Assessing the Recreational Resource Value of National Park Based on Visitor Perception—A Case of Three-River-Source National Park in China

Abstract

National parks serve as critical practical sites for advancing the concept of “harmonious coexistence between humans and nature” and hold a strategic role in establishing global ecological security barriers. Scholars and decision-makers have expressed significant interest in rigorous assessments of the recreational resource value in national parks. This paper focuses on the Three-River-Source National Park, examining the characteristics and components of its recreational resource value through the lens of human–environment relationship theory. Analysis spans dimensions of geological and geomorphological value, ecological service value, historical and cultural value, and aesthetic landscape value. By extracting visitor comments rich in vocabulary related to their perceptions, this study compares variations in resource values and the “resource value–visitor perception” synergy within Three-River-Source National Park, employing text analysis, semantic network analysis, and coordination analysis methods. The findings reveal that (1) Visitor perceptions of recreational resource value display a clear hierarchy, with aesthetic landscape value (43.6%) ranking highest, followed by geological and geomorphological value (26.7%), historical and cultural value (19.3%), and ecological service value (10.4%), showing significant variation among categories; the vocabulary across these value types exhibits a pronounced long-tail distribution. (2) The recreational resource value in the park forms a distinct core centered on prominent attractions, accompanied by patterns of vocabulary aggregation and dispersion. (3) Visitors demonstrate strong synergy in their perception of geological and aesthetic value, weaker perception regarding historical and cultural value, and a relatively narrow understanding of ecological service value. This research enhances public comprehension of the recreational resource value of national parks and provides a scientific foundation for the conservation and sustainable use of recreational resources in national parks, advancing the realization of their recreational functions.

1. Introduction

National parks represent an exemplary model for the balanced management of ecological conservation and resource utilization [1], serving as well-organized spatial entities that support scientific research, education, leisure, and recreation within their environmental and cultural contexts [2,3,4]. Recreation is recognized as one of the core functions of national parks [5]. Recreational resources encompass both natural and cultural assets with aesthetic appeal, drawing recreationists and embodying recreational functionality [6]. The value of these resources reflects a combination of economic, ecological, and social benefits derived from their use, and assessing this value involves evaluating the cumulative benefits they provide [7]. Tourist perceived value, in turn, is the experiential value that tourists attribute to tourism products and services, gained after a certain price has been paid [8]. Evaluating the recreational resource value within national parks is fundamental to promoting sustainable development in these protected areas. It contributes to enhancing ecological experiences and environmental education within national parks, establishing a virtuous cycle of visitor perception, environmental conservation, and rational resource development. With the advancement of national park construction and increasing global demand for public recreation, the value of recreational resources in national parks has become a key area of academic focus. From a functional perspective, some scholars classify this value into environmental, biodiversity, scientific, educational, recreational, and wellness categories [9,10]. From a heritage conservation perspective, it is divided into historical, artistic, scientific, social, and economic values [11]. In tourism studies, this value is often categorized into recreational, aesthetic, ecological, historical, cultural, scientific, and artistic dimensions, among others [12,13,14,15].

The value of recreational resources is commonly assessed through economic, ecological, and recreational value dimensions using methods such as the cost expenditure approach, travel cost method, contingent valuation method, and choice experiment method [16,17,18,19,20,21]. Regarding the impact of perceived value on tourists, perceived value significantly influences post-trip behavioral intentions [22], heritage preservation efforts [23], and cultural dimensions, including cultural identity [24], ethnic identity [25], and national identity [26]. Additionally, perceived value directly and positively impacts tourists’ environmentally responsible behaviors [27].

Current evaluations of national park resource value predominantly reflect expert perspectives, with limited attention to visitor viewpoints. As participants in tourism activities and key stakeholders in ecological conservation, visitors are not only users of recreational resources in national parks and advocates for the balance between ecosystems and tourism systems [28,29,30]; they are also critical evaluators and perceivers of recreational resource value. Assessing the value of recreational resources in national parks from the perspective of visitor perception helps foster public consensus on this value, enhances public appreciation of recreational resources in national parks, and supports their scientific and sustainable development and utilization.

