Key design elements and mechanisms for nature-based healing in China's National Parks: insights from expert interviews.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

National parks are increasingly expected to promote public health; however, healing-oriented design guidance remains fragmented and often detached from ecological red lines and measurable outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to (1) determine the design elements consistently recognized as the key to enhancing nature-based healing effects; and (2) identify the priorities and bundling strategies among these elements and how can they be translated into actionable planning, design, and management recommendations, particularly in the Chinese context.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews (30-60 min) with 13 interdisciplinary experts involved in the national parks and near-natural landscapes in China. The transcripts were analyzed in NVivo using the six-phas

SUBMITTER: He X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12932463 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature