Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Public Behaviour across Different Cultural Landscape Types

Abstract

Cultural landscapes represent the dynamic relationships between human activities and the natural environment, illustrating how societies shape, interact with, and adapt to their surrounding environments. These landscapes are significant places where cultural values are expressed not only through architectural forms and visual characteristics but also through everyday practices, cultural activities, and spatial utilisation. However, previous studies have predominantly focused on the visual representation and spatial design of cultural landscapes, while systematic investigations of actual public behaviours and their spatial distribution across different types of cultural landscapes remain limited. This study examines four cultural landscapes with distinct spatial functions in Xishuangbanna, China, to identify the main behavioural patterns and investigate their spatial distribution and temporal variations. A structured non-participant observation method was employed, with field observations conducted at 24 observation points over three consecutive days. Each day comprised three observation sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. A structured behavioural observation matrix was developed to record the frequency of different activities, including movement through spaces, daily activities, religious practices, cultural viewing, interactive participation, photography, commercial consumption, and public recreation. Observations recorded during the same time periods across the three days were averaged and rounded to the nearest integer. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics and comparative case analysis. The results reveal that cultural landscapes with different spatial functions exhibit distinct behavioural characteristics. In traditional villages, residents' daily activities coexist with tourist visits and cultural performances. Historical religious and park landscapes accommodate religious practices, sightseeing, and public recreation, whereas contemporary cultural tourism areas demonstrate higher concentrations of commercial consumption, photography, and night-time leisure activities. These findings highlight the importance of considering not only the physical forms and visual characteristics of cultural landscapes but also actual public activities and their relationships with spatial functions. This study provides empirical evidence for understanding the utilisation of cultural landscapes and offers practical recommendations for visitor circulation planning, public activity space layout, and landscape management.