The perceived value of recreational resources by visitors often emerges through the interactive process between tourists—who possess varying capacities for perception and sensation—and the expressive presentation of tourism attractions, the surrounding tourism environment, facilities, and services, as well as historical and cultural connotations [31,32]. While traditional survey questionnaires are widely used and can produce data with high specificity and accuracy, they are typically limited by the directive nature of survey questions and temporal constraints. This method is time-consuming and labor-intensive, often lacking the freshness of data and richness of content, thus failing to capture comprehensive and long-term authentic feedback from visitors on the value of recreational resources. The internet now provides tourists with convenient platforms for the immediate and unrestricted expression of their opinions and impressions of travel destinations. User-generated content (UGC), including attraction reviews, online travel diaries, and social media posts, more authentically reflects tourists’ perceptions of destination images. This offers a more extensive, current, and rich source of research data for quantifying perceived value. UGC data have been extensively studied in areas such as destination image perception [27], tourism service quality assessment [33], tourist behavior pattern analysis [34], and tourism market trend forecasting [35]. It has introduced new research methodologies, including text analysis [36], sentiment analysis [37], network analysis [38], and predictive modeling [39].

This study adopts big data analysis methods from the perspective of tourist perception, focusing on the Three-River-Source National Park as a case study area. The recreational value of the national park is evaluated across four dimensions: geological and geomorphological value, ecological service value, historical and cultural value, and aesthetic landscape value. Furthermore, the study examines the coordination and synergy between tourists’ perceived value and the intrinsic resource value, with the goal of fostering a virtuous cycle of “value system enhancement—increased perceived value—heightened environmental awareness—ecological behavior”. The findings offer a scientific basis for decision-making by national park planning and management authorities. By addressing public recreational needs, this study also aims to enhance the conservation and sustainable utilization of recreational resources, optimize recreational experiences, and enrich ecological programs and environmental education content.

2. Research Methodology

2.1. Research Theoretical Framework

In the dual structure of the “tourist-resource” relationship, recreational resources within national parks serve as the foundation, providing the material basis that attracts tourists. Tourists, in turn, exercise subjective initiative, and their perception of the value of these resources evolves dynamically. Drawing on the value characteristics of international conservation areas as outlined by the Man and the Biosphere Program, Global Geoparks, and the World Heritage Convention, as well as existing research, this paper classifies the recreational resource values of national parks into four categories: geological and geomorphological value, ecological service value, historical and cultural value, and aesthetic landscape value. Within this framework, ecological service value includes both ecosystem services and biodiversity. During recreational activities, visitors are drawn by the appeal of these resources, actively engaging in perception, appreciation, and understanding of their values. The value of recreational resources is subsequently reflected and communicated through visitor review data. As visitors gain a deeper understanding, particularly as they develop an emotional connection with local natural resources, their everyday behaviors tend to reflect greater environmental responsibility [40]. This interaction initiates a positive cycle, starting with the enhancement of the resource value cognition system, an elevation in visitor perception, and a strengthening of environmental awareness, which collectively lead to the formation of environmentally friendly behaviors. These behaviors further enrich and refine the value system of recreational resources, fostering a collaborative and sustainable human–environment relationship at the regional level (Figure 1).

