Abstract: This study examines the transformation of rural areas within metropolitan hinterlands, using Guinan Village in Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province as a case study to explore how youth entrepreneurs and innovators act as core actors driving rural transformation. Grounded in Actor-Network Theory (ANT), it reveals the dynamic process through which these youth drive systemic rural renewal by leading the phased construction and translation of networks. This process manifests as a ‘network reconfiguration-deep transformation-network feedback' cycle: The influx of youth reconstructs formerly closed rural social networks; During a co-creation phase involving government and planning teams, the new network becomes a hub for institutional innovation and resource integration; Finally, in the operational phase, the network evolves into a market-oriented alliance centered on a village collective platform and populated by youth-led projects, driving the village toward a multifunctional future. The study concludes with planning insights: A fundamental shift in mindset from project development to network cultivation is essential-aiming to build an innovative ecosystem, designing long-term institutions, weaving relational spaces, and diagnosing network health. This provides a process-based theoretical explanation for the dynamics of revitalization in peri-metropolitan rural areas and offers a reference for similar regions.