture and Urbanism, Electronic ISSN: 2717-5626 Published by AccScience Publishing