Cognitive Differences Between Residents and Merchants in Ciqikou Mountainous Historic Districts Oriented by the Living Development–Authenticity Preservation Framework

As urban-living heritage sites, mountainous historic districts face the dual challenges of authenticity preservation and living development and the diverse and complex needs of different user groups. To address these challenges, this study systematically examines the cognitive differences between residents and merchants in mountainous historic districts and their implications for sustainable heritage management, using the Ciqikou Historic District in Chongqing as a case study. Through grounded theory methodology, we investigate residents and merchants via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Using coding analysis, the study reveals the cognitive similarities and differences of different users toward mountainous historic districts and explores their formation mechanisms, focusing on the spatial differentiation of cognition influenced by topographical and locational factors. Results indicate that both user groups share common cognitive concerns regarding building safety, transportation, policies, and infrastructure. Residents prioritise aspects related to daily convenience, whereas merchants focus more on economic benefits, leading to differences in their cognitive classifications and evaluations. Location plays a significant role in shaping user cognition, with notable cognitive differences observed between residents and merchants across different locations, and intra-group variation exists within the same user group at different locations. Based on a living–authenticity theoretical framework, this study constructs a living development–authentic preservation strategic framework and a multidimensional synergistic implementation framework encompassing integrity–locality–user, providing effective pathways for the preservation and sustainable development of mountainous historic districts.