Abstract: Traditional settlement cultural landscape genes were recognized as carriers of local cultural identity and historical memory, and as an important foundation for achieving sustainable inheritance. To address the problems of fragmented identification of cultural landscape genes and insufficient alignment between inheritance pathways and empirical analysis in existing research, Yuncao Ancient Town was taken as the research object. Cultural landscape gene theory was applied, and a human geography perspective was integrated to construct an analytical framework encompassing gene identification, atlas construction, and inheritance pathway derivation. Based on UGC text semantic network analysis, combined with grounded theory and co-word analysis, a cultural landscape gene identification indicator system was established, and the structural characteristics and inheritance dilemmas of the genes were subsequently analyzed. The results show that the cultural landscape genes of Yuncao Ancient Town are constituted as a multidimensional composite system consisting of material form, production mode, social relations, and cultural significance. In contemporary practice, a hierarchical imbalance is observed in the identification and inheritance of these genes, wherein easily identifiable surface-level elements are emphasized while the expression of deep cultural connotations remains weak. The resulting inheritance problems are mainly manifested as subject fragmentation, element fragmentation, methodological lag, and a disconnection in the transformation of economic value. Based on these findings, it is proposed that the sustainable inheritance of cultural landscape genes be promoted by restructuring the inheritance subjects, integrating resources, innovating translation methods, and constructing a circular mechanism. This study can provide support for deepening the structural understanding and inheritance logic of cultural landscape genes in traditional settlements, and can serve as a reference for the cultural protection and renewal of similar settlements..