Identifying and modeling built environment factors influencing cultural perception in metro stations: Evidence from central Shanghai

As urban rail transit expands, systematic evidence remains limited on how the built environment influences cultural perception among passengers. This study identifies the main determinants of cultural perception, tests whether perception of nearby public cultural facilities mediates these effects, and examines heterogeneity by station type. Using metro stations in central Shanghai as a case, we compute the Shannon diversity index of nearby public cultural facilities within the 500 m station area and apply Anselin Local Moran’s I to classify 90 stations into four types: High-High cluster, High-Low outlier, Low-High outlier, and Low-Low cluster. Questionnaire data from 12 representative stations (n = 414) are analyzed with structural equation modeling, and differences across station types are assessed with a one-way analysis of variance. Results indicate that interior spatial design satisfaction has the strongest positive association with cultural perception, followed by entrance and exit design satisfaction. Perception of nearby public cultural facilities is positively associated with cultural perception and partially mediates the association between interior spatial design satisfaction and cultural perception. Station types differ significantly in interior spatial design satisfaction, entrance and exit design satisfaction, perception of nearby public cultural facilities, and cultural perception, with High-High cluster highest, Low-Low cluster lowest, and High-Low outlier and Low-High outlier in between. This study incorporates the subjective perception of nearby public cultural facilities into the framework for cultural perception in metro stations, clarifies direct and mediated pathways, and provides type specific implications for factor prioritization and station stratification in upgrades and retrofits across different network contexts.