Assessment and Optimization of Sustainable Tourism Planning for Suburban Rural Areas of Metropolitan Fringe Areas Based on Ecological Landscape Unit Division: Evidence from Huanglongxian, Nanjing

Abstract

The rapid acceleration of urbanisation in China has led to the emergence of many big cities, which has greatly affected the development of tourism in the surrounding areas. As Metropolitan Fringe Areas increasingly serve as popular short-term travel destinations, the adjacent villages confront unprecedented developmental opportunities and challenges. This study examines the Paifang community in Jiangning District, Nanjing, China to investigate ecological landscape assessment and strategic tourism planning within the context of a sustainable tourism framework in Metropolitan Fringe Areas. First, this research delineates the landscape ecological units of the Paifang community and assesses ecological sensitivity. Through a combination of technical research, field surveys, and in-depth interviews, this study analyses the expectations of both residents and tourists, proposing targeted tourism planning strategies.