The Cognitive Mechanisms of Residents under the Background of the Renewal of Suburban Historical and Cultural Villages

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the cognitive mechanisms of rural residents amidst the renewal of suburban historical and cultural villages by examining the interplay between nostalgia, collective memory, subjective well-being, and place identity in rural tourism destinations. Using Naobao Village as a case study—a suburban historical and cultural village in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia—this research employs a comprehensive approach integrating experimental methods and questionnaire surveys. The findings demonstrate that analyzing the interaction among the four emotions can elucidate the cognitive mechanism of residents. Moreover, it uncovers that positive tourism effects significantly influence residents’ perception of their living environment with positive effects on collective memory, subjective well-being, and place identity. In the theoretical model for generating cognition among residents in suburban historical and cultural villages, subjective well-being and collective memory play crucial mediating roles. This study offers a novel perspective for spatial reconstruction and cultural evolution of tourist landscapes in suburban rural tourist destinations.

1. Introduction

In the context of globalization and urbanization, China’s patterns of urban and rural development, along with its landscape characteristics, are experiencing significant changes. The Chinese approach to urbanization underscores the importance of emotional connections, promoting a vision in which residents engage meaningfully with their environments and evoke nostalgic sentiments. This perspective aims to enhance the evaluative criteria for assessing the quality of urban development. In pursuit of advancing rural revitalization through tourism, researchers have focused their attention on diverse dimensions, including the perception of offerings at rural tourism destinations, stakeholder engagement, and the sustainable development of social and cultural perspectives [1,2,3]. However, there is still limited analysis of the emotional characteristics of indigenous populations in reconstructing rural tourism destinations, with even less focus on the cognitive mechanisms of original inhabitants in suburban historical and cultural villages. As suburban historical and cultural villages are being changed into tourist destinations, research on livelihoods, human–land conflicts, emotional attitudes, and community sustainability has become essential [4]. The research framework on the ‘human–land’ relationship among community residents, tourists, and spatial carriers of community tourism is becoming more sophisticated in tourism contexts [5,6], providing a basis for exploring the cognitive mechanisms of residents in suburban historical and cultural villages.

The update and spatial reconstruction of suburban historical and cultural villages resulting from urban expansion represent a global concern [7]. The boundaries between urban and rural areas are increasingly blurred, giving rise to a distinctive structure that embodies functions and development features characteristic of both urban and rural areas. This phenomenon is commonly referred to in literature as off-town areas, rural–urban fringe, or suburban villages [8]. The update of suburban historical and cultural villages involves modernizing their landscapes, spatial environments, or architectural designs. Additionally, the attractiveness and resilience of suburban rural tourist destinations are enhanced through ongoing improvements in media operations and marketing strategies [4]. Against this backdrop, different rural tourism landscapes continue to collide and merge, leading to the transplantation of rural tourism landscape imagery and the transformation of place landscape culture.

In recent years, there have been growing calls from various sectors of society to preserve “place” landscape culture [9,10], and numerous studies have discussed the challenges and opportunities associated with protecting the cultural heritage of traditional villages worldwide [11,12]. However, some studies have suggested that excessive emphasis on preserving traditional rural cultural landscapes in practice may actually undermine the authenticity and sustainability [13]. In particular, how do the changes in the landscape of historical and cultural villages in suburban areas and the positive tourism effects interact to affect the emotions of residents? What are the characteristics of their cognitive mechanisms and processes? This necessitates a profound and meticulous examination. Therefore, this article takes the suburban historical and cultural village in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia as an example, using a more rigorous combined experimental and questionnaire method research approach by constructing a model of residents’ nostalgia, collective memory, subjective well-being, positive tourism effects, and place identity to explore the emotional characteristics and cognitive mechanisms of residents in the suburban historical and cultural village, thereby sparking reflection on the traditional spatial reconstruction of suburban rural tourist destinations, with the aim of offering a novel cognitive framework for understanding the spatial reconfiguration and cultural evolution of tourism landscapes in rural destinations.

2. Literature Review and Hypotheses Development

2.1. Nostalgia and Collective Memory

Nostalgia refers to an individual’s emotional attachment to past experiences, including people, places, and events from their youth [14]. With the current trend in nostalgia research, there is a growing focus on exploring its connection to outer space. Lowenthal (1975) pioneered the conceptualization of “nostalgia” through the lens of geography [15]. British psychologists regard nostalgia as a multifaceted emotional tapestry woven from an individual’s poignant ties to past individuals, locales, and experiences pivotal to their development [14]. Subsequent scholarly work has underscored the pivotal role that space and place play in the construction of nostalgia, solidifying its standing as a critical domain within the realm of cultural geography [16]. The exploration of nostalgia in modern and contemporary China has progressed through various stages, consistently set against the backdrop of rapid urbanization. This reflects a profound contemplation on the quality and pace of urbanization [17].

In the mid-19th century, with the rapid progression of urban–rural migration, the collective spatial migration behavior of indigenous people became a focal point in studies on nostalgia. Nostalgic landscapes have been demonstrated to play a significant role in shaping collective memory [18]. Collective memory, alternatively known as group memory, encapsulates the memories that are both generated and communally shared within a group [19]. It acts as a central emotional nexus for individual memories that span across past and present, harmoniously merging temporal and spatial dimensions and fulfilling contemporary societal requirements [20]. The environment can evoke memories among residents in communities of tourism destinations; however, this association extends beyond mere “home”, evoking the genuine essence of “home” within individuals [21]. Nostalgia and memory are somewhat contradictory. Nostalgia can be intricately linked to an individual’s ambivalent or negative emotions regarding the past, particularly in contexts of rapid social change. For instance, residents may experience nostalgia for the erosion of traditional lifestyles while simultaneously adopting a critical stance towards the transformations instigated by modernization [22]. Moreover, nostalgia is multifaceted; it has the capacity to elicit complex emotional responses toward various dimensions of the past, encompassing feelings such as joy, sorrow, loss, and hope. At the collective level, nostalgia confers sociality benefits to the ingroup (favorable attitudes, support, loyalty, collective action, barrier to collective guilt), but is also associated with negative sides of sociality such as outgroup rejection and exclusion [23]. While nostalgia represents forgetting aspects of the past, memory is continuously constructing and influencing our consciousness and relationships with both present circumstances and future prospects [22,23,24]. In situations where individuals’ recollections of their living environments and upbringing are fragmented, there exists a unified nature between subjects’ nostalgia and collective memory. This cohesion accentuates the positive correlation between them [25]. Consequently, within the framework of spatial reconstruction for rural tourism destinations, the subsequent hypothesis is posited:

H1. 

