Impact of Urban Historical Parks on Physical Activity and Public Health in Beijing

Abstract

It is believed that having urban parks that residents are keen to visit will promote walking and daily exercise, thereby impacting the general health of the population. We conducted studies on three historical parks in Beijing (the Summer Palace, Beihai Park, and the Temple of Heaven) with the aim of exploring the influence of urban historical parks on the physical activity and public health of local residents and to develop recommendations for the management and revitalization of urban historical parks. We investigated the physical activity of residents in the parks, the characteristics of the parks, and the general health of the public. We applied statistical methods for correlation analysis and found that, (1) in famous historical parks, the frequency of physical activity of residents is positively related to the time cost to travel to the park, quietness, attractiveness of the scenery, and ancient trees; (2) physical health is positively correlated with air quality and usual companion; (3) mental health is positively correlated with education, frequency of physical activity, space size, and aesthetic landscape; (4) the influence of historical parks on physical activity and public health can vary from park to park because of specific features; and (5) the impact of the typical characteristics of historical parks on promoting physical activities and health is not obvious, except in a quiet atmosphere, which causes a higher frequency of physical activity in historical parks. The most important functions of an urban historical park are to spread cultural connotations, create a cohesive society, and promote the conservation and revitalization of historical sites instead of merely a place to encourage physical activity.