Rural Environmental Attributes and Residents’ Participation in Beautiful Countryside Construction: Evidence from Jiangsu, China

Abstract

Beautiful countryside construction in China has moved from visible environmental upgrading toward the coordinated improvement of rural space, ecological governance, local industries and residents’ participation. Taking Jiangsu Province as the empirical context, this study examines how rural environmental attributes are connected with residents’ participation characteristics through field observation, public construction information, local documents and participation-related records. The selected cases cover southern, central and northern Jiangsu. Environmental attributes are classified into spatial environment, ecological environment, infrastructure, industrial space and cultural landscape, while participation is examined through village affairs, public activities, environmental maintenance, rural industries and cultural practices. The results show that environmental attributes acquire practical value when they are used, maintained and interpreted by residents. Public space renewal supports communication and public activity; ecological improvement depends on maintenance participation; industrial spaces create livelihood-oriented participation; and cultural landscapes become meaningful through local narration and collective use. The study provides field-based evidence for understanding beautiful countryside construction as both an environmental and social process.