A positive correlation exists between the nostalgia and collective memory of residents in tourist destinations.

2.2. Collective Memory, Subjective Well-Being, and Place Identity

2.2.1. Collective Memory and Subjective Well-Being

Diverse academic fields offer varied interpretations of subjective well-being, a multifaceted construct that includes elements of happiness, life quality, and satisfaction [26]. Shin and Johnson articulated subjective well-being as an all-encompassing evaluation of life quality through personally relevant criteria, a definition that has been expanded and refined by subsequent research [27]. According to Diener [28], subjective well-being is an individual’s holistic and relatively stable evaluation of their own life quality against self-defined standards. Subjective well-being has emerged as a significant focus in the study of tourism and leisure behavior models and serves as a crucial dimension for evaluating the quality of tourism development. The connotation of subjective well-being includes a tendency towards individualism; however, the prevailing perspective on subjective well-being tends to shift from individual perception to collective perception [29,30]. Consequently, collective emotions and behaviors underpin and shape the subjective well-being of residents. Research indicates that past life events and environments can impact an individual’s subjective well-being [31,32], with positive experiences leading to positive emotional outcomes while negative events result in negative emotional responses. The influence of these historical events is further moderated by factors such as social support, community cohesion, and individual personality traits, which can either amplify or diminish their impact on subjective well-being [33]. It is crucial to recognize that the activation of memory, including collective memory, does not inherently yield positive outcomes. Instead, it may elicit negative consequences such as nostalgia or resentment, which can diminish an individual’s overall sense of well-being. Individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds exhibit varying perceptions and evaluations regarding subjective well-being [34]. Subjective well-being aligns with individuals’ emotional inclinations such as sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Under specific conditions, it can yield positive effects through memory activation [35]. Consequently, within the framework of spatial reconstruction for rural tourism destinations, the ensuing hypothesis is introduced:

H2. 

A robust positive correlation exists between the collective memory and subjective well-being of residents in tourist destinations.

2.2.2. Collective Memory and Place Identity

Place identity is a multidimensional construct that encapsulates the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral facets of an individual’s bond with their physical environment [36]. The evolution of place identity is rooted in the concept of “place”, which signifies the emotional significance attributed to locations, emphasizing a subjective evaluation of place [37]. It underscores the significance of proactive individual participation in host–guest dynamics, indicating that place identity is reflective of the emotional attachment individuals extend to particular places [38].

Memory retrieval serves as the cornerstone of place perception, forming the essential basis for developing cognition and attitudes towards a specific place [39]. The study of collective memory is intricately linked to the establishment of place identity and national identity [40]. Fortier posits that collective memory not only integrates individuals into a broader social context but also encompasses aspects such as past experiences, present perceptions, sense of place, nostalgia, and belonging [41]. Withers contends that collective memory is deeply rooted in place and closely associated with place identity [42]. In their investigation on the collective memory and place identity among residents affected by disasters, the concept of “place displacement” is explored which refers to how changes in place environments threaten collective memory, thereby revealing latent aspects of place identity. The relationship between collective memory and place identity is inherently complex. In certain instances, collective memory can be negative, which may adversely affect place identity. Negative experiences embedded in collective memory can lead individuals to feel estranged from a specific place, thereby diminishing their perceived sense of place identity [43]. The activation of collective memory can evoke feelings related to one’s connection with a specific place [44]. Qian et al. further argue that collective memory acts as both a source and influencing factor for shaping place identity [18]. Certain studies have explicitly identified collective memory as a precursor to both place attachment and the development of place identity [45]. Consequently, within the framework of spatial reconstruction for rural tourism destinations, the subsequent hypothesis is introduced:

H3. 

Collective memory exerts a significant influence on the place identity of residents within tourist destinations.

2.2.3. Subjective Well-Being and Place Identity

Individuals are inclined to seek out and visit places that resonate with their personal affinities and identities, thereby enhancing their well-being through introspection and self-regulation [26,46]. Consequently, subjective well-being and place identity are driven by the same underlying factors. Maricchiolo et al. proposed that place identity and social relationships play a positive mediating role in social identity and happiness by examining the emotional characteristics of community residents [47]. Theodori affirmed that higher levels of attachment among tourists lead to greater subjective well-being [48]. Furthermore, a robust sense of attachment, intimacy, and belongingness to their preferred personal or collective places (emotional components of place identity) are linked with elevated levels of subjective well-being. Knez and Eliasson also highlighted that place identity influences subjective well-being through both emotional and cognitive dimensions, even being capable of predicting happiness based on place identity [49]. In a confirmatory analysis conducted by Wang and Bai [50], their case study on Xi’an Huifang validated the positive influence of place identity on subjective well-being. Similarly, more and more studies have proved through empirical studies that tourists’ well-being and subjective well-being will directly affect place identity [51,52]. Within the framework of social identity theory, place identity not only constitutes a component of an individual’s social identity but also interacts with their subjective well-being through emotional and cognitive pathways [53]. Individuals derive a sense of belonging and self-worth from their connection to a place, and this sense of identity is further reinforced within social groups, thereby enhancing an individual’s overall well-being. The construction of place identity is a dynamic process influenced by the interactions between individuals and places, as well as being shaped by broader social and cultural contexts [54]. Consequently, within the framework of spatial reconstruction for rural tourism destinations, the following hypothesis is proposed:

H4. 

