Ying Zhao

Associate Professor, Ph.D. supervisor

School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-senUniversity

Email: zhaoy233@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Research Interests

Tourism Planning; Data Analysis in Tourism; Urban Leisure and Tourism; Tourist Space-time Behavior

Educational Qualifications

[Ph.D., College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University.]

[Visiting Scholar, Department of Urban and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University.]

[B.A.,College of Geography and Remote Sense, Beijing Normal University.]

Academic & Administrative Positions

[2018– present, Deputy Head, Department of Tourism Management and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University]

[2018– present, Associate Professor, School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University]

[2013– 2018, Lecturer, School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University]

Academic Memberships

[2024– present, Editorial Board Member, World Leisure Journal]

[2024– present, Member of the Digital Twin and Future Cities Committee of the Urban Science Society of China]

[2021– present, Member of the Behavioral Geography Committee of the Geographical Society of China]

[2015 – present,Co-founder of China Tourism Behavior Society]

[2015 –present, Adjunct researcher, Smart City Research and Planning Center, Peking University]

Selected Papers and Publications

  1. Fangyu Liu, Ying Zhao, Zidan Mao. Unveiling the formation mechanisms of urban residents' subjective well-being in the digital age: A conceptual framework. Cities. 2025. Accepted.
  2. Ying Zhao, Dantian Xu, Zidan Mao*. Across the City Boundaries: Exploring the Impact of Neighborhood Environment on Intercity Commuters’Life Satisfaction. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. 2024, 136: 104433, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2024.104433
  3. Ying Zhao, Fangyu Liu*, Jiaming Wang, Yu Zhang. Touristic learning behaviors and outcomes in the theme park: The role of activity and affectional context. International Journal of Tourism Research. 2024, https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001809
  4. Chunlan Guo, Xiaocao Lu, Shuyue Huang*, Ying Zhao, Duoping Zhao. Understanding the Post-Pandemic Travel Intentions Among Chinese Residents: Impact of Sociodemographic Factors, COVID Experiences, Travel Planned Behaviours, Health Beliefs, and Resilience. International Journal of Tourism Research. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2752
  5. Fangyu Liu, Ying Zhao, Zidan Mao*. Rediscover nearby nature: Exploring the well-being effect and influence factors of camping at different stages of COVID-19. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. 2024, 48: 100819
  6. Ying Zhao*, Dantian Xu & Jingjing Gui. More is better? Family leisure involvement and individual leisure satisfaction among Chinese adult workers, Leisure Studies, 2024, DOI: 10.1080/02614367.2024.2383462
  7. Ying Zhao*, Fangyu Liu. Unlocking the power of leisure: Associations between leisure activity and social integration of family and individual migrants. Journal of Leisure Research. 2024, 55(3), 381–397.
  8. Zidan Mao, Fangyu Liu, Ying Zhao*. Happy City for Everyone: Generational Differences in Rural Migrant Workers’ Leisure in Urban China. Urban Studies. 2023, 60(16): 3252-3271.
  9. Fangyu Liu, Ying Zhao*, Zidan Mao. Staycation or holiday? Exploring camping's contribution to subjective well-being during COVID-19. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research. 2023, 28(7): 701-712.
  10. Yi Liu, Yifan Zhang*, Xiaolin Zhang, Fangfei Han, Ying Zhao*. A geographical perspective on the formation of urban nightlife landscape. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. 2023, 10:483.
  11. Meng Yuan, Honggang Xu*, Ying Zhao. Mobility and Residential Communities: Insights into the Daily Mobility of Elderly People. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment. 2023, 38:1263-1287.