2.2. Value Elements of Resources in the Study Area

The Three-River-Source National Park, China’s first pilot under the national park system and one of the earliest established, exemplifies the country’s most representative natural ecosystems, distinct geological and geomorphological features, unique natural landscapes, rich biodiversity, and intensive conservation efforts among protected areas. Situated in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau’s hinterland, the park spans from 89°50′57″ E to 99°14′57″ E and 32°22′36″ N to 36°47′53″ N, covering 123,100 square kilometers. It comprises three zones: the sources of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang Rivers. Additionally, it encompasses five sub-zones of the Three-River-Source National Nature Reserve—Zhaling Lake and Eling Lake, Xingxing Sea, Suojia-Quma River, Guozongmucha, and Angsai—as well as the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve. The park’s boundaries include twelve towns and fifty-three administrative villages within the four counties of Zhiduo, Qumalai, Maduo, and Zaduo, alongside the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve [41] (Figure 2). Characterized by mountain plateaus and high-altitude canyon landforms, the region maintains an average elevation above 4500 m and hosts a diverse array of geoscientific and ecological landscapes, including mountains, lakes, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, glaciers, canyons, and forests. Recognized as a critical ecological security barrier for China, the park is often referred to as the “Chinese Water Tower”. It not only safeguards the environmental stability of China’s middle and lower river reaches but also contributes to the ecological well-being of Southeast Asia. Despite these ecological assets, the area faces significant challenges from climate change, human activity disturbances, and inadequate ecosystem services. Effectively balancing human–environment relationships in the Three-River-Source National Park and addressing complex issues such as fragile ecosystems and water resource security pressures are crucial for advancing ecological protection and sustainable development in this region. The park is also enriched by its vibrant and diverse ethnic and regional cultures. For centuries, nomadic, agricultural, and commercial cultures have coexisted here, with ethnic groups including the Han, Tibetan, Mongolian, Tu, Hui, Manchu, Kazakh, and Salar residing in the area [42]. The region’s folk customs and religious cultural resources, such as stone carvings, rock paintings, murals, and temples, reflect the historical development and spiritual ethos of the plateau’s ethnic groups. This unique convergence of natural landscapes, ecosystem services, biodiversity, and cultural diversity grants the Three-River-Source National Park conservation value of both national and global significance (

Table 1. Recreational resource value of the Three-river-source National Park.

Recreational Resource Value	Value Elements	Key Words
Geological and landform value	The geomorphology of the region is predominantly defined by mountainous plateaus and alpine valleys [43], with high mountains forming the primary structural framework. The central-western and northern areas are characterized by broad, flat river valley mountains. In contrast, the southeastern region, especially along the northern slopes of the Tanggula Mountains, features numerous alpine valleys marked by significant river incision and steep terrain. This area also contains the most well-developed Cretaceous Danxia landforms on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Furthermore, it encompasses two major glacier types found in China—subcontinental glaciers and extreme continental glaciers—forming part of China’s composite large glacier system.	Mountains, valleys, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, and river valleys (the lake groups including Zhaling Lake, Eling Lake, and Xingxing Sea constitute the “Thousand Lakes” landscape at the source of the Yellow River).
Ecological service value	The region encompasses unique ecosystems, including alpine wetlands, alpine deserts, and alpine steppes. Its climate is characterized by a typical plateau continental climate, establishing it as a crucial ecological barrier for China and a key area for global climate change mitigation [1]. As a “precursor and early warning area” for global climate change, it serves as the primary source region for the headwaters of China’s and Asia’s most significant rivers, playing an essential role in their hydrological cycles. Additionally, this area hosts one of the world’s highest concentrations of biodiversity at high altitudes, acting as a critical refuge for large carnivores and one of the most important habitats for in situ biodiversity conservation. Aptly termed a “wildlife paradise”, it is vital for the preservation of biodiversity.	Forests, grasslands, meadows, wetlands, wildlife, Tibetan antelopes, yaks, and Tibetan foxes.
Historical and cultural value	As a core region of Tibetan culture and a birthplace of Chinese civilization, this area holds a rich and diverse array of cultural resources. It is home to four nationally protected cultural heritage sites and one national intangible cultural heritage site. The region is renowned for its enduring sacred mountain and holy lake culture, as well as its distinctive ecological culture [39]. The values of respecting life, revering nature, and promoting harmonious coexistence have long shaped the lifestyles and behavioral norms of the local grassland herders.	Tibetan ethnicity, Tibetan people, prayer flags, golden banners, the Chinese nation, sacred mountains, sanctity, monuments, roads, rituals, Buddhist temples.
Aesthetic landscape value	Exemplifying the geological and geomorphological features of the world’s “Third Pole”, the region displays an extraordinary and majestic landscape marked by its towering mountain ranges, distinctive Danxia landforms, and ancient, enduring glaciers. The meandering great rivers, scattered streams, and lakes create a picturesque alpine hydrological landscape. The region’s dynamic celestial phenomena—its variable climate that can shift through four seasons in a single day, brilliant starry skies, and ever-changing clouds—present an exceptionally captivating celestial landscape. Additionally, the agile plateau wildlife and resilient rare flora contribute to the vibrant and dynamic biological beauty of Three-River-Source National Park.	Abstract perceptions: beauty, elegance, magnificence, vastness, mystery, purity, profundity; Concrete perceptions: sunrise, the sea of clouds, twilight glow, green grass, blue sky.