Subjective well-being substantially influences the sense of belonging among residents in tourist destinations.

2.3. Positive Tourism Effects, Collective Memory, Subjective Well-Being, and Place Identity

Tourism is recognized as a method for creating collective memory at destinations; furthermore, collective memory serves as a crucial tool for interpreting tourist destinations. The interplay between the impacts of tourism and collective memory is reciprocal [55]. Positive tourism effects encompass various stakeholder groups, while collective memory represents a multidimensional construction process [56]. The interaction between tourism and collective memory involves the activation, awakening, construction, and reinforcement of memories within the context of tourism. Additionally, it incorporates processes related to concealment, forgetting, and underlying mechanisms [18]. Furthermore, positive tourism effects lead to alterations in the spatial structure of locations and can stimulate the collective memory among residents in tourist destinations [57].

Subjective well-being, a construct influenced by emotions and cognition, unfolds in a manner that transcends the tangible aspects of an individual’s environment, such as income, wealth, and education, to reflect a more profound measure of one’s overall well-being [26,58]. Well-being encompasses various aspects including psychological and emotional health as well as interpersonal relationships [59]. The social benefits brought by tourism development are considered to be of great significance to the realization of the subject’s emotional health and subjective well-being [60]. Additionally, Darvishmotevali et al. propose that experiences related to learning, entertainment, and aesthetics can further enhance individuals’ sense of value, thereby influencing their health and well-being [61]. Leisure tourism not only enhances an individual’s happiness but also contributes to the enhancement of tourists’ subjective well-being while potentially improving the overall quality of life within the community [62].

Amidst the phenomenon of “place dislocation”, environmental changes can jeopardize the bonds between individuals and their surroundings, thereby unmasking the intrinsic essence of place identity [44]. People’s emotional attachment to place meaning becomes stronger in response to environmental changes [63]. Yang et al. have also delineated the attributes of place identity within the framework of tourism development in hometowns by introducing the notion of “shopping cart” identity among overseas Chinese, wherein residents curate favorable elements from tourism development to shape their place identity [64]. As tourism impacts materialize, there will be a heightened emotional attachment to residents’ place identity. Consequently, within the framework of spatial reconstruction for rural tourism destinations, the following hypotheses are proposed:

H5. 

The positive tourism effects stimulate the collective memory of residents in tourist destinations.

H6. 

The positive tourism effects stimulate the subjective well-being of residents in tourist destinations.

H7. 

The positive tourism effects stimulate the sense of place identity among residents in tourist destinations.

2.4. Mediating and Chain Mediating Effect of Collective Memory and Subjective Well-Being

This study investigates the mechanisms through which nostalgia, collective memory, and subjective well-being influence residents’ sense of place identity within the framework of spatial reconstruction in suburban historical and cultural villages affected by tourism. The mediating roles of subjective well-being and collective memory warrant further empirical validation. In this context, social identity theory offers a robust theoretical foundation, highlighting how individuals construct their social identities through connections to places while seeking belongingness and affirmation of self-worth. According to social identity theory, individuals are inclined to associate with groups to attain positive social identities, fostering emotional and cognitive continuity among group members [53]. Collective memory functions as a social construct that not only encapsulates the history and culture of a community but also underpins individual place identity formation [19,54]. Memory is the result of social selection and place construction, embodying a vibrant and spatial manifestation of place and a spatialization of interpersonal relationships [65]. Amidst the rapid spatial, communal, and cultural shifts catalyzed by globalization, rural and urban environments are revered as vital vessels of collective memory [18]. Collective memory acts as a pivotal intermediary, forging connections between the tangible realm of physical spaces and the intangible sphere of subjective perceptions. Moreover, subjective well-being is positively correlated with collective memory, both of which have a positive impact on place identity. Therefore, there is a structural mutual influence mechanism between nostalgia, positive tourism effects, and place identity, mediated by collective memory and subjective well-being. Consequently, within the framework of spatial reconstruction for rural tourism destination, the following hypotheses are proposed (Figure 1):

H8. 

Subjective well-being plays a partial mediating role in the positive impact of collective memory on place identity.

H9. 

Collective memory plays a partial mediating role in the positive impact of subjective well-being on place identity.

H10. 

Collective memory plays a partial mediating role in the positive impact of positive tourism effects on place identity.

H11. 

Subjective well-being plays a partial mediating role in the positive impact of positive tourism effects on place identity.

H12. 

Collective memory and subjective well-being serve as chain mediators in the process of generating tourists’ sense of place.

3. Research Design and Methods

3.1. Study Site

Naobao Village is situated in the suburbs of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, covering an area of 9.8 square kilometers. It serves not only as a paradigm for China’s new rural development initiatives but also as a compelling illustration of ethnic integration and cultural heritage preservation. Established by Han immigrants from Shanxi Province and local Mongolian residents, Naobao Village stands as a historical testament to ethnic integration and preservation of the rich culture inherent to both Mongolian and Shanxi regions. In recent years, with China’s robust rural revitalization strategy gaining momentum, Naobao Village has introduced classical Chinese residential architecture alongside European architectural styles while transplanting elements of southern China’s water towns’ human landscape into northern arid region villages. Furthermore, Naobao Village organizes regular cultural festivals and events, including the traditional Naadam Festival, and is equipped with comprehensive tourism facilities such as a dedicated service center, distinctive guesthouses, restaurants, and shopping amenities to engage visitors in immersive experiences. Naobao Village has garnered rapid acclaim due to its burgeoning tourism sector. Its cultural and tourism industry platform generates annual revenue exceeding 1 billion yuan and attracts over 6 million tourists annually while creating more than 6000 employment opportunities primarily for local community residents. The average annual income for villagers exceeds 50,000 yuan (approximately $7000), which is approximately 2.31 times the per capita income of rural residents in China in 2023. In 2019, Naobao Village was selected among the inaugural batch of key rural tourism villages in China. Subsequently, it was recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China as one of “China’s Beautiful Leisure Villages” in 2022.

