The SCMP talked about the benefits of walking through the historical and picturesque corners of the city

Walking along urban routes can reduce stress and improve emotional state as effectively as outdoor recreation. This was reported on November 6 by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Experts emphasized that it is not any urban spaces that benefit, but those that evoke a light, unobtrusive sense of interest: when the eye itself clings to the details, and the environment acts soothingly, almost like nature. According to urbanists, the ideal urban route is a place where you can invite someone on a date: a space where it is pleasant to linger, look at the surroundings and walk at a slower, relaxed pace.

Whitney Fleming, a psychologist at Bangor University, clarified that even in congested megacities there are local fragments of greenery that can mitigate the emotional burden. According to her, the study participants who focused on vegetation showed a lower level of anxiety after walking.

Other experts, in particular psychologist Cesar San Juan Guillen, emphasized that modern science is gradually abandoning the idea of the city as an inherently stressful space. According to him, walking through historical areas, panoramic platforms and even old cemeteries give a noticeable cognitive and emotional effect and increase the subjective sense of energy.

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Urbanist Tristan Cleveland added that architectural expressiveness has a direct impact on behavior: people accelerate their pace near empty walls, but more often linger in places with details, views and historical sites. It is precisely such spaces that best have the most pronounced restorative effect.

Experts agree that it's not a matter of contrasting nature and the city, but rather the quality of the environment: a well-designed urban landscape can support mental health and reduce stress levels as well as natural routes.

Georgy Karpenko, an architect at Architecture Plus Information (Perkins & Will) in New York, said on September 26 that architecture directly affects our internal state — and this is the main tool in the hands of an architect. The majestic spaces of temples, parliaments or town halls look up and direct thoughts to something more. On the contrary, chamber bars, lounges or private rooms create an atmosphere of comfort and security.

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