Effects of different soundscape modes on visitors’ satisfaction in urban green spaces during the evening

Sounds in the environment can affect the experience of visitors, especially during the evening when visual perception is usually limited. Two representative silent videos were recorded in natural and artificial green spaces, respectively, during the evening, and were paired with five soundscape modes: insect sound, frog sound, classical music, insect sound + frog sound, and frog sound + classical music. Three indicators—perceived aesthetic quality, mental stress relief, and perceived safety—were used to evaluate visitor satisfaction. The main conclusions were as follows: (1) Except for the insect sound + frog sound condition, visitor satisfaction with nightscapes in artificial green spaces was significantly higher than in natural green spaces under the other four soundscape modes; (2) Classical music significantly improved visitor satisfaction in both natural and artificial green spaces; in artificial green spaces, the combination of insect sound + frog sound significantly reduced satisfaction with nightscapes; (3) The improvement in visitor satisfaction with nightscapes induced by the five soundscape modes was greater in natural green spaces than in artificial green spaces.