Existing studies on cultural landscape genes in traditional villages have largely focused on the identification of objective elements, while paying insufficient attention to the associations between tourists’ subjective perceptions, Place identity, and Satisfaction. Taking the five nationally recognized traditional villages in Wuxi, China, as case studies, this study constructs an association model linking cultural landscape gene perception, Place identity, and Satisfaction. The model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling based on 392 tourist questionnaires. The results indicate that Perceived Environmental Character, Perceived Settlement Morphology, Perceived Architectural Characteristics, and Perceived Cultural Attributes are all significantly and positively associated with both Place identity and Satisfaction. Place identity is also significantly and positively associated with Satisfaction. In terms of the standardized path coefficients, Perceived Settlement Morphology shows a relatively strong association with Place identity (β = 0.285), while Perceived Architectural Characteristics shows a relatively strong association with Satisfaction (β = 0.257). The model explains 41.2% of the variance in Place identity and 54.1% of the variance in Satisfaction. Both the direct paths between the four dimensions of cultural landscape gene perception and Satisfaction and the indirect paths through Place identity are statistically significant, indicating that Place identity plays a partial mediating role. This study extends Cultural Landscape Gene Theory from the identification of objective landscape elements to the levels of tourist perception and tourism evaluation, and reveals that Place identity may constitute a psychological pathway linking cultural landscape perception with Satisfaction. In practice, the perceptibility of village spatial patterns, architectural appearance, environmental characteristics, and cultural content should be comprehensively maintained to enhance tourists’ Place identity and overall experience evaluations.

Smart libraries represent an important integration of digital and intelligent technologies into public cultural spaces and have substantial potential to meet the public’s growing demand for digital cultural services. However, how digital systems, service processes, and spatial environments jointly shape user evaluations and usage intention remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we integrated the information systems success model (ISSM) with the technology acceptance model (TAM) to develop a user-perception framework comprising system quality, information quality, service quality, and environmental quality. Survey data from 352 users with prior experience of smart libraries were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The integrated model showed good explanatory power for user satisfaction, attitude towards use, and usage intention in smart libraries. System quality and information quality were positively associated with perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and user satisfaction, with information quality showing relatively larger path coefficients for perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Service quality and environmental quality were positively associated with perceived usefulness and user satisfaction but showed no significant association with perceived ease of use. Perceived usefulness, attitude towards use, and user satisfaction were each positively associated with usage intention, whereas perceived ease of use did not directly predict attitude towards use. These findings indicate that user evaluations of smart libraries are shaped not by technological ease of use alone, but by the combined effects of digital facilities, information organisation, service touchpoints, and the spatial environment. On the basis of these findings, we propose four design strategies: optimising smart facilities and interactive interfaces; coordinating information classification with wayfinding systems; integrating service nodes with digital service scenarios; and improving functional zoning and indoor environmental quality. These strategies provide an evidence base for the spatial design and service-environment renewal of smart libraries.

Under the dual pressures of global urbanisation and tourism development, the cultural landscapes of traditional villages are increasingly threatened by homogenisation. To effectively protect and transmit the cultural landscape characteristics of traditional villages, this study introduces the concept of “cultural landscape genes” and takes Wengxiang Village, a representative case in the Suzhou region, as the study site. A cultural landscape gene identification model incorporating both tangible and intangible cultural elements is developed, and a corresponding cultural landscape genealogy is constructed. Using survey data from residents and visitors, we combined the entropy weight method with fuzzy comprehensive evaluation to quantify the evaluation scores of cultural landscape genes in Wengxiang Village and examine differences between the two groups. The overall evaluation of cultural landscape genes in Wengxiang Village fell within the “moderate” category, although scores varied across different gene categories. Village morphology and cultural practices and skills received relatively high scores, whereas heritage sites and remains, materials and colour palette, and architectural layout received lower scores. These findings highlight aspects of cultural landscape conservation and public perception that warrant further attention. Statistically significant differences between residents and visitors were identified for seven of the 14 secondary indicators, indicating differences in their evaluations of selected spatial forms, architectural characteristics and sociocultural elements. Residents tended to place greater emphasis on functional needs and spatial order, whereas visitors focused more on the visual recognition of spatial forms and cultural legibility. This study establishes an integrated analytical framework linking cultural landscape gene identification, perception-based evaluation, group comparisons and conservation problem diagnosis. The findings provide an empirical basis for the conservation and adaptive reuse of Wengxiang Village’s cultural landscape and offer a case-based reference for more detailed evaluations of traditional village cultural landscapes in the Jiangnan region.