One method of understanding landscape pattern changes is through an understanding of land use/land cover (LULC) changes, which are closely related to landscape pattern changes. Previous studies have monitored LULC changes across North Korea but did not consider landscape changes at a local scale. Using multiple LULC products to construct sample points, the LULC was classified using a random-forest algorithm and Landsat satellite dataset. The overall accuracy of the classification was 97.66 ± 1.36%, and the Kappa coefficient was 0.95 ± 0.03. Based on the classification results, landscape indices were used to quantify and monitor landscape pattern changes. The results showed that, from 2000 to 2020, there was an increasing trend in built-up and forest areas in Pyongyang, while cropland showed a decreasing trend, and landscape fragmentation increased. However, urban expansion was not the main factor affecting fragmentation. The main factors were forest recovery and cropland reduction, leading to an increase in landscape fragmentation in Pyongyang.

Urban blue-green spaces offer numerous environmental and social benefits to human beings. As these spaces vary by season, residents’ preferences may also change. However, the seasonal differences in preferences and the factors influencing waterfront degree preferences in different seasons remain unclear. This study employs space syntax theory to measure the configurational attributes of blue-green spaces in Changhe Park, Dezhou, China, and utilizes a four-section questionnaire to investigate residents’ preferences. The methods applied in this research include convex analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman’s rho correlation analysis. The main findings are fourfold: (1) park users predominantly consist of older, less educated, and lower-income individuals; (2) blue spaces have higher choice values than green spaces; (3) season significantly impacts waterfront preferences, with 21.8% of respondents preferring high-degree waterfronts in summer, compared to 4.6% in winter; (4) age group is the sole decisive factor for blue space preference in summer, while sex and time spent in the park contribute to winter preferences. These findings contribute to the understanding of seasonal preferences for urban blue-green spaces and inform planning and design strategies, such as targeting specific demographic groups or adjusting waterfront features to enhance year-round appeal.

The COVID‐19 pandemic has profoundly influenced urban lifestyles, particularly the utilization of green spaces. While existing studies have primarily focused on the immediate effects of COVID‐19‐induced isolation, less attention has been given to the enduring impacts on green space usage patterns. This study addresses this gap by conducting three comprehensive surveys in Dezhou, China—before, during, and after the first wave of social isolation (December 2019, March 2020, December 2020). These surveys assessed socioeconomic conditions, commuting habits, green space usage habits, and landscape preferences, specifically focusing on usage frequency, duration of stays, and activities undertaken. Using Mann‐Whitney U tests and Spearman's rho correlations, we identified significant long‐term changes, including an increase in the frequency of visits by previously infrequent users, a reduction in visit durations, and a rise in high‐intensity activities. These trends persisted 9 months post‐isolation, highlighting the pandemic's lasting impact on green space usage and its critical role in enhancing public health and pandemic preparedness through thoughtful urban environmental design. This study not only sheds light on behavioral adaptations during a public health crisis but also offers evidence‐based strategies for urban planning to bolster societal resilience in the face of future pandemics.

Rapid urbanization has historically been linked to escalating air pollution, yet the environmental consequences of urban shrinkage—a growing global trend of population decline and economic downturn—remain underexplored. While theory suggests shrinkage might alleviate pollution through reduced anthropogenic activities, empirical evidence on the complex, multi‐pollutant dynamics remains limited. To address this gap, we quantified the impact of urban shrinkage on the growth rates of six major air pollutants (PM _2.5 , PM ₁₀ , SO ₂ , O ₃ , NO ₂ , and CO) across 280 Chinese cities (2013–2022) using a Spatial Durbin Model integrated with satellite and socioeconomic data. Our results reveal an asymmetric environmental response to shrinkage. Demographic decline acts as a passive restoration mechanism for primary pollutants, reducing the growth rates of PM _2.5 and PM ₁₀ by 10.5% and 16.0%, respectively, accounting for over one‐fifth of the total particulate reduction in these regions. Conversely, a structural trade‐off emerged: shrinkage accelerated regional NO ₂ reductions (−9.0%) but contributed to a substantial surge in O3 concentrations (+25.4%), likely driven by altered chemical regimes. Crucially, we detect strong positive spatial spillovers, indicating that shrinking cities export air quality benefits to adjacent regions. These findings challenge growth‐oriented environmental planning, offering critical insights for regional air quality governance and fostering regional coordination in the era of global demographic transition.