).

2.3. Data Acquisition

This paper employs online tourist reviews and expert ratings to conduct a comparative analysis of the Three-River-Source National Park, focusing on its historical and cultural value, ecological service value, aesthetic landscape value, and geological and geomorphological value.

(1) This study primarily utilizes evaluation data derived from tourists’ perceptions, collected through web-scraped data from China’s top two travel websites, Ctrip and Mafengwo, according to Baidu’s rankings. These platforms are significant sources for users seeking information and reviews on tourist attractions. The minimal differences in user evaluations across these platforms suggest that users do not exhibit strong preferences in their posted reviews. Consequently, the review data obtained from both platforms can complement one another, providing comprehensive user evaluations of travel destinations widely accessed and referenced by numerous internet users. These data are characterized by their vast quantity, dynamic nature, accessibility, and extensive coverage, making them an essential source for research on destination image perception.

To evaluate the value perception of the Three-River-Source National Park from the visitors’ perspective, a list of scenic spots within the park was compiled. Using these names, visitor comment data were collected from the two major travel websites, Ctrip and Mafengwo, covering the period from November 2013 (the date of the first comment on a scenic spot in the Sanjiangyuan area) to December 2022 (the cutoff date for the web crawler). Initially, natural language processing tools were employed to assess redundancy among the collected texts. Comments with a vocabulary repetition rate of 80% or higher were considered duplicates, and comments with over 50% non-text characters were classified as brief entries without clear semantics. After excluding duplicate and brief comments lacking semantic clarity, a total of 1034 relevant comment entries related to Sanjiangyuan were obtained. Among these, 468 reviews pertained to the Yangtze River Source Park, 492 to the Yellow River Source Park, and 74 to the Lancang River Source Park.

(2) Based on questionnaire data from expert assessments, a panel of 20 individuals—including geography experts, tourism specialists, and local government officials—was selected to provide ratings. A total of 20 valid questionnaires were collected. The survey invited these experts to evaluate the resource value of the three parks within the Three-River-Source National Park across four dimensions: geological and geomorphological value, ecological service value, historical and cultural value, and aesthetic landscape value.

2.4. Research Methods

Currently, network text analysis methods, including high-frequency word analysis, long-tail analysis, and semantic network analysis, are widely used to assess tourists’ cognitive levels [31], while coefficient of determination analysis is broadly applied in fields such as economics and social sciences [44]. This paper employs web text analysis and synergy degree analysis, encompassing four main aspects:

(1) High-frequency word analysis. To assess tourists’ attention to the value of recreational resources, this study employs the Jieba segmentation technique to process online review data, identifying key concepts, entities, and adjectives within the text. Word frequency statistics are then conducted on these categories to isolate relevant high-frequency feature words. Additionally, the coefficient of variation (C.V. = (standard deviation/mean) × 100%) is used to measure the dispersion of perceived recreational resource values. Specifically, the coefficient of variation for each value type is calculated by dividing the standard deviation of word frequency counts for all entries within that value type by the mean.

(2) Long-tail analysis. Following the long tail theory, this research examines the distribution characteristics of tourists’ perceived value of recreational resources. The word frequency and rank of the four types of recreational resource values in the Three-River-Source National Park are analyzed and fitted to a curve.

(3) Semantic network analysis. To investigate the relationship between attractions and resource values, this study employs Jieba natural language processing technology to extract attraction entities and their corresponding resource value vocabularies from tourists’ online reviews and travel notes. This extraction facilitates the establishment of associations between attractions and resource value vocabularies. Subsequently, these associations are visualized using the gravity model in Gephi software(0.10), illustrating the semantic relationships between “attraction” and “resource value”, as well as the value weights of resource values in the region.

(4) Synergy analysis. A coupling synergy analysis model is employed to examine the alignment between tourists’ perceived benefits and resource value characteristics. The calculation formulas are as follows: (1)–(3). In this model, $u_1$ represents the normalized value of word frequency counts of high-frequency words perceived by tourists, and $u_2$ represents the normalized value of expert scores on resource value. C denotes the coupling degree between tourists’ perceptions and expert scores of resource value, T indicates the synergy degree between the two, and D represents the coupling synergy degree between them. The parameters a and b are the weights of tourists’ perception and expert evaluation of resource value, respectively, both set to 0.5 in this study. Ultimately, the coupling synergy degree is used to represent the alignment and synergy between tourists’ perceived benefits and expert evaluation scores across different value dimensions in the Three-River-Source region.

$$C=2{\left\{\left.{\displaystyle \frac{\left(u_1\ast u_2\right)}{{\left(u_1+u_2\right)}^2}}\right\}\right.}^{{\displaystyle \raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.}}$$

(1)

$$T={au}_1+{bu}_2$$

(2)

$$D=2{\left(C\ast T\right)}^{{\displaystyle \raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.}}$$

(3)

3. Results Analysis

3.1. Analysis of High Attention Value Vocabularies from the Visitor Perspective

As shown in

Table 2. High-frequency words of recreational resource value perceived by visitors.

Resource Value	Number of Entries	Total Word Frequency	Ratio of Total Word Frequency/%	Coefficient of Variation	Main Terms (Word Frequency)
Aesthetic landscape value	290	2050	54.86%	1.83	Spectacular (125); Clear (110); Nice (68); Cold (50); Beautiful (50); Blue (47); Mysterious (47); The most beautiful (40); Vast (39); Magnificent (39); Steep (36); Pure (30); Magical (29); Majestic (28); Desolate (27); Landscape (23); Vast (23); Too beautiful (21); Rich (20); Scenery (20); Calm (20); Holy (20); Beautiful (19); Beautiful (19); Precious (18); Big (17); Deep (17); Clean (16); Crystal clear (16); Unique (14); stunning (14)
Geological and landform value	175	861	23.04%	1.77	Yellow River (58); Snow Mountain (51); Eling Lake (46); Glacier (41); Plateau (37); Zhaling Lake (37); Lakeside (20); Lake (20); Water (20); Mount Yuzhu (19); Lake (18); Lake (17)
Historical and cultural value	131	570	15.25%	1.32	Monument (40); Tenacity (31); Road (25); Chinese nation (17); Ruggedness (16); Bridge (16); Cheapness (15); Nation (14); Sacred Mountain (14); Piety (12); Sacred (12); Tibetans (11); Landscape (11); Qinghai-Tibet Line (11)
Ecological service value	69	256	6.85%	1.95	Tibetan antelope (53); ox head (25); wild donkey (18); grassland (16); wild animal (13); clear spring (8); wild yak (8); swamp (6); animal (5); yellow Sheep (4)
Total	665	3737	100