3.2. Research Design

From June to October 2019, the research team conducted three preliminary surveys in the study site, primarily involving open-ended interviews and field assessments. The investigation included open interviews with 20 indigenous residents and the collection of historical documents and images pertaining to the case area. Through a detailed analysis of the interview outcomes from these preliminary surveys, the scientific inquiry was further refined. The findings revealed that both the living conditions and landscape environment in Naobao Village have undergone significant changes, potentially eliciting profound emotions related to nostalgia for the past as well as spatial and place-based sentiments. This has fostered collective memory among residents while simultaneously maintaining a heightened sense of place identity, influenced by both tourism dynamics and subjective well-being resulting from these dramatic changes. Nonetheless, to advance scientifically rigorous inquiry, this study seeks to verify: ① whether landscape changes incite nostalgia and collective memory among residents; ② whether such alterations promote an escalation in residents’ subjective happiness; and ③ whether landscape modifications cultivate a positive sense of place, superseding negative emotional responses.

Scene experiments are extensively employed in research concerning destination perception, encompassing aspects such as visual appeal, presence, and tourists’ emotional attachment and intentions [66]. By assigning scores or evaluations to scenes, respondents can convey their genuine feelings more directly and accurately than through verbal expressions alone, thereby enhancing the validation of specific questionnaire studies. Furthermore, structural equation modeling is widely utilized to investigate the interactions and causal relationships among cognitive processes, emotions, and behaviors of perceptual subjects within the tourism context. Notably, this analytical approach has gained considerable recognition among researchers studying the attitudes and emotions of both rural tourism destination residents and visitors [67,68]. Consequently, this study is conducted in two steps. Firstly, an experimental method involving assigning scores to specific scenes is utilized to validate hypotheses’ rationality while gaining initial insights into overall characteristics and spatial distribution of resident’s nostalgia, collective memory, subjective well-being, and place identity, which sets the foundation for questionnaire design, hypothesis proposal, and structural equation model construction. Secondly, based on prior research findings along with experimental survey results, questionnaire indicators were structured and revised hypotheses proposed, leading to construction of a structural equation model (Figure 2).

3.3. Validation of the Hypothesis Background

Perceptual scene identification: This study employed a systematic methodology to identify and encode the perceptual scenes of Naobao Village. By sourcing relevant tourism images from the authoritative social media platform, Sina Weibo, we ensured both the credibility and comprehensiveness of our image dataset. Following a rigorous cleaning process, we retained a total of 820 images, which were subsequently encoded in two phases based on their primary subjects and central themes. Ultimately, nine distinct perceptual scenes were delineated, encompassing architectural landscapes, specialized tourism activity settings, artificial scenic environments, commercial zones, symbolic representations, residential areas, festival venues, transportation thoroughfares, as well as recreational spaces (Figure 3), ensuring representativeness and comprehensiveness within our sample set. To enhance transparency in our research and improve data management efficiency, each image was assigned a unique identification code labeled from ‘a’ to ‘i’. Through these meticulous steps, we established a scientifically robust image sample library that provides a solid foundation for subsequent hypothesis testing and theoretical analysis.

Scene-based rating experiment: Proposed four corresponding topics related to “Nostalgia”, “Collective Memory”, “Subjective Well-being”, and “Place Identity”. Each participant was asked to select 1–3 scenes for each question, with one point being awarded for each selected scene. In the course of the study, participants were identified as residents of the case area through direct face-to-face interactions. To ensure a comprehensive representation of diverse test subjects, individual difference variables—including age, gender, ethnicity, monthly income, occupation, and duration of residence in Naobao Village—were statistically analyzed following an initial sample assessment. A total of 353 residents from Naobao Village took part in the scene-based rating experiment (

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of the experimental samples.

Item	Type	Frequency	Item	Type	Frequency
Gender	Man	138	Length of residence	<1 year	44
	Woman	212		1–5 years	29
	Other	3		6–10 years	31
Age	≤19	29		11–15 years	34
	20–29	76		>15 years	215
	30–39	70	Degree of education	Junior high school and below	162
	40–49	71		High school and secondary school	103
	50–59	41		Junior college and undergraduate	84
	≥60	66		Graduate student	4
Nationality	The Han nationality	274	Average monthly earnings (yuan)	≤2000	168
	Manchu nationality	13		2001–3000	93
	Mongolian nationality	32		3001–5000	73
	Other	34		>5000	19
Whether grew up in this village	Yes	211
	No	142

).

Results of experiment: 353 participants engaged in the experiment with participation rates of 95.47%, 92.92%, 94.90%, and 98.60% across the dimensions of “Nostalgia”, “Collective Memory”, “Subjective Well-being”, and “Place Identity”, respectively (Figure 4). The findings indicated that within the dimensions of “Nostalgia” and “Collective Memory”, most participants chose only one scene (the festival scene), while over 60% selected three scenes within the dimensions of “Subjective Well-being” and “Place Identity” (Figure 5). It shows that the change in landscape style in the case site has cut off the spatial carrying basis of residents’ nostalgia and collective memory and the two emotions of “Subjective Well-being” and “Place Identity” are reflected by non-material cultural carriers. This phenomenon is especially pronounced in the subjective well-being and sense of place identity associated with themed celebratory activities. In this context, residents exhibited relatively high levels of subjective well-being and place identification which supports our hypothesis regarding how landscape changes stimulate residents’ nostalgia, collective memory, subjective well-being, and place identity.

