INTERTWINED SELF AND THE WORLD: A HUMANISTIC GEOGRAPHICAL INTERPRETATION OF CITY WALKING

Xiyan Chen; Xu Huang; Xiaoming Zhang

PDF(1182 KB)

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2025

INTERTWINED SELF AND THE WORLD: A HUMANISTIC GEOGRAPHICAL INTERPRETATION OF CITY WALKING

Xiyan Chen ¹^,³ ,
Xu Huang ² ,
Xiaoming Zhang ³^,*

Author information +

History +

Abstract

In recent years, the phenomenon of city walking has emerged in several Chinese cities, reflecting the lifestyle pursuits of urban youth. This provides a new context for exploring the relationship between the individual self and place in everyday life. Inspired by a humanistic geographical perspective, this study uses participatory observation and semi-structured interviews to gather data. The findings are as follows: First, through interaction with the locale, the everyday life spaces of city walkers become objectified. Secondly, the process of urban objectification brought about by city walking is accompanied by a process of self-objectification, where the "emergingself" and the "obscured self" coexist and transform into each other.Lastly, as both the self and the city are objectified, they enter a dynamic state of being simultaneously connected and detached, and city walking provides a way to potentially bridge these elements in daily life. These findings reveal interactions between the self and the world, bridging theoretical perspectives such as David Seamon's"Triad of Environmental Experience" and Yi-Fu Tuan's "Urban-Self" concepts, and also contribute to theoretical scope of domestic everyday life geography.

Key words

place / self / objectification / worlding / city walking

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

Xiyan Chen , Xu Huang , Xiaoming Zhang. INTERTWINED SELF AND THE WORLD: A HUMANISTIC GEOGRAPHICAL INTERPRETATION OF CITY WALKING[J]. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY. 2025

References

List( Publishing order | Descend order by publishing year | Descend order by cited within ) Chart analysis

1	李志刚, 吴缚龙. 转型期上海社会空间分异研究[J]. 地理学报, 2006, 61 (2): 199- 211. Li Zhigang , Wu Fulong . Sociospatial differentiation in transitional Shanghai[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2006, 61 (2): 199- 211. Cited in this article [1]

2	刘玉亭, 吴缚龙, 何深静, 等. 转型期城市低收入邻里的类型、特征和产生机制: 以南京市为例[J]. 地理研究, 2006, 25 (6): 1073- 1082. Liu Yuting , Wu Fulong , He Shenjing , et al. Typology, features and mechanism of urban low-income neighborhoods under market transition: A case study of Nanjing[J]. Geographical Research, 2006, 25 (6): 1073- 1082.

3	周春山, 刘洋, 朱红. 转型时期广州市社会区分析[J]. 地理学报, 2006, 61 (10): 1046- 1056. Zhou Chunshan , Liu Yang , Zhu Hong . Analysis on social areas of Guangzhou city during the economic system transformation[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2006, 61 (10): 1046- 1056.

4	冯健, 周一星. 转型期北京社会空间分异重构[J]. 地理学报, 2008 (8): 829- 844. Feng Jian , Zhou Yixing . Restructuring of socio-spatial differentiation in Beijing in the transition period[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2008 (8): 829- 844.

5	周素红, 刘玉兰. 转型期广州城市居民居住与就业地区位选择的空间关系及其变迁[J]. 地理学报, 2010, 65 (2): 191- 201. Zhou Suhong , Liu Yulan . The situation and transition of jobs-housing relocation in Guangzhou, China[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2010, 65 (2): 191- 201.

刘志林, 王晓梦, 马静. 转型期北京社区公共空间对邻里交往的影响机理——本地居民与移民的对比分析[J]. 地理科学, 2020, 40 (1): 69- 78.

Liu

Zhilin

, Wang

Xiaomeng

, Ma

Jing

. The influence of public spaces on neighborhood social interaction in transitional urban Beijing: Comparing local residents and migrants[J]. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 2020, 40 (1): 69- 78.

