Developing harmonious multiethnic settlements in Southwest China: a spatial pattern analysis of Lijiang City

Harmony among ethnic groups is a critical precondition as well as a major challenge for multiethnic countries to achieve sustainability. Sufficiency of available natural and socio-economic resources and equality in their distribution among different ethnic groups are of prime importance to maintain harmonious multiethnic settlement patterns. In this study, by using an ethnic settlement diversity index (Shannon-Wiener) and the suitable living space assessment, we studied characteristics of the spatial patterns of multiethnic settlements in Lijiang City, China. The results showed that multiethnic settlement patterns differed between rural and urban areas. The ethnic settlement diversity index went up significantly with increasing spatial scale but showed no significant correlation with population and administrative area, which implied the equality of resources distribution among the different ethnic groups. From the suitable living space assessment, we found that Lijiang had sufficient suitable living habitat in each of its counties (including the only district) to maintain the current harmonious spatial patterns of multiethnic settlements in Lijiang City. This study contributes to a better understanding of multiethnic settlement patterns and has important implications for sustainable urban development in multiethnic areas.