This participatory mapping study explores the niche construction process in the Mosuo community of Southwest China in response to market integration (MI). By using participatory methods, the study ensures that insights gained are grounded in the local cultural context and that community perspectives are central to the analysis. Two streets in the lower Mosuo community represent distinct approaches to niche construction: Street A focuses on the natural beauty and ecology of the lake, while Street B promotes Mosuo cultural identity and heritage. The distribution of stores on each street offers insights into economic and social dynamics, revealing that Street B prioritizes local community needs alongside those of visitors, while Street A relies more on tourism traffic. The study also shows how the Mosuo people have adapted to MI through changes in occupational patterns, living spaces, and population movement. MI has led to a transformation of social norms, with the younger generation more attracted to foreign cultures and the older generation resisting to protect their traditional culture. Additionally, the study highlights a disparity between the vibrant cultural manifestations at the market level and the declining presence of local inhabitants in the area, posing a challenge to the longevity of the local culture. The younger generation prioritizes financial gain over cultural identity, creating a barrier to the conservation of cultural traditions. This study emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary approaches that draw on anthropology, ecology, and economics to gain a holistic understanding of the complex interactions between humans, culture, and ecology in the context of MI.