414 high-quality tourist attractions rated above 3A in Gansu Province were selected as research samples. Utilizing methods such as the nearest neighbor index and geographic concentration index kernel density, the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of high-quality tourist sites in Gansu Province were explored. The final results show the overall spatial distribution of high-quality tourist attractions in Gansu Province is relatively concentrated, with high-quality attractions in regions including Hexi, Longzhong, and Longdong showing an aggregated distribution type.The overall distribution of high-quality attractions in Gansu Province presents an uneven state. At the regional level, high-quality attractions are mainly concentrated in the Hexi and southeastern Longdong areas; at the city level, they are primarily concentrated in Jiuquan, Zhangye, and Longnan.There are certain differences in the spatial distribution density of high-quality attractions in Gansu Province. A distribution pattern of “two cores, two belts, and multiple points” has formed across Gansu Province. At the regional level, high-quality attractions in the Hexi area have formed a multi-core spatial structure decreasing outward; high-quality attractions in Longzhong and ethnic regions exhibit a single-core distribution pattern with gradient diffusion outward,the southeastern and eastern Longdong areas do not show a high-density core area, with kernel density values decreasing from Tianshui and Qingyang outward. The spatial distribution pattern of high-quality attractions in Gansu Province has been formed under the combined effect of natural environment and socioeconomic factors.

high-quality tourist attractions  /  spatial distribution pattern  /  influencing factors  /  Gansu Province