, there are 665 entries and 3737 words that exhibit a strong correlation and directionality with the perceived value of recreational resources in the Three-River-Source region. From these, 67 high-frequency words with clear directional indicators of resource value were extracted based on frequency. Significant differences in tourists’ perceptions of recreational resource value benefits in the Three-River-Source National Park are evident. Among the value categories, aesthetic landscape value has the highest number of words and entries, with the most frequent high-frequency words reaching 54.86%. The frequency dispersion (coefficient of variation) is 1.83, indicating that tourists exhibit high levels of interest and diverse perceptions in this category. Tourists’ perceptions are primarily reflected in evaluative adjectives such as “most beautiful”, “not bad”, “beautiful”, “scenery”, “very beautiful”, “lush”, and “landscape”, as well as comprehensive sensory evaluations with vivid imagery, including terms like “spectacular”, “clear”, “blue”, “cold”, “mysterious”, “vast”, “magnificent”, and “steep”. The overall image of the Three-River-Source National Park is thus succinctly encapsulated by the terms “spectacular”, “clear”, “vast”, and “mysterious”. The frequency and dispersion for words related to geological and geomorphological value are 23.04% and 1.77, respectively, both relatively high. This indicates significant tourist interest with a variety of perceptions. High-frequency words in this category include geographical entities like “Yellow River”, “Eling Lake”, “Zhaling Lake”, and “Yuzhu Peak”, as well as geological terms like “snow mountain”, “glacier”, “plateau”, “lake water”, and “summit”. These terms suggest that tourists primarily appreciate the comprehensive landscapes of the Three-River-Source National Park, with attention also given to distinct geomorphological features like plateaus, glaciers, lakes, snow mountains, and peaks. For historical and cultural value, the frequency proportion is 15.25% with a dispersion degree of 1.32, indicating lower tourist attention to cultural landscapes and relatively balanced perceptions across fewer categories. Key terms include cultural elements like “monument”, “road”, “bridge”, “Qinghai-Tibet Line”, and “sacred mountain”. The terms “Chinese nation” and “Tibetan people” emphasize the ethnic concentration and unique cultural characteristics of the Three-River-Source area, while descriptors such as “rugged”, “devout”, and “sacred” reflect the region’s cultural essence. Ecological service value has the lowest frequency proportion at 6.85%, while the dispersion degree is the highest at 1.95, reflecting a lower level of tourist attention with fewer, but highly variable, perceptions. Tourists’ focus within this category centers on wildlife terms like “Tibetan antelope”, “wild donkey”, “wild yak”, and “yellow sheep”, as well as ecological features such as “grassland” and “marsh”. These elements form the primary ecological perception value of the Three-River-Source National Park.

3.2. Distribution Characteristics of Visitors’ Perception of Resource Value

As shown in Figure 3, the ranking distribution of high-frequency words for the four types of recreational resource values exhibits a clear “long-tail” distribution. The coefficient of determination (R²) for the fitted curves of high-frequency words related to aesthetic landscape value, historical and cultural value, ecological service value, and geological and geomorphological value are 0.9765, 0.8913, 0.9685, and 0.9592, respectively, indicating a high degree of fit. From the long-tail distribution curve of high-frequency words related to recreational resource value, it is apparent that tourists’ perceptions exhibit a core-periphery structural distribution. The high-frequency words at the “head” of the curve represent core resource values, reflecting the primary recreational resource characteristics perceived by tourists. In contrast, the high-frequency words in the “middle” and “tail” of the curve represent peripheral resource value elements that are often overlooked, such as “permafrost”, “cliff”, “precipice”, and “gravel”. The geological and geomorphological value, aesthetic landscape value, historical and cultural value, and ecological service value of the Three-River-Source National Park demonstrate a noticeable “long-tail distribution” and follow a power law trend. This pattern