In addition, through the statistical analysis of sample individual information, it is found that under the background of individual differences such as gender, age, income, education level, and living time in Naobao Village, although the sample selection preferences are different, the overall selection trend is relatively concentrated, and the individual differences of different samples will not interfere with the analysis and research of the four emotional dimensions. This indicates the scientific feasibility of conducting a questionnaire survey on these four dimensions in Naobao Village.

3.4. Research Methodology and Data Sources

Drawing from the experimental scoring outcomes related to nostalgia, collective memory, place identity, and subjective well-being across 9 scenarios, a survey questionnaire was formulated. The Likert 5-point scale was employed for measurement, with values ranging from 1 to 5 (1 means complete disagreement, 5 means complete agreement, and 3 means neither agreement nor opposition). The first section assesses nostalgia based on the research of Gao et al. (2020) [69], Batcho (1995) [70], and Li (2015) [71]. The second part evaluates collective memory drawing from the works of Stone and Jay (2019) [72], Qian et al. (2019) [44], and Kong and Zhuang (2017) [73], among others. The third segment gauges subjective well-being by integrating elements from the classic life satisfaction scale in conjunction with findings from Du et al. (2020) [34] and Xing (2002) [74]. Additionally, the fourth part examines place identity derived from studies by Davis (2016) [75], Zhao and Wu (2017) [76], and others. The fifth section evaluates positive tourism effects through economic, social, and cultural perspectives while the sixth part focuses on demographic characteristics (Appendix A).

During the period from 2020 to 2023, a total of 5 field surveys, experimental data collection, questionnaire distribution, and supplementary research were conducted in Naobao Village, Huhhot. Each survey was conducted simultaneously with 2 to 4 participants, primarily at community buildings, resident activity centers, restaurants, and tourism service centers in Naobao Village. A total of four rounds of data collection were carried out, yielding 296 information samples collected during March and April 2020. The findings indicate that the research design is free from bias. In June 2023, supplementary data were gathered involving a total of 353 residents from Naobao Village participating in a picture rating experiment, thereby enhancing the statistical significance of the sample size. Five rounds of questionnaire data collection occurred between June and July 2020, distributing a total of 350 questionnaires. After excluding invalid responses and those with substantial missing data, we obtained 319 valid questionnaires—resulting in an effective response rate of 91.14%. Data analysis revealed relatively significant results; thus, additional data collection took place in June 2023 where a further distribution of 450 questionnaires led to the acquisition of 411 valid responses for an effective rate of 91.11%. (The purpose behind this supplementary survey was to augment the sample size while maintaining identical content as previous surveys.) This approach satisfies statistical analysis requirements. And the questionnaire data were analyzed by SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 22 software. First, the reliability and validity of the questionnaire data were analyzed, followed by a normal distribution test. Then, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted, followed by model fitness testing and SEM hypothesis path testing and modification, and finally, based on the SEM path coefficients, the results of the hypothesis test were analyzed.

4. Results

4.1. Analysis of Validity of Questionnaire Samples

Upon examining the reliability of the 41 indicators in the scale, one abnormal item was excluded. The findings indicate that the reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s α) for nostalgia, collective memory, subjective well-being, place identity, and positive tourism effects all exceed 0.7. Additionally, the combination reliability coefficients of all variables are greater than 0.7 (

Table 2. Results of confirmatory factor analysis.

Latent Variable	Cronbach’s α	AVE	CR	Bartlett’s	KMO
Nostalgia	0.873	0.682	0.881	1015.998	0.843
Collective Memory	0.787	0.719	0.785	1466.842	0.896
Subjective Well-being	0.891	0.637	0.892	1368.953	0.882
Place Identity	0.914	0.640	0.916	1611.725	0.895
Positive Tourism Effects	0.724	0.565	0.720	155.677	0.751

), and the AVE of the five dimensions is greater than 0.5, indicating that the data have strong convergent reliability. Factor axis rotation using the maximum variance method revealed factor loadings exceeding 0.5 for each factor. Moreover, with a Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) value of 0.886 (>0.7) and a Bartlett’s sphericity test approximate chi-square value of 5532.157 (p = 0.000), it is evident that the sample data demonstrate robust structural validity. The specific results of the questionnaire survey are shown in

Table 3. Results of questionnaire survey.

