Abstract: The current protection methods for geological heritage in Shaanxi Province are limited in diversity,with the scientific and aesthetic values remaining underexploited.Therefore,new open and flexible protection approaches are needed.Geological cultural villages(towns) are characteristic settlements that leverage geological resource endowments,deeply integrate geological science and culture into rural development,develop specialized industries and economies,improve the quality of life and cultural richness of rural areas,and thereby become livable and business-friendly villages(towns).In order to explore the construction direction of geological cultural villages in Shaanxi Province,this article employs kernel density estimation(KDE) and analytic hierarchy process(AHP) to analyze the endowment characteristics and spatial distribution characteristics of geological heritage resources.Based on this,an evaluation index system for geological cultural village development is constructed,and the development evaluation of geological cultural villages in Shaanxi Province is carried out,and construction ideas and models are proposed.The results show that:(1) The geological heritage resources in Shaanxi Province are exceptionally diverse,with high value levels and superior endowment.They exhibit distinct spatial distribution characteristics,featuring dense concentrations in the southern Han River Basin,southern Shangluo,and certain areas of the Guanzhong region.In contrast,northern Shaanxi is relatively sparse overall,except for counties such as Jingbian,Zidan,and Ganquan,displaying a multi-center distribution pattern.(2) We constructed an evaluation index system and applied it to villages(towns)hosting geological heritage in Shaanxi Province.Eleven villages(towns) scored above 85 points,qualifying them as candidate sites for geological cultural village construction.(3) The selection of future construction models for geological cultural villages in Shaanxi Province is constrained by the evaluation results of geological heritage resources and spatial patterns.Based on the analysis of the matching degree of geological heritage resources,location,and culture in Shaanxi Province,four models of " geology+ecotourism","geology+natural education","geology+ecological health",and " geology+innovative creativity have been emphasized,and five implementation paths have been proposed to promote the development of geological tourism economy and rural revitalization in Shaanxi Province.