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The rapid pace of urbanization has amplified environmental and social challenges, spurring urban residents to seek outdoor recreational activities for physical and mental well-being. This study explores how urban park camping in China, an increasingly popular form of proximity tourism, restores physical and mental health through these activities from the perspective of therapeutic landscapes. The findings reveal that urban park camping serves as a powerful and holistic therapeutic activity, addressing physical, spatial, social, and psychological needs. This research introduces the concept of proximate therapeutic landscapes, challenging the idea that restorative spaces must be distant. It identifies key place-making strategies, including functional anchoring, spatial personalization, and community embedding, that urban campers use to create meaningful, temporary environments. The study shows these short-term benefits are sustained long-term through repeat ritualization and social validation. The findings offer practical guidance for urban planners for enhancing parks, affirming their vital role in urban residents’ well-being.
Hao et al. (Thu,) studied this question.