Toward an Educational Landscape for Urban Kindergartens in China: A Thematic Literature Review

Against the backdrop of urbanization in China, kindergarten landscapes are increasingly recognized as key to enhancing children's quality of life.They are also viewed as vital spatial resources that support curriculum implementation and children's learning.However, systematic research on the integration of landscape and curriculum remains relatively limited.This study adopts a thematic literature review approach, analyzing 32 core Chinese and international studies published between 2015 and 2025.Using ATLAS.ti 8 software for open coding and thematic classification, the review identifies three major themes: current development status, educational functions, and practical strategies.The results reveal a global shift in the conception of educational landscapes from environmental aesthetics to pedagogical media.This shift provides China with a referable theoretical framework and actionable pathways for optimizing kindergarten landscapes in terms of conceptual orientation, functional configuration, and curriculum integration.The study recommends further empirical exploration to promote deeper integration between theoretical advances and local practices.