Dimensions		Number	Average Value	Standard Deviation	Load-Carrying Capacity
Nostalgia		Chi-square value of Bartlett’s test: 1015.99: KMO = 0.843609
Experience Nostalgia	Landscape Nostalgia	Indicator 1	3.312	0.958	0.665
		Indicator 2	3.235	0.973	0.782
	Emotional Nostalgia	Indicator 3	3.850	0.88	0.615
		Indicator 4	3.791	0.985	0.725
Social Nostalgia	Social Nostalgia	Indicator 5	3.766	0.981	0.749
		Indicator 6	3.809	0.989	0.613
	Historical Nostalgia	Indicator 7	3.586	1.009	0.643
		Indicator 8	3.353	1.107	0.675
Collective Memory			Chi-square value of Bartlett’s test: 1611.72; KMO = 0.895725
Physical Memory	Historical Memory	Indicator 9	3.923	0.916	0.757
		Indicator 10	3.900	0.839	0.686
	Landscape Memory	Indicator 11	4.022	0.882	0.783
		Indicator 12	3.968	0.845	0.763
Immaterial memory	Sociocultural Memory	Indicator 13	3.921	0.912	0.726
		Indicator 14	3.994	0.819	0.714
	Affect Memory	Indicator 15	3.954	0.808	0.723
		Indicator 16	3.832	0.953	0.658
		Indicator 17	3.787	0.854	0.679
Place Identity			Chi-square value of Bartlett’s test: 1466.84; KMO = 0.896590
Environmental identity	Landscape Identity	Indicator 18	4.163	0.767	0.618
		Indicator 19	4.318	0.76	0.677
	Social Identity	Indicator 20	4.114	0.8	0.672
		Indicator 21	4.272	0.954	0.753
Historical Identity		Indicator 22	3.786	0.912	0.666
		Indicator 23	3.701	0.929	0.649
		Indicator 24	4.030	0.829	0.615
Affective commitment	Distinctiveness	Indicator 25	4.153	0.796	0.574
		Indicator 26	4.105	0.77	0.657
	Attachment	Indicator 27	4.129	0.782	0.656
		Indicator 28	4.014	0.801	0.617
	Commitment	Indicator 29	4.020	0.826	0.714
		Indicator 30	4.113	0.739	0.743
Subjective Well-being			Chi-square value of Bartlett’s test: 935.18; KMO = 0.955173
Historical Well-being		Indicator 31	4.133	0.792	0.759
		Indicator 32	4.061	0.816	0.726
Present Well-being		Indicator 33	3.981	0.816	0.695
		Indicator 34	4.034	0.915	0.712
Expected Well-being		Indicator 35	3.886	0.926	0.716
		Indicator 36	3.973	0.769	0.658
Positive Tourism Effects			Chi-square value of Bartlett’s test: 155.67; KMO = 0.651785
Economic Effect		Indicator 37	4.173	0.603	0.545
Social Effect		Indicator 38	4.432	0.546	0.767
Cultural Effect		Indicator 39	4.589	0.55	0.711

.

4.2. Hypothesis Testing

4.2.1. Structural Equation Model Testing

Upon testing the model’s fitness for the sample using goodness-of-fit indices, the results (

Table 4. Model fitting index.

	Absolute Fit Index				Normed Fit Index		Relative Fit Index
Indicators	CMIN/DF	GFI	AGFI	RMR	PGFI	PNFI	CFI	NFI	IFI
Standard	≤5	>0.8	>0.8	<0.05	>0.5	>0.5	>0.8	>0.8	>0.8
Model	4.543	0.877	0.822	0.047	0.697	0.739	0.919	0.761	0.826

) indicate that the absolute fit index CMIN/DF is 4.543; GFI is 0.877; AGFI is 0.822; and RMR is 0.047. The parsimonious fit index PGFI is 0.697, and the normed fit index NFI is 0.739. Additionally, the relative fit index CFI is 0.919, and the incremental fit index IFI is 0.826. These findings suggest that overall, the model demonstrates acceptable and well-fitted characteristics.

4.2.2. Results of Structural Equation Modeling

First, the study tested H1–H7. In the context of introducing exotic landscapes and generating positive tourism effects, a significant positive correlation was found between nostalgia and collective memory (STD = 0.575, p < 0.01, Cohen’s d = 0.755); H1 is verified. Additionally, there was a notable positive correlation between collective memory and subjective well-being (STD = 0.574, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.016); H2 is verified. Furthermore, it was observed that collective memory had a substantial positive influence on place identity (STD = 0.452, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.189); H3 is verified. Subjective well-being also exhibited a significant positive impact on place identity (STD = 418, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.928); H4 is verified. Positive tourism effects on collective memory, subjective well-being, and place identity have significant positive effects (STD = 0.384, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.122; STD = 0.201, p < 0.05, Cohen’s d = 0.533; STD = 0.324, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.995), so H5, H6, and H7 are accepted (

Table 5. Estimation of model path coefficients.

Path	UNSTD	S.E.	C.R.	STD	p	Cohen’s d
Nostalgia <--> Collective Memory	0.241	0.043	6.621	0.575	0.003	0.755
Collective Memory <--> Subjective Well-being	0.368	0.092	6.429	0.574	0.000	1.016
Collective Memory --> Place identity	0.342	0.065	4.711	0.452	0.001	1.189
Subjective Well-being --> Place identity	0.517	0.122	3.454	0.418	0.000	0.928
Positive Tourism Effects --> Collective Memory	0.552	0.145	4.578	0.384	0.000	1.122
Positive Tourism Effects --> Place Identity	0.284	0.126	2.648	0.201	0.027	0.533
Positive Tourism Effects --> Subjective Well-being	0.477	0.118	4.147	0.324	0.000	0.995

).

4.2.3. Mediation Effect Test

The mediation effect of the model was tested using the Bias-corrected Percentile Bootstrap method (repeated sampling 5000 times, 95% confidence interval). The indirect effects were through collective memory --> subjective well-being --> place identity (standardized coefficient = 0.274), with a 95% confidence interval of [0.197, 0.362]; subjective well-being --> collective memory --> place identity (standardized coefficient = 0.315), with a 95% confidence interval of [0.242, 0.370]; positive tourism effects --> collective memory --> place identity (standardized coefficient = 0.309), with a 95% confidence interval of [0.233, 0.359]; positive tourism effects --> subjective well-being --> place identity (standardized coefficient = 0.417), with a 95% confidence interval of [0.346, 0.473]; positive tourism effects --> collective memory --> subjective well-being --> place identity (standardized coefficient = 0.176), with a 95% confidence interval of [0.082, 0.248]; nostalgia --> collective memory --> subjective well-being --> place identity (standardized coefficient = 0.058), with a 95% confidence interval of [0.023, 0.078]. All six mediating paths were found to be significant, and all six hypothesized mediating processes were confirmed (

Table 6. The result of intermediary effect testing.

