The issue of identity is very complex and determining the factors influencing cultural identity is a key issue. Several scholars have studied the factors influencing cultural identity. However, relatively little attention has been paid to how spatial factors influence cultural identity. This paper takes a historical and cultural conservation block in Beijing, China, as the research area. This area includes eight lanes and is called Eight Lanes in North Xisi. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that spatial changes in living conditions, layout, size, architectural form, and decoration, etc. in the courtyards led to changes in the traditional culture of the courtyards, which ceased to reflect the original residential culture, which led to a decline in cultural identity. Spatial factors directly affected the residents’ cultural identification with harmonious courtyard culture. This view adds nuance to debates about cultural identity and the factors that influence it. From the perspective of cultural geography and by using structural equation modelling, we draw two main conclusions. First, the smaller proportion of public space (The term “space” as it is used in this paper is based on the understanding of humanistic geographers and refers to physical space; it does not acquire meaning and cultures.) is one main factor affecting residents’ identification with the harmonious residential culture of the case area. Second, the greater population density of the courtyards is another main factor affecting residents’ identification with the area’s harmonious residential culture.

Urban spaces are constantly changing. H. Lefebvre’s trialectic spaces are an analytical tool used to explain changes in urban spaces. However, in trialectic spaces, which space plays a leading role? What is the driving force of interactions in such spaces? At present, there is a lack of research on this issue. This paper, in response to the views of N. J. Babere, takes the Xisi historical and cultural block in Beijing as a case study to answer these questions and uses questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and follow-up surveys to analyze the interaction process of trialectic spaces within green spaces. Then, it analyzes the driving force of this interaction. The purpose of this study is to determine which space plays a leading role in interactions among trialectic spaces and what the driving force behind such interactions is. This paper draws the following conclusions: (1) Representational spaces play a decisive role in interactions among trialectic spaces.. This is consistent with Babere’s findings. (2) In historical and cultural blocks, culture is the driving force promoting the interaction of trialectic spaces. (3) The direction of interaction among trialectic spaces can be either clockwise or counterclockwise.