Recent landscape studies have shifted focus from the formal aesthetics of garden design to embodied behavioral experiences. While much of the literature has centered on the artistic principles of traditional garden design, limited attention has been paid to the underlying design philosophy of commercial gardens. Drawing on cognitive map theory and employing a non-participatory observation method, this study examines the experiential patterns and Human Environment Interaction (HEI) design logic within Panxi (PGR) and South Garden Restaurants (SGR), and proposes a landscape narrative model grounded in the “sensory – behavioral – memory” triadic structure. PGR demonstrates an open, socially interactive spatial configuration characterized by the synergy of multiple nodes, whereas SGR establishes immersive experiential zones anchored around focal landscapes. Lingnan garden architecture (GA) constructs spatial imagery through a four-element system of “edges, landscape, architecture, paths”. In both gardens, short-duration, high-frequency dwellings occur at nodes such as zigzag bridges, covered corridors, and spiral staircases. Elderly visitors tend to favor tranquil districts, while younger cohorts are drawn to zones with high informational density. Individuals’ perception of garden spaces is shaped not only by immediate sensory stimuli but also by structurally embedded memory and lived experience.
Du et al. (Wed,) studied this question.