Path	Standardized Coefficient	95% Confidence Interval
Collective memory --> Subjective Well-being --> Place identity	0.274	[0.197, 0.362]
Subjective well-being --> Collective Memory --> Place identity	0.315	[0.242, 0.370]
Positive Tourism Effects --> Collective Memory --> Place identity	0.309	[0.233, 0.359]
Positive Tourism Effects --> Subjective Well-being --> Place identity	0.417	[0.346, 0.473]
Positive Tourism Effects --> Collective Memory --> Subjective well-being --> Place identity	0.176	[0.082, 0.248]
Nostalgia --> Collective Memory --> Subjective Well-being --> Place identity	0.058	[0.023, 0.078]

). The study found that collective memory and subjective well-being not only independently influence place identity, but also exhibit a significant interaction, suggesting that both may reinforce each other in enhancing place identity. Furthermore, the study evaluated the relative contribution of different mediating pathways to the impact of place identity, finding that the tourism effect has a particularly significant impact on place identity through the pathway of subjective well-being (Figure 6).

5. Conclusions and Discussion

5.1. Conclusions

This study investigates the cognitive mechanisms of residents in suburban historical and cultural villages undergoing revitalization by constructing and validating a theoretical model that elucidates the formation of residents’ cognition. It uncovers the intricate relationships among nostalgia, collective memory, subjective well-being, positive tourism impacts, and place identity. The key findings are as follows:

A positive correlation between nostalgia and collective memory: The research reveals a significant positive relationship between residents’ nostalgic feelings and their collective memories within the context of revitalizing suburban historical and cultural villages. Emphasizing the necessity to preserve and enhance community cultural memory during the revitalization process.

Reciprocal enhancement of collective memory and subjective well-being: Collective memory among residents positively influences their subjective well-being, which in turn enhances place identity. This suggests that strategies aimed at improving residents’ happiness alongside fostering collective memory will contribute to strengthening place identity in both tourism development initiatives and community building efforts.

Multifaceted impact of positive tourism effects: Positive tourism effects serve as a critical factor influencing residents’ perceptions of their living environment; they exert a significant positive influence on collective memory, subjective well-being, and place identity. Consequently, it is essential for tourism managers and policymakers to consider how tourism may affect residents’ cognition as well as their sense of place when promoting tourism development.

Insights into mediating roles: Subjective well-being along with collective memory serve important mediating functions within this model. Notably, they partially mediate the relationship between positive tourism effects and place identity. This insight is crucial for understanding how residents perceive the ramifications of tourism development while providing theoretical support for effective interventions in both tourism management practices and community engagement strategies.

5.2. Discussion

First, this study examines current spatial reconstruction concepts and approaches in suburban rural tourism destinations. Through an analysis of nostalgia, collective memory, place identity, positive tourism effects, and subjective well-being interplay, it validates the initial hypothesis that residents can maintain a strong sense of place identity despite significant changes in their living space and landscape due to a substantial influx of exogenous landscapes. This observation suggests that the mainstream academic viewpoint, which promotes maintaining the authenticity of rural landscapes and adheres to the principle of “repairing old as before”, may not be a one-size-fits-all solution for the spatial reconfiguration of tourist destinations in rural areas [9,77]. Consequently, this study introduces a novel perspective, suggesting that the theoretical framework and scientific inquiries surrounding the transformation and reconstruction of suburban rural tourism destinations should incorporate a broader array of evaluative dimensions and cognitive viewpoints. Future research could further integrate the characteristics of human–environment interactions at tourist destinations to systematically devise innovative developmental pathways for rural tourism destinations [5,77].

Second, the research findings elucidate the inherent logical relationships between various measurement dimensions. Firstly, the findings demonstrate a positive correlation between nostalgia and collective memory, which aligns with prior academic perspectives and research outcomes [14,15]. Particularly within the specific context of the case study location, this correlation is notably pronounced in relation to positive tourism effects, indicating that tourism development may act as a catalyst for fostering residents’ connections and reflections between past and present [44]. Additionally, the research establishes a positive correlation between collective memory among residents of the case study area and their subjective well-being, further supporting the constructive role of collective memory in enhancing individual and societal well-being [20,21]. Moreover, it confirms a substantial influence of collective memory and subjective well-being on place identity—a finding consistent with Proshansky et al. [36]. Lastly, the study demonstrates that tourism development not only impacts residents’ perceptions of their living environment but also indirectly strengthens their place identity by stimulating collective memory and enhancing subjective well-being [61,64]. This underscores that tourism’s impact on destinations is multidimensional and complex—prompting reconsideration of its influence mechanisms on related concepts from a human geography perspective.

Third, by incorporating the mediating variables of collective memory and subjective well-being, this study has advanced the understanding of the causal relationship between nostalgia, collective memory, and place identity. It has also established a theoretical framework for residents’ cognition mechanisms. While previous studies have examined the interaction between nostalgic and subjective well-being [69,78], as well as the interplay between nostalgia and collective memory [79], there was a lack of systematic review on the intrinsic logical connection among these concepts, possibly due to biased representativeness in different research cases. This study serves as an extension and complement to prior research efforts. It delves into exploring how nostalgia, collective memory, subjective well-being, and place identity interact within a distinctive context of rural tourism destination transformation. The study validates strong interactions among these diverse concepts while constructing a theoretical model for understanding the cognition generation mechanism among residents experiencing suburban rural tourism destination transformation [57,80]. The aim is not only to elucidate interactive relationships among various emotional characteristics but also to clarify processes and formation mechanisms underlying emotional changes in suburban historical and cultural villages, integrating deductive reasoning principles into social phenomena analysis.

