All-Age-Friendly Streets in Chinese and International Research: A Bibliometric and Comparative Review (1994–2024)

Guan, Xuenan; Zhang, Bo; Yang, Xin; Wang, Yan; Yang, Tianyi; White, Marcus; Huang, Xiaoran

doi:10.3390/buildings15234336

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All-Age-Friendly Streets in Chinese and International Research: A Bibliometric and Comparative Review (1994–2024)

by

Xuenan Guan

¹,

Bo Zhang

^1,*,

Xin Yang

¹,

Yan Wang

¹,

Tianyi Yang

²

,

Marcus White

²

and

Xiaoran Huang

^1,2,*

¹

School of Architecture and Art, North China University of Technology, Beijing 100144, China

²

Centre for Design Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Buildings 2025, 15(23), 4336; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15234336 (registering DOI)

Submission received: 16 October 2025 / Revised: 26 November 2025 / Accepted: 27 November 2025 / Published: 28 November 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Aging and Built Environment)

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Abstract

Streets are vital socio-spatial infrastructures that shape mobility, well-being, and social inclusion across age groups. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric and comparative review of all-age-friendly street walkability research in the Chinese (CNKI) and English (Web of Science) literature from 1994 to 2024. Using CiteSpace for keyword co-occurrence, clustering, and burst detection, 204 publications were analyzed to map thematic evolution and methodological trends. Results reveal a persistent elderly-oriented bias and fragmented cross-scale integration, with international studies demonstrating earlier theoretical maturity and multi-scalar analytical models, while Chinese research advances in streetscape image analysis, VR simulations, and perception-based designs. Despite their differing trajectories, both studies converge on the shared goal of enhancing walkability, health, and urban livability. This review highlights key research gaps—particularly intergenerational assessment frameworks, explainable analytics, and policy translation—and proposes pathways toward integrating design, planning, and governance to promote all-age-friendly streets worldwide.

Keywords: walkability; review; all-age-friendly; pedestrian environment

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MDPI and ACS Style

Guan, X.; Zhang, B.; Yang, X.; Wang, Y.; Yang, T.; White, M.; Huang, X. All-Age-Friendly Streets in Chinese and International Research: A Bibliometric and Comparative Review (1994–2024). Buildings 2025, 15, 4336. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15234336

AMA Style

Guan X, Zhang B, Yang X, Wang Y, Yang T, White M, Huang X. All-Age-Friendly Streets in Chinese and International Research: A Bibliometric and Comparative Review (1994–2024). Buildings. 2025; 15(23):4336. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15234336

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guan, Xuenan, Bo Zhang, Xin Yang, Yan Wang, Tianyi Yang, Marcus White, and Xiaoran Huang. 2025. "All-Age-Friendly Streets in Chinese and International Research: A Bibliometric and Comparative Review (1994–2024)" Buildings 15, no. 23: 4336. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15234336

APA Style

Guan, X., Zhang, B., Yang, X., Wang, Y., Yang, T., White, M., & Huang, X. (2025). All-Age-Friendly Streets in Chinese and International Research: A Bibliometric and Comparative Review (1994–2024). Buildings, 15(23), 4336. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15234336

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All-Age-Friendly Streets in Chinese and International Research: A Bibliometric and Comparative Review (1994–2024)

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