Spatiotemporal Patterns of the Use of Green Space by White-Collar Workers in Chinese Cities: A Study in Shenzhen

Xiaohuan Xie, Hanzhi Zhou, Zhonghua Gou and Ming Yi
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Xiaohuan Xie: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Hanzhi Zhou: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Zhonghua Gou: School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Ming Yi: Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design and Research Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518031, China

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 10, 1-25

Abstract: White-collar workers, with tremendous work pressure, excessive working hours, and poor physical condition, need green spaces not only to have physical exercise and social gatherings, but also to become closer to nature and to relieve stress for their mental health. In China, the 996 office schedule, working from 09:00 to 17:00 six days a week, has become popular in the workplace; under such high-intensity work and pressure, white-collar workers have limited time to access green space for leisure, and their use of green space for health benefits is compromised. This study selected Shenzhen Futian Central Business District to find out the green space use patterns and preferences of white-collar workers based on GPS data and questionnaire surveys. In addition, the value of green exposure in the time dimension was calculated according to individuals’ actual behaviors. Based on cluster analysis, this study summarized the typical green space use patterns of three groups of white-collar workers, which reflects the hidden inequity of white-collar groups who are subjected to varying degrees of spatiotemporal constraints in using green space. This paper puts forward three directions for the optimization of green space allocation, functional facilities, and improved walkability in employment-intensive urban areas. The results provide certain guiding significance for alleviating the mismatch of time and space in green space enjoyment and for improving the spatiotemporal inclusiveness of green spaces in urban central business districts.

Keywords: green space; white-collar workers; environmental justice; social equity; spatiotemporal patterns; green exposure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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