Effects of Soundscape on Public Visiting Experience in City Park: A Case Study in Xihu Park, Fuzhou

Taking Xihu park in Fuzhou as an example, this study aimed to reveal how soundscape perception could effect public visiting experiences in city parks, in terms of landscape aesthetic degree and visiting satisfaction degree through a questionnaire survey. The results indicated that, the soundscapes in the park showed certain characteristics. Significant and positive relationships existed among the three factors, i.e. soundscape tranquil degree, landscape aesthetic degree and visiting satisfaction degree, and landscape aesthetic degree showed more effect on visiting satisfaction degree than soundscape tranquil degree. Perception of certain sound sources was found in close relationship with the three factors too. Specifically, soundscape tranquil degree was more affected by perceived occurrences of urban traffic sounds and the preference for music and singing; landscape aesthetic degree was more affected by perceived occurrences of certain mechanical sounds and preference for natural sounds; and visiting satisfaction degree was more affected by perceived occurrences of certain mechanical sounds and perceived loudness of urban traffic sounds. The research results provided a theoretical reference for management and design of landscape and soundscape in urban parks.