  12. Kate Mingjie Ji, Ying Zhao*, Jiaming Wang & Xiaoting Huang.Consuming the mundane and extraordinary: hospitality facilities and transport in the spatiotemporal behaviour of theme park visitors. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research. 2021, 26(9): 953-972.
  13. Wilson Hong, Henrique Ngan, Chung-En Yu, Ying Zhao. An eye-tracking study of exoticism in intra-national destinations in the Greater Bay Area of China. Tourism Recreation Research. 2022, 47(4): 414-427.
  14. Ying Zhao, Fangfang Chen, Honggang Xu*. “It is a way of life”: Detecting Chinese students’wellbeing during the Spring Festival homecoming. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing. 2020, 37(5): 593-607.
  15. Xiaoting Huang, Becky P. Y. Loo*, Ying Zhao & Alice S. Y. Chow. Incorporating personal experience in free-choice environmental learning: lessons from a zoological theme park. Environmental Education Research. 2019, 25(8): 1250-1266.
  16. Ying Zhao*, Martin Dijst, Yanwei Chai. Between haven and heaven: A comparison between Beijing (China) and Utrecht (the Netherlands). Urban Studies. 2016, 53(12): 2469-2487.
  17. Na Ta, Ying Zhao*, Yanwei Chai. Built environment, peak hours and route choice efficiency: An investigation of commuting efficiency using GPS data. Journal of Transport Geography. 2016, 57: 161-170.
  18. Ying Zhao, Yanwei Chai*. Residents’activity-travel behavior variation by communities in Beijing, China. Chinese Geographical Science. 2013, 23(4): 492-505.
  19. Ying Zhao, Hongyu Yan, Zidan Mao*. Study on the Influence of Leisure Environment and Attitude on Leisure Behavior: A Case Study of Non-local Workers in Guangzhou. Tropical Geography. 2023, 43(12): 2381-2393.(In Chinese)
  20. Ting Hu, Chaozhi Zhang*, Ying Zhao, Honggang Xu, Xudong Cui. Influence of Mountain Cultural Tourism on the Distribution of Destination Tourist Flow Time: Big Data Analysis Based on Taishan Tourist Flow. Journal of Mountain Science. 2023, 41(3): 435-445.(In Chinese)
  21. Ying Zhao, Fangyu Liu, Xu Huang*. Entertainment in the Screen Era: Perception Constraints on Leisure Spatio-Temporal Behavior of Urban Migrant Workers. Journal of South China Geography. 2023, 1(1): 92-100.(In Chinese)
  22. Ying Zhao*, Hongyu Yan, Jiahui Lin, Jiaming Wang. Influence of Interpretation Methods on Tourist Educational Perception. Tourism Forum. 2023, 16(1): 97-107.(In Chinese)
  23. Ying Zhao*, Fangyu Liu. From Real-time Positioning, Environmental Monitoring to Neurophysiology: Frontiers of Behavioral Geography Techniques. Progress in Geography. 2022, 41(12): 2370-2382.(In Chinese)
  24. Ying Zhao*, Fangyu Liu. Study on the Spatio-temporal Constraints Theory of Family Tourism Behavior. Tourism Forum, 15(3): 17-20.(In Chinese)
  25. Ying Zhao*, Jiaming Wang, Zidan Mao. Study on Tourists' Spatio-temporal Behavior and Conservation Education Perception: A Case Study of Hong Kong Ocean Park. Human Geography, 2021, 36(02): 73-81.(In Chinese)
  26. Ying Zhao*, Han Yang, Ming Zhao, Jiahui Lin. Influence of Anthropomorphic Interpretation in Ecotourism on Tourists' Environmental Education Effect: Analysis Based on Network Scenario Experiments. Chinese Ecotourism, 2021, 11(02): 229-241.(In Chinese)
  27. Yaqin Lei, Bo Wang*, Jun Liu, Ying Zhao. Research on the Evolution of Chengdu Tourism Destination Cognitive Image Based on Tourists' Perception. Tropical Geography, 2021, 41(05): 1110-1119.(In Chinese)
  28. Yanping Liu, Jigang Bao*, Ying Zhao. Research on Tourist Types and Behavioral Characteristics of Pu'er Tea: A Case Study of Nanuo Mountain in Xishuangbanna. Tourism Forum, 2021, 14(02): 64-73.(In Chinese)
  29. Ke Wang, Honggang Xu, Ying Zhao*. Relationship between Daily Behavior and Physical and Mental Health of Seasonal Retiree Migrants: Analysis of Green Space Exposure of Bird Migrants. Human Geography, 2021, 36(01): 39-47+55.(In Chinese)
  30. Ying Zhao, Jiahui Lin, Yi Liu*. Study on Visual Evaluation of Tourist Destination Landscape Based on Eye Movement Experiment: A Case Study of Tangjia Ancient Town, Zhuhai. Human Geography. 2020, 35(5): 130-140.(In Chinese)
  31. Ying Zhao*. Study on Religious Leisure and Identity Construction of Tibetan University Students from the Perspective of Mobility. World Religious Culture, 2020(05): 101-107.(In Chinese)