7	塔娜, 柴彦威. 理解中国城市生活方式——基于时空行为的研究框架[J]. 人文地理, 2019, 34 (2): 17- 23. Ta Na , Chai Yanwei . Understanding the lifestyle in Chinese cities: A framework based on space-time behavior research[J]. Human Geography, 2019, 34 (2): 17- 23. Cited in this article [1]

8	王思达. "城市漫步"走红背后的文旅新机遇[N]. 河北日报, 2023-09-07(10). Wang Sida. New opportunities for cultural tourism behind the popularity of "City Walk"[N]. Hebei Daily, 2023-09-07(10). Cited in this article [1]

9	李丹琳. 城市漫步——用脚步丈量生活[N]. 金融时报, 2023-08-25(9). Li Danlin. City walk: Measuring life with your feet[N]. Financial Times, 2023-08-25(9). Cited in this article [1]

10	李丹萍, 万齐梦, 陈之琪. Citywalk、抱树、代遛狗……当代青年如何自我治愈[N]. 中国青年报, 2023-08-04(7). Li Danping, Wan Qimeng, Chen Zhiqi. Citywalk, hug a tree, walk a dog. . . how contemporary youth heal themselves[N]. China Youth Daily, 2023-08-04(7). Cited in this article [2]

11	Amato J A . On Foot: A History of Walking[M]. New York: New York University Press, 2004: 12- 15. Cited in this article [1]

12	黄向. 徒步旅游国内外发展特点比较研究[J]. 世界地理研究, 2005 (3): 72- 79. Huang Xiang . A comparative study on the development characteristics of trekking at home and abroad[J]. World Geographical Research, 2005 (3): 72- 79. Cited in this article [1]

13	Solnit R . Wanderlust: A History of Walking[M]. London: Verso Books, 2007: 2- 5. Cited in this article [1]

14	黄旭, 郭文, 朱璇, 等. 行游走旅·云笺论道——"旅游与行走"主题学者对话录[J]. 旅游论坛, 2022, 15 (4): 1- 16. Huang Xu , Guo Wen , Zhu Xuan , et al. A written dialogue on touring and walking[J]. Tourism Forum, 2022, 15 (4): 1- 16. Cited in this article [1]

15	Wang J , Guo Z , Cai J , et al. Post-tourism in the usual environment: From the perspective of unusual mood[J]. Tourism Management, 2022 (2): 104452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104452 Cited in this article [2]

16	胡海胜. 微旅游: 现状、内涵、对策[J]. 旅游论坛, 2013, 6 (3): 1- 5. Hu Haisheng . Micro-tourism: Status quo, connotation and countermeasures[J]. Tourism Forum, 2013, 6 (3): 1- 5. Cited in this article [2]

17	Vergunst J . Rhythms of walking: History and presence in a city street[J]. Space and Culture, 2010, 13 (4): 376- 388. https://doi.org/10.1177/1206331210374145 Cited in this article [1]

18	Anderson J . Talking whilst walking: A geographical archaeology of knowledge[J]. Area, 2004, 36 (3): 254- 261. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0004-0894.2004.00222.x Cited in this article [2]

19	薛岚, 张静儒, 韩佳妍. 重新发现附近: 惯常环境下的城市微旅行体验研究[J]. 旅游学刊, 2023, 38 (5): 127- 136. Xue Lan , Zhang Jingru , Han Jiayan . Rediscovering proximity: A study on urban micro-travel experience in the usual environment[J]. Tourism Forum, 2023, 38 (5): 127- 136. Cited in this article [2]

20	马润潮. 人文主义与后现代化主义之兴起及西方新区域地理学之发展[J]. 地理学报, 1999 (4): 79- 86. Ma Runchao . The rise of humanism and post-modernization and the development of new regional geography in the west[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 1999 (4): 79- 86. Cited in this article [2]

孙俊, 潘玉君, 赫维人, 等. 人文主义地理学与地理学人本传统的复兴[J]. 人文地理, 2015, 30 (1): 1-8, 39.

https://doi.org/10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2015.01.001

Sun

Jun

, Pan

Yujun

, Hewei

Ren

, et al. The significance of humanistic geography in the changing humanistic tradition of geography[J]. Human Geography, 2015, 30 (1): 1-8, 39.

https://doi.org/10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2015.01.001

Cited in this article [1]

22	Batey M . The picturesque: An overview[J]. Garden History, 1994, 22 (2): 121. https://doi.org/10.2307/1587022 Cited in this article [1]

23	Shortell T , Brown E . Walking in the European City: Quotidian Mobility and Urban Ethnography[M]. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate, 2014: 13- 18.

