Abstract:To research the progress of rural settlements space in water area, the method of literature statistical analysis and content analysis are used to summary the research progress of spatial structure characteristics, evolution process and influencing factors of rural settlements in water towns of south China from 1915 to 2021. The results show that the quantitative research is mainly based on geography, landscape ecology and urban and rural planning at regional level, while the qualitative research is mainly based on architecture, urban and rural planning and landscape architecture at village level. There are differences in contents and methods of research in different periods, and there is an obvious imbalance in the progress of research in different regions and objects. In order to provide guidance for future research, the paper forecasts some priorities and directions, such as to strengthen the effective connection between theoretical exploration and practical guidance, increase the selection of suitability factors and multi-period factors, deepen the research of influencing factors, summarize and refine the regional rural settlement spatial gene pool, and strengthen the combination of qualitative research and quantitative research.