To investigate the migration trajectory of the center of gravity of rural settlements in China from 2000 to 2018 and its impact on the intensive utilization of rural settlements and the spatial pattern of cultivated land occupation, the methods of center of gravity model and standard deviation ellipse model were employed. The results showed that from 2000 to 2018, the center of gravity of Chinese rural settlements migrated 17545.67 meters to the northwest, including 8843.191 meters to the west and 15154.162 meters to the north. During the four periods of 2000–2005, 2005–2010, 2010–2015, and 2015–2018, the center of gravity of rural settlements in China followed a trajectory of “southwest-southeast-northwest-northwest” with migration speeds of 894.326, 854.994, 1368.894 and 8108.936 m/a, respectively. Before 2010, the center of gravity primarily migrated southward at a relative slow pace, while after 2010, it migrated rapidly towards the northwest. From 2000 to 2018, the spatial distribution range of rural settlements in China showed a trend of initial contraction followed by expansion. Specifically, the distribution range decreased from 2000 to 2015 and expanded after 2015. Rural settlements exhibited a clustering pattern in the main trend direction (north-south) and a dispersing pattern in the east-west direction. The study shows that the utilization of rural settlements in northern China is more extensive, especially in northern, northeastern and eastern China, where the per capita area and growth rate of rural settlements are faster, the degree of intensive utilization is lower. The net occupation of arable land by rural settlements is the highest in the country, making it the region with the most serious occupation of arable land. The central-southern and southwestern regions are more intensive. The results of the study can provide a scientific basis for understanding the dynamics of the evolution of rural settlements and guiding the adjustment of the spatial layout of rural settlements.

Based on the analysis of the logical relationship between supply and demand of ecosystem services, this study evaluates the demand status of ecosystem services in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, delimits the demand type areas, calculates the spatial and temporal changes of ecosystem services value (ESV) based on land use status maps in 2000 and 2015, and puts forward corresponding land use strategies. The result is as follows. 1) Human beings have material, environmental and cultural needs for ecosystem. The demand for ecosystem services can be evaluated from four aspects: population, economic level, industrial development and educational level, corresponding to the nine services of the four functions of ecosystem, including supply, regulation, support and culture; 2) There is a large gap in the demand for ecosystem services in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, which can be divided into four types: extremely high demand area, high demand area, medium demand area and low demand area. 3) From 2000 to 2015, the total value of ecosystem services in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region decreased. At county level, the total value of ecosystem services and the average value of land decreased gradually from north to south in space; 4) The value distribution of ecosystem services in different demand areas was unbalanced. From 2000 to 2015, the value of all types of areas has decreased, and the land use strategies of different types of areas are different.