Spatiotemporal Patterns and Factors Associated with Online Attention to Shanghai Country Parks

Haoheng Han; Tianhong Fang

doi:10.54097/8d9b5c40

Authors

Haoheng Han Department of Landscape Planning and Design, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
Tianhong Fang Department of Landscape Planning and Design, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/8d9b5c40

Keywords:

Online attention; Temporal patterns; Spatial patterns; Country parks.

Abstract

Country parks are an important component of urban ecological networks and provide essential opportunities for recreation. Understanding how public attention to these parks varies across time and space can inform their planning and management. This study examines online attention to six country parks in Shanghai: Langxia, Guangfulin, Pujiang, Qingxi, Changxing Island, and Jiabei. For the temporal analysis, the natural logarithm of the 360 Search Index was used as the dependent variable in an entity fixed-effects panel model estimated with PanelOLS. The explanatory variables included the monthly numbers of statutory public holidays and weekend days, school-vacation periods, seasons, special events, public-health-emergency lockdowns, and precipitation. For the spatial analysis, kernel densities of bus stops, metro stations, residential areas, and road networks, together with distance from the city center, were examined through spatial visualization and exploratory univariate regressions. Online attention displayed a clear seasonal pattern, with generally higher levels in spring and autumn and lower levels in summer and winter. Spring and autumn were significantly positively associated with online attention. Lockdowns were significantly negatively associated with online attention, whereas precipitation was significantly positively associated with it. School vacations and special events showed marginal negative and positive associations, respectively, while statutory public holidays and weekend days were not statistically significant. None of the spatial indicators showed a statistically significant linear association with online attention. Because the spatial regressions included only six parks, these results should be interpreted as exploratory. The findings indicate that spatial variation in online attention is unlikely to be explained by any single spatial condition and may also reflect park-specific resources, activity programming, and promotional exposure. The study provides a spatiotemporal framework for examining online attention to country parks and offers evidence relevant to their planning and management.

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