In addition, this study integrated a scene-based rating experiment and questionnaire survey to provide robust support and validation for the structural equation model’s pathways, indicators selection, and the reliability of these hypotheses. Both research methods have demonstrated that within the context of the renewal of suburban historical and cultural villages, there is a positive correlation observed in residents’ nostalgia, collective memory, subjective well-being, and place identity. The scene-based rating experiment validated the background conditions proposed by the hypotheses and laid a solid foundation for the model. Meanwhile, the questionnaire survey unveiled causal pathways and theoretical models pertaining to residents’ cognitive mechanisms. Traditional applications of structural equation models often involve literature review and subjective judgment to formulate research hypotheses subsequent to identifying scientific issues [81]. Additionally, numerous studies have constructed theoretical frameworks based on grounded theory analysis of textual materials [82]. However, this study conducted pre-research and verified hypothesis backgrounds using a scene-based rating experiment prior to constructing a theoretical framework—thereby strengthening the basis for hypothesis formulation [83]. Building upon this approach led to revisions in experimental results while determining specific content for the questionnaire survey, consequently enhancing both rigor and scientific validity in reasoning processes. Furthermore, the results from the questionnaire survey served as additional evidence complementing those obtained from experiments, facilitating an analysis of interactive relationships between concepts through quantitative indicators.

5.3. Theoretical Contributions

This study integrates foundational theoretical concepts from tourism geography, emotional geography, and memory behavior to propose a multidimensional theoretical model and analytical framework for investigating the cognitive processes of residents in suburban historical and cultural villages [4]. This interdisciplinary exploration offers a fresh perspective for comprehending the impact of tourism development on residents’ emotional dispositions. Furthermore, it systematically delineates the interplay between nostalgia, collective memory, subjective well-being, and place identity within the context of positive tourism effects. It innovatively synthesizes existing literature on the cognitive mechanisms of residents in tourism destinations [18,24,35], contributing to a novel theoretical framework for future research.

This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of two mediating variables, collective memory and subjective well-being, to elucidate the tourism effects on residents’ place identity [35,61]. Through empirical research, it expands the connotations and operational principles of related concepts such as nostalgia, collective memory, and subjective well-being from a tourism perspective, offering new empirical support for the advancement of associated theories [57]. Additionally, Chen et al. and Nien-Te et al. underscored the multidimensional impact of positive tourism effects on residents’ emotional attitudes within economic, social, and cultural contexts [84,85]. This discovery holds significant implications for understanding the intrinsic mechanisms of positive tourism effects and the sociocultural impacts on spatial reconstruction in rural tourist destinations [56,86].

This study has uniquely integrated scenario-based experiments with questionnaires in its research design. The rigorous and holistic application of research methodologies has been a prevailing trend in tourism studies for many years [87]. While the questionnaire survey method and experimental method have been widely employed in social sciences, psychology, and other disciplines focusing on cognitive behavior [88], their specific combined applications vary due to differences in research objectives and subjects. This study creatively integrates a scene-based rating experiment with structural equation model research, establishing a robust empirical foundation for constructing structural equation models and interpreting scene-based rating experiment results. This enhances the scholarly rigor of the study while introducing novel ideas for methodological applications in future research.

5.4. Practical Contributions

The research can offer insights for the development planning and practical implementation of rural tourism landscape reconstruction in suburban historical and cultural villages. It verifies the objective reality that local residents in suburban historical and cultural villages still strongly identify with the reconstructed tourism landscape within the context of renewal. This suggests the necessity to preserve and develop local cultural characteristics, as well as to innovatively integrate culturally distinctive and appealing landscape elements during the process of updating the planning and reconstruction of suburban historical and cultural villages and rural tourism landscapes [89]. The integration of diverse landscape cultures is essential for promoting the preservation, development, and innovation of rural landscape culture during destination development, planning, and reconstruction.

The study offers an evaluative perspective from the standpoint of residents in suburban historical and cultural villages to validate the quality of tourism destination development. Residents are key stakeholders in rural tourism destinations and serve as significant attractions for tourists. The study examines the cognitive processes experienced by residents in rural tourism areas when confronted with reconstructing their landscapes within a context influenced by positive tourism effects. This analysis holds important implications for better reconciling contradictions between tourism development and community progress, ultimately enhancing the well-being of residents.

5.5. Limitations and Future Directions

This study has certain limitations that should be addressed in future research. Firstly, the selection of specific case area and research perspectives to validate the initial research hypotheses may not fully capture the diversity of situations across other suburban rural tourism destinations. Future studies could employ a multi-case comparative approach to enhance the generalizability of findings. Secondly, regarding research methodology, while the scene-based rating experiment focused solely on residents’ visual perception, incorporating embodied theory for a comprehensive assessment of residents’ emotional inclinations may offer a more systematic and precise understanding. In this context, it may be beneficial to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying the changes in each of these emotions and their interrelations. Additionally, there is potential for further integration of experimental methods and questionnaire surveys in future research to establish a more standardized research paradigm. Furthermore, it is worth noting that the academic concepts utilized in explaining residents’ cognitive mechanisms were primarily derived from relevant literature studies and subjective analyses of objective phenomena. However, there may be additional critical factors influencing this mechanism yet to be uncovered, representing an avenue for future in-depth exploration. In the context of transforming historical and cultural villages, factors such as human ecology, architectural aesthetics, and social development within the original village significantly influence residents’ perceptions and judgments [90,91]. Concurrently, intrinsic characteristics of the tourism community—such as its cultural heritage and life cycle—serve as critical determinants affecting residents’ perceptions and behaviors. Furthermore, the implementation of protective standards, fiscal incentives, and legal frameworks directly impacts the harmonious coexistence between the development and preservation of suburban historical and cultural villages [92]. Existing research has increasingly focused on achieving a delicate balance among community participation, government policies, public awareness, rural cultural landscapes, and cultural heritage [13,93]. A deeper understanding of these concepts along with their mechanisms influencing perception is poised to be a key direction for future research in this study.