Research on the Complex Mechanism of Placeness, Sense of Place, and Satisfaction of Historical and Cultural Blocks in Beijing’s Old City Based on Structural Equation Model

Using a structural equation model, this study explores the complex influence mechanism between the place experience and satisfaction of the historical and cultural blocks in the old city of Beijing and the mechanism differences between different types. Based on the data obtained in the questionnaire survey, this study uses the structural equation model method to propose a theoretical model of the relationship between place experience and satisfaction, and through path analysis, the theoretical model of the path relationship between the dimensions of placeness, sense of place, and satisfaction is estimated and tested. Through the mathematical verification of the structural model, on the basis of establishing the final theoretical model, the hypothesis to be proved is further verified. This study also uses the bootstrap method to test the significance of the mediating effect of place experience and uses multiple‐group analysis to try to explore the moderating role of residents’ and tourists’ identity types in the model. The study found that there are multiple correlations among placeness, sense of place, and place satisfaction in the historical and cultural blocks in the old city of Beijing. The placeness is the foundation and the sense of place is the intermediary variable, which both affect satisfaction; furthermore, tourists and residents have differences in the mechanism of placeness and sense of place on satisfaction. On the one hand, the perception of placeness directly affects satisfaction, and on the other hand, the sense of place has an indirect effect on satisfaction. The positive effects of tourists′ placeness on sense of place and sense of place on satisfaction are greater than that of residents. However, the positive effect of residents′ placeness on satisfaction is greater than that of tourists.