Delineation and development strategies for contiguous rural development units in peri-urban areas with ecological protection context: A case study in Xi'an section at the northern foothills of Qinling Mountains, China

Urban-rural integration is critical for China's sustainable development. The contiguous rural development model facilitates synergistic effects, enabling villages in peri-urban areas to achieve enhanced development during integration. This study proposes a cross-scale zoning methodology for ecologically sensitive peri-urban rural areas, demonstrated through the Xi'an section at the northern foothills of Qinling Mountains (XNQM) case. The "six-in-one" high-quality urban-rural integration (HQURI) framework integrates resource (ecology), population (livelihood) and industry (production) subsystems using 19 indicators. XNQM's analysis employed an optimized gravity model to build composite indices, followed by hierarchical clustering and interpretative algorithms for grouping and trait analysis. Final clusters were adjusted to enhance ecological corridor connectivity. The study found that: (1) infrastructure quality, industrial development level, and labor force proportion were key determinants of HQURI in XNQM; (2) HQURI indices showed higher values in central and northern areas compared to peripheral and southern zones, reflecting clear spatial disparity; (3) village clusters based on gravitational values exhibit gradient diffusion effects and align closely with the regional urban-rural structure through an urban-centered spatial pattern. The cross-administrative delineation and classification system of contiguous rural development units established institutional safeguards and spatial foundations for HQURI. The framework provides a methodological basis for achieving integrated urban-rural development and is particularly suitable for addressing the needs of ecological protection areas and rural sustainability. It is also particularly suitable for addressing the needs of ecological protection areas and sustainable rural development in peri-urban areas. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd.