Balancing priorities: An importance-performance analysis of architectural heritage protection in China's historical cities

Architectural heritage protection is closely linked to residents, but there is a lack of in-depth research on evaluation systems that integrate public feedback. This study used Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) to explore residents' evaluations of local heritage protection in historic cities of China. Public survey data was used to assess a multi-dimensional framework for architectural heritage protection, covering aspects such as architecture, urban planning, economics, social factors, and property. The results show that while residents' overall evaluations of heritage protection dimensions are generally consistent across regions, significant differences exist in their assessments of specific indicators within these dimensions. This study integrates social exchange theory with heritage protection, creating a system to evaluate public perceptions, filling a research gap on resident participation and feedback in heritage protection. These findings offer crucial data support for policymakers, highlighting the importance of resident participation in developing sustainable and effective heritage protection strategies.