Analyzing the Cultural Landscape of Chinese Art Districts through Online Social Media —A Text Mining and Theoretical Interpretation Using User-Generated Content

The study examines three Chinese art districts—Beijing 798, Hangzhou Xiangshan, and Jingdezhen Taoxichuan—using 28,661 social media posts. Integrating LDA modeling, irony-aware sentiment analysis, and semantic networks, it uncovers tensions among commercialization, cultural authenticity, and urban identity. Findings reveal 31.2% negative sentiment toward Beijing 798’s over-commercialization, 63.8% positivity for Jingdezhen’s heritage revitalization, and 40% neutrality toward Hangzhou’s emerging spaces. Advancing Lefebvre’s spatial triad, a dynamic equilibrium framework is proposed to balance heritage and development. Methodologically, blending digital humanities tools with cultural theory offers insights into urban renewal and participatory placemaking in the digital era.