In the context of rapid urbanization in third-world countries, many cities adopt high-density development, effectively using land but limiting open space, especially for children, impacting their spatial rights. This study focused on the Dongcheng and Xicheng districts of Beijing. It employed methods such as variance inflation factor, multiple linear regression, spatial autocorrelation, and spatial econometric models to investigate the impact of various configuration factors on children’s satisfaction with outdoor activity space. The study also revealed the spillover effects of outdoor activity space configuration for children in high-density urban environments. The results showed that (1) children’s satisfaction was significantly influenced by the configuration elements. The variables that had the most significant impact on satisfaction were the number of outdoor spaces, facilities’ amusement, advertisements, and service management levels. (2) Using spatial econometric models, we determined that spatial dependency significantly enhances the model’s explanatory power. The quantity of outdoor space had the greatest effect on children’s outdoor activity space satisfaction, followed by facilities’ amusement and advertisement impact, and service management had the least impact, though all categories positively affected satisfaction. This study held significant value and importance in improving the rights of children in mega-cities in developing countries and promoting the physical and mental well-being of children.

Urban built environments in Chinese cities have increasingly been shown to not only influence human health outcomes but also promote sustainable urban development pathways. These health and sustainability advantages have had significant implications for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and management. CVD represents a growing public health challenge in China’s rapidly urbanizing contexts. However, people living in poorly designed built environments receive less attention and tend to experience disproportionate cardiovascular health risks due to limited access to health-promoting environmental features. Therefore, this systematic review emphasizes the role of urban built environments in shaping cardiovascular health outcomes. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of spatial indicators, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), green space ratio, walkability, and public open space, in influencing cardiovascular health. Using various common cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors as outcome measures, this review conducted a comprehensive literature search across CNKI, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. The search aimed to identify studies examining the associations between urban built environments and cardiovascular health outcomes, in order to synthesize and present the research progress in this field. Through this review, we find that physical activity serves as the key mediating mechanism linking built environment characteristics to cardiovascular outcomes. Based on this finding, this review argues that urban built environment design and sustainable urbanism should prioritize cardiovascular health considerations in the planning process, as this health-oriented approach has the greatest potential for advancing public health resources and moving cities closer to being truly sustainable and health-promoting environments.

The built environment plays a critical role in promoting residents’ physical activity, yet the interactive mechanisms between objective environmental factors and subjective perceptions remain insufficiently understood. This study examines three functionally distinct neighborhoods in Beijing’s Xicheng District—Xinjiekou (historic), Financial Street (administrative), and Baizhifang (residential)—representing typical urban regeneration contexts. Using an ordered logit model based on 1072 valid questionnaires, we analyze how objective and subjective built environment factors jointly influence residents’ leisure physical activities. Results reveal that socioeconomic attributes (income, age, education) are primary determinants of activity engagement. Among objective factors, facility accessibility and land-use mix exert the strongest direct effects, while subjective perceptions—particularly satisfaction with environmental attractiveness—significantly moderate these relationships. Based on these findings, we propose differentiated spatial renewal strategies tailored to each street type. This research provides empirical evidence for implementing health-oriented urban regeneration policies in high-density metropolitan areas.

Residential crowding is a widespread housing-health challenge, but floor-area and occupancy measures offer limited guidance for architectural assessment. This systematic review examined associations between residential crowding and mental-health and psychosocial outcomes, relevant environmental-psychological mechanisms, and design-oriented spatial indicators. Following PRISMA 2020, we searched four databases from inception through 3 April 2026. Seventy-six empirical studies were included; 48 formed a structured evidence matrix, and studies reporting adjusted estimates in explicit spatial units underwent additional extraction. Methodological quality was appraised using a ROBINS-E-style framework. Heterogeneity in exposure definitions, outcomes, effect metrics, and study designs precluded meta-analysis. The narrative synthesis therefore emphasized adjusted estimates, temporality, confounder control, and risk of bias rather than unweighted study counts. Greater livable area was associated with lower depression risk, higher persons-per-room ratios with greater child behavioural difficulties, and bedroom-loss-driven crowding with increased depressive symptoms. These estimates did not support a universal threshold. Privacy loss and reduced perceived control recurred most broadly. Sleep disturbance, family strain, weakened social support, and impaired sense of home were salient in particular populations and settings. The resulting Crowding-Sensitive Residential Performance Assessment integrates spatial load, regulatory capacity, and occupancy context.

In the context of Healthy China, improving the construction of the fitness space serves as a basic protection in achieving national fitness goals. This study selected 63 representative fitness spaces in the historic core area of Beijing. Based on a review of previous studies, spatial indexes were quantitatively selected across four dimensions including ‘spatial form’, ‘landscape environment’, ‘facilities configuration’, and ‘surrounding environment’. These indexes were then used to conduct quantitative measurements on sample spaces. On this basis, virtual reality technology is used to virtually reconstruct the sample space and combined with human cognitive feedback to obtain the public’s satisfaction rating of the fitness space. In the statistical interdisciplinary study of the national fitness space in the public satisfaction assessment of the impact of spatial elements, and targeted design responses for spatial elements This research will provide practical and effective guidance and ideas for the renewal and optimization of public open spaces represented by fitness space in old urban areas.