Objective This study identifies the spatial distribution patterns of different types of national-level characteristic villages in Shandong Province, analyzes their dominant influencing factors, and proposes differentiated development strategies. Methods Taking five categories of national-level characteristic villages in Shandong Province as the study objects, spatial patterns and driving mechanisms were analyzed using the nearest neighbor index, kernel density estimation, imbalance index, standard deviational ellipse, and the optimal parameter-based geographical detector method. Results (1) The characteristic villages in Shandong Province exhibited a single-pole and dual-core spatial pattern, with the single pole mainly located in the junction zone of the central Shandong hilly region and the dual cores mainly distributed in northwestern Yantai and the Zaozhuang–Linyi junction area. (2) Significant spatial differentiation was observed among different types of characteristic villages. Forest villages showed a distribution pattern of contiguous patches along the central Shandong mountainous region and multiple points around the Jiaodong Peninsula. Famous historical and cultural villages showed a dual-core distribution. Key rural tourism villages showed a U-shaped distribution with the central–southern Shandong mountainous and hilly region as the core. Traditional villages were concentrated at the junction of Jinan and Zibo, and ethnic minority characteristic villages were mainly distributed in Dezhou, Jinan, and Tai′an, characterized by small-scale clustering. (3) The overall distribution pattern of characteristic villages in Shandong Province was collectively influenced by natural environment, economic development, resource endowment, social conditions, and policy support, with significant differences in dominant factors across village types. Conclusion The spatial pattern of characteristic villages in Shandong Province has notable type heterogeneity. It is necessary to implement differentiated policies and regionally coordinated development pathways based on dominant influencing factors, so as to promote the optimal allocation of resources and the high-quality development of rural revitalization.
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