With the continuous development of digital technology, the widespread use of virtual spokespersons to promote city images is becoming increasingly prevalent. This study responds to this trend by employing a factor analysis and entropy weight methodology to explore the different dimensions and priorities in shaping the image of virtual city spokespersons in China. The aim is to offer insights into the design strategies and directions for shaping the image of virtual city spokespersons. For the research, we first conducted a literature review and semi-structured interviews to investigate the requirements of users in mainland China and Hong Kong regarding the image shaping of virtual city spokespersons. Building upon this groundwork, a questionnaire was designed and distributed, and it successfully gathered 512 valid responses. Subsequently, a factor analysis was utilized to identify eight key dimensions in shaping the images of Chinese virtual city spokespersons: “Design elements”, “Anthropomorphism”, “Evolutionary”, “Emotionalization”, “Narrativity”, “Culturalism”, “Interactivity”, and “Reliability”. Then, the entropy weighting method was applied to analyze the weights of each indicator within these dimensions. The results revealed that “Design elements” have the highest priority in shaping the image of virtual city spokespersons, followed by “Anthropomorphism”, “Emotionalization”, “Evolutionary”, “Culturalism”, “Narrativity”, “Reliability”, and “Interactivity”. Based on these findings, a series of design optimization strategies are proposed, including but not limited to shaping visually appealing images aligned with user perceptions, establishing emotional connections with users, and meeting the functional experience needs of users. These strategies not only contribute to the image shaping of virtual city spokespersons, but also provide vital guidance for innovative directions in promoting the publicity and marketing of Chinese cities.

With the acceleration of global urbanisation, the pace of evolution in urban waterfront areas has intensified, consequently hastening the renewal rate of their constituent public spaces. Compared to the macro-level planning and regulation of traditional port and coastal waterfronts, balancing the historical preservation of urban heritage waterfront public spaces with contemporary demands has emerged as a critical issue in urban regeneration. This study examines the historical waterfront area of the Xiaoqinhuai River in Yangzhou, establishing a public space perception evaluation framework encompassing five dimensions: spatial structure, landscape elements, environmental perception, socio-cultural context, and facility systems. This framework comprises 33 secondary indicators. The perception assessment system was developed through a literature review, field research, and expert interviews, refined using the Delphi method, and weighted via the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Finally, cloud modelling was employed to evaluate perceptions among residents and visitors. Findings indicate that spatial structure and socio-cultural dimensions received high perception ratings, highlighting historical layout and cultural identity as strengths of the Xiaoqinhuai Riverfront public space, while significant shortcomings were noted in terms of landscape elements, environmental perception, and facilities. These deficiencies manifest primarily in limited vegetation diversity, inadequate hard paving and surface materials, insufficient landscape node design, poor thermal comfort, suboptimal air quality and olfactory perception, uncomfortable resting facilities, limited activity diversity, and inadequate slip-resistant surfaces. Further analysis reveals perceptual differences between residents and visitors: the former prioritise daily living needs, while the latter emphasise cultural experiences and recreational facilities. Based on these findings, this paper proposes targeted optimisation strategies emphasising the continuity of historical context and enhancement of spatial inclusivity. It recommends improving public space quality through multi-dimensional measures including environmental perception enhancement, landscape system restructuring, and the tiered provision of facilities. This research offers an actionable theoretical framework and practical pathway for the protective renewal, public space reconstruction, and optimisation of contemporary urban historic waterfront areas, demonstrating broad transferability and applicability.

Urbanization and continued population growth have had a major impact on the urban environment. Many buildings lack close regional and biomimetic characteristics during the rapid generation process, making it impossible to achieve ecological sustainability. This article took the rehabilitation center of Jinghong Dai Cultural Park in Yunnan as an example for research, intending to highlight regional characteristics and change the current severely homogenized urban style. Visual on-site environmental analysis was performed through Arc GIS, CFD-phoenics, and sketchup, and the site form planning of ecological buildings from the perspective of “regional characteristics” was explored. Morphological data of local buildings and regional plants were collected, plant growth patterns were analyzed in Grasshopper software, and skins were generated from the perspective of “biomimetic properties”, and we combined the planning form with the skin to form the overall regional architectural design. The design approach of multi-parameter software combinations brings a richer expression morphologically and distinguishes the more homogeneous stereotypical image of the city, which is of great significance and value in expanding the form of architectural design. The spatial form of the site layout and the phenology of the native plants respect the original natural environment and create a symbiosis between man and nature.

Climate change exacerbates challenges for old urban parks in high-density cores, intensifying urban heat islands and overcrowding hazards and causing limited extreme weather resilience. These parks face climate maladaptation, urban health risks, and reduced adaptive capacity. This study applies performance-based urban design through an “environmental analysis Overlay method,” integrating space syntax, CFD-Phoenics wind simulation, and solar analysis to translate climate adaptation, urban health, and urban resilience dimensions into measurable indicators including ventilation efficiency, crowd dispersion comfort, and flexible space capacity. Using Chengzhong Park in Wuxi as a case study, the method employs a diagnosis–optimization–validation process. Results demonstrate substantial improvements: (1) Climate: Problematic wind areas (>4 m/s or <0.5 m/s (stagnant)) decreased from 30% to 11%, while comfortable wind zones (0.5–1 m/s) increased to over 30%, achieving optimal microclimate conditions 89% of the park; (2) Health: Pedestrian circulation capacity increased by 25%, and activity areas with under 3 h of winter sunlight reduced from 26% to 19%; (3) Resilience: Spatial units consolidated from 155 to 115, with global-local integration improving from R² = 0.39 to 0.64, significantly enhancing network coherence and adaptive functionality. The findings confirm that this method provides a scientifically rigorous, replicable pathway for climate-adaptive renewal of old urban parks, supporting urban resilience agendas.

The renovation of old historical blocks is currently receiving much attention in China's urban construction and development, and how to protect the traditional texture and sustainable development has become a research issue. This article takes the historical block of Zhoutie in Wuxi, China as the research site. Through field research methods, the current situation of old historical blocks is studied from the outside to the inside, and three characteristics of old blocks are summarized: the first point is that the relationship between new and old buildings inside and outside the historical blocks is fragmented, and some groups are updated to erase historical traces; Second, the cost of protecting old buildings is high, and the sustainability of unprofessional and spontaneous renovation is poor; The third point is that the professional transformation led by the government is too fixed at a certain historical stage. On this basis, this article proposes to respect the authenticity of the original spatial texture; Protect the "eyes" of the eastern town; A new continuation of the water market; Create rich "interactive" activity scenarios, which are four thoughts and strategies for sustainable renewal. To form a way of protection and utilization with regional characteristics, and provide updated ideas for historical blocks thriving due to water.