  32. Ying Zhao*, Jinping Liang, Liqi Yan, Xiangqian Kong. Study on the Influence of Signage Setting on Tourists' Pathfinding Behavior: Experimental Analysis Based on Eye Tracking. Journal of Tourism Studies. 2020, 35(9): 63-73.(In Chinese)
  33. Ying Zhao*, Jiahui Lin, Yinfei Lv. Influence of Urban Immigrants' Leisure Involvement on Social Integration: A Case Study of Non-local Workers in Guangzhou. Tourism Forum. 2020, 13(4): 9-19.(In Chinese)
  34. Yi Liu, Xiaojing Xu, Ying Zhao*. Study on Urban Tourism Image Perception and Differences Based on TSE and IPA Models: A Case Study of Guangdong Province. Tourism Forum. 2019, 12(6): 41-49.(In Chinese)
  35. Ying Zhao*, Jinping Liang, Jiaming Wu. Study on the Relationship between Dining Space and Immigration Residence-Work Space in Zhuhai. Geography and Geographic Information Science, 2019, 35(04): 76-82.(In Chinese)
  36. Ying Zhao, Chaozhi Zhang*, Yuhan Jin. Study on Functional Space Identification of Tourist Cities Based on the Reliability Analysis of Mobile Phone Data. Human Geography. 2018, 33(3): 137-144.(In Chinese)
  37. Ying Zhao, Li Wang*, Xiaoting Huang, Tana. Study on the Influence of Theme Park Performance Projects on Tourists' Activity Space: Analysis Based on Temporal and Spatial Accessibility. Journal of Tourism Studies. 2017, 32(12): 49-57.(In Chinese)
  38. Ying Zhao*, Ke Wang, Fangfang Chen, Xingyu Huang. Multi-source Data Collection Method of Tourist Behavior Based on Smartphone. Tourism Tribune. 2017, 1(4): 93-98.(In Chinese)
  39. Ying Zhao, Yanwei Chai*, Jingjing Gui. Frontier of Research on Urban Leisure Spatio-temporal Behavior in China. Tourism Tribune. 2016, 31(9): 30-40.(In Chinese)
  40. Xiaoting Huang*, Shuwei Zhu, Ying Zhao. Product Following Behavior: Method of Tourism Time Product Planning. Tourism Tribune. 2016, 31(5): 36-44.(In Chinese)
  41. Xiaoting Huang, Xiaoshan Zhang, Ying Zhao*. Research on Spatio-temporal Behavior Patterns of Mainland Tourists in Overseas Tourism Attractions: A Case Study of Hong Kong Ocean Park. Resources Science. 2015, 37(11): 2140-2150.(In Chinese)
  42. Ying Zhao, Yanwei Chai*, Martin Dijst. Research on the Social-Cultural Effects of Behavioral Companion Selection: A Comparison between Beijing, China, and Utrecht, Netherlands. Scientia Geographica Sinica. 2014, 34(8): 946-954.(In Chinese)
  43. Ying Zhao, Yanwei Chai*, Martin Dijst. Perspective on Activity-Mobility Behavior of Home Space and Family Relationships: Based on an International Comparative Perspective. Geographical Research. 2013, 32(6): 1068-1076.(In Chinese)

Selected Honors and Awards

[2021, Excellent paper of the First Asian Young Geographers Conference]

[2021, World Traffic Engineering Technology Forum Excellent Paper Award]

[2019, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Award for Outstanding Research Achievements]

[2018, the Top Academic Papers of China's High-Quality Science and Technology Journals]

Research and Project Grants

[PI: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Research on Constraints and Preferences of Joint leisure Behaviors among family Members, 2023-2026.]

[PI: Guangdong Soft Science, "Research on the Integrated Development Mechanism and Policy Optimization of Transportation + Tourism in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area: Simulation Analysis Based on Big Data", 2019-2021.]

[PI: National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Science Foundation Project, "Research on Spatial-Temporal Restriction Mechanism of Urban Leisure Behavior -- A Case Study of Guangzhou", 2016-2018.]

[Participation: Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, Study on Spatio-temporal Behavior Patterns, mechanisms and Simulation of Cross-city Commuters in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, 2021-2023.]

[Participation: Macao University Humanities and Social Special Grant, "Opportunities to Reflect on COVID-19 under the Double Cycle: A New Tourism Business Model in the 2020s", 2021-2023.]

[Co-PI: Tencent Rhino Bird Fund Project, "Tourism Value Mining and Research of Social Media Data", 2018-2019.]