Digitally Mediated Aesthetics: Visual Signatures and Sensory Experiences of Wanghong Rural Spaces in Guangzhou, China

This paper examines how the visual signatures and sensory experiences of rural spaces are increasingly mediated by digital technologies. Drawing on a case study of the aesthetics of Wanghong rural spaces in Guangzhou, China, I demonstrate how the landscape design of these spaces incorporates visually striking elements, is deliberately constructed to prompt photo-taking, and includes features aimed at maximizing location exposure through circulation on digital platforms. Based on the results of a qualitative analysis of visitor reviews, I identify three key types of digitally mediated sensory experiences of these highly aestheticized rural landscapes in Guangzhou: doubled digital embodiment , in which the body anticipates, performs, and relives rural experiences through digital mediation; reaffirming the rural idyll through the digital , where visitors actively use technologies such as photo editing apps and filters to express an idealized rural aesthetic; and altered spatial and temporal perception , which captures how people’s perceptions of the rural are shaped by circulating visual cultures and curated through stylized design elements, and how they exhibit a heightened temporal sensitivity driven by the pursuit of ideal photographic conditions. The paper highlights the recursive interactions between rural aesthetics and digital technologies, demonstrating how digital mediation has become central to the contemporary reshaping of rurality.