Did the Pandemic Accelerate Spatio-Temporal Shifts in the Role of Urban Open Spaces in South China? Evidence from Social Media

The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound effects on daily life, even long after its initial outbreak. Numerous studies have examined the role of urban open spaces (UOS) in supporting human well-being and urban resilience during and after the pandemic. However, few studies have explored the spatio-temporal shifts in the role of UOS over the long term since the pandemic began. Focusing on South China, a region severely affected by the crisis, we captured the spatial and temporal dynamics of public interactions with and perceptions of UOS in the region before, during, and after the pandemic. Based on systematically processed 232930 geo-tagged Sina Weibo posts posted by residents in 42 UOS, we conducted sentiment analysis and UOS-related cultural ecosystem services (CES) analysis. Our findings revealed a significant decline in UOS visitation level during the pandemic with slight public sentiment fluctuations, underscoring its disruptive impact. Post-pandemic, UOS visitation level rebounded sharply, due to pent-up travel demand and compensatory behaviors. Additionally, public demand for CES tends to diversify, with growing recognition of spiritual and inspirational services. The spatial analysis showed that UOS played a more prominent role in enhancing urban resilience in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration. This research confirms that the pandemic accelerated the spatio-temporal evolution of the role of UOS in South China, highlighting their enhanced importance for crisis response and well-being. It offers actionable insights for urban governance to better prepare for future crises.