24	Gros F . Marcher, Une Philosophie[M]. Paris: Carnets Nord, 2009: 32- 48. Cited in this article [1]

25	Markwell K , Stevenson D , Rowe D . Footsteps and memories: Interpreting an Australian urban landscape through thematic walking tours[J]. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 2004, 10 (5): 457- 473. https://doi.org/10.1080/1352725042000299063 Cited in this article [1]

26	Littmann W . Walk this way: Reconsidering walking for the study of cultural landscapes[J]. Buildings & Landscapes: Journal of the Vernacular Architecture Forum, 2020, 27 (1): 3- 16. Cited in this article [1]

27	Brown E , Shortell T . Walking in Cities: Quotidian Mobility as Urban Theory, Method, and Practice[M]. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2016: 8- 16. Cited in this article [1]

28	Larsen J . De‐exoticizing tourist travel: Everyday life and sociality on the move[J]. Leisure Studies, 2008, 27 (1): 21- 34. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614360701198030 Cited in this article [1]

29	Pinder D . Arts of urban exploration[J]. Cultural Geographies, 2005, 12 (4): 383- 411. https://doi.org/10.1191/1474474005eu347oa Cited in this article [1]

30	Heller á . Everyday Life[M]. London: New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2016: 56- 58. Cited in this article [2]

31	吴郑重. 厨房之舞: 身体和空间的日常生活地理学考察[M]. 台湾: 联经出版事业有限公司, 2010: 12- 30. Wu Zhengzhong . The Kitchen Drama: The Geography of Everyday Life on Body and Space[M]. Taiwan: Linking Publishing Company, 2010: 12- 30. Cited in this article [1]

32	列斐伏尔H. 日常生活批判[M]. 叶齐茂, 倪晓晖, 译. 北京: 社会科学文献出版社, 2018: 156-159. Lefebvre, H. Critique of Everyday Life[M]. Translated by Ye Qimao, Ni Xiaohui. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press, 2018: 156-159. Cited in this article [1]

33	Seamon D . A Geography of the Lifeworld[M]. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1979: 156- 180. Cited in this article [2]

34	高慧慧, 周尚意. 人文主义地理学蕴含的现象学——对大卫西蒙《生活世界地理学》的评介[J]. 地理科学进展, 2019, 38 (5): 783- 790. Gao Huihui , Zhou Shangyi . Phenomenology contained in Humanistic Geography: To David Simon, A Geography of the Lifeworld[J]. Progress in Geography, 2019, 38 (5): 783- 790. Cited in this article [2]

35	Wylie J . A single day's walking: Narrating self and landscape on the South West Coast Path[J]. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 2005, 30 (2): 234- 247. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5661.2005.00163.x Cited in this article [1]

36	Tuan Y F . Landscapes of Fear[M]. New York: Pantheon Books, 1979: 126- 127. Cited in this article [2]

37	Tuan Y F . Segmented Worlds and Self: Group Life and Individual Consciousness[M]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1982: 7-11, 139, 147-148, 196-197. Cited in this article [6]

38	Tuan Y F . Romantic Geography: In Search of the Sublime Landscape[M]. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2013: 151- 152. Cited in this article [2]

39	Tuan Y F . Escapism[M]. Baltimore, Madison: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998: 5- 6. Cited in this article [1]

40	Tuan Y F . The Good Life[M]. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1986: 75- 76. Cited in this article [1]

41	Tuan Y F . Topophilia: A Study of Environmental Perception, Attitudes, and Values[M]. New York: Columbia University Press, 1990: 78- 90. Cited in this article [1]