Objective The rich and strongly regional superaqueous cultural landscape in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (“Great Bay Area”) is an important representation of Lingnan cultural image. This research attempts to preliminarily establish the spatial pattern of superaqueous cultural landscapes in the Greater Bay Area by summarizing their basic types and analyzing their spatial distribution characteristics, in order to provide basic data basis and spatial planning guidance for the protection and management of such landscapes.

Methods The research area redline is drawn mainly based on the sand forming area of the Pearl River Delta in Qing Dynasty, using nuclear density analysis, spatial coupling analysis, landscape pattern analysis, ecological suitability analysis and other technical methods. The classification basis and standard of China’s cultural heritage and tourism resources are preliminarily defined to determine the main categories and basic classifications of superaqueous cultural landscape. ArcGIS software is adopted to plot the spatial distribution of landscape resource points based on the kernel density analysis thereof, and to analyze the coupling between superaqueous cultural landscape and regional water network structure and the landscape suitability of superaqueous cultural landscape.

Results 1) From a natural perspective, the cultural system and natural hydrological conditions of the aquatic cultural landscape in the Greater Bay Area exhibit a strong symbiosis and consistency. From a cultural standpoint, both the material and non-material aspects of aquatic cultural landscapes are based on or rely on water systems, covering all aspects of life and production. 2) By analyzing the spatial distribution of landscape resource points, it is found that Guangzhou is the center of the water cultural landscape pattern in the entire Greater Bay Area. Through the superposition of cultural landscape resource points, water system corridors, and cultural circles, as well as the connectivity of developed water network systems, the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area has formed a spatial pattern system of water cultural landscape with three corridors, three cores, and five circles. At the same time, due to the differences in natural and cultural backgrounds among different cultural circles, there are also significant regional differences in the water cultural landscape, reflecting the diversity and vitality of the Bay Area culture.

Conclusion  The research finds that the superaqueous cultural landscape in the Greater Bay Area is reflected in a variety of daily activities and festivals and relies on the highly developed geographical characteristics of water networks, accounting for a large proportion of cultural heritage and tourism resources. In the past, research on aquatic cultural landscapes primarily focused on the tourism discipline, and paid less attention to the spatial distribution of the cultural landscape resources due to disciplinary limitations. This research fills this gap by conducting interdisciplinary research on landscape architecture, social geography, and cultural geography, advancing the research on superaqueous cultural landscapes to the field of national spatial control. The research provides basic data and spatial strategy references for the protection planning of superaqueous cultural landscapes in the Greater Bay Area. It also has practical guidance for the construction of cultural confidence and the development of the superaqueous cultural tourism economy in the Greater Bay Area.