Multisensory Health and Well-Being of Chinese Classical Gardens: Insights from Humble Administrator’s Garden

Chinese classical gardens serve as restorative environments that epitomize the essence of Chinese aesthetics. Despite their recognized Outstanding Universal Value, research on the multisensory experiences and associated well-being benefits they offer remains insufficiently explored. This study examines the Humble Administrator’s Garden through a multisensory framework incorporating visual, auditory, and tactile dimensions. By employing a mixed methods approach that integrates questionnaires and physiological measurements, we assessed the psychophysiological responses of 78 participants before and after entering the garden, as well as at distinct landscape points. Key findings reveal the following: (1) the traditional garden environment evoked significant positive perceptual effects; (2) the garden, with its diverse combination of landscape elements—including architecture, water features, rock formations, and plants—was strongly associated with enhanced well-being outcomes. A higher diversity of visual landscapes yielded more pronounced benefits, with water features exerting the most substantial positive influence on health, while rock formations showed a comparatively lesser effect; and (3) physiological and psychological responses of participants varied within the same landscape setting, with tactile experiences eliciting the most profound psychological changes. These findings underscore the pivotal role of multisensory engagement in Chinese classical gardens for fostering well-being, offering valuable health-related benefits beyond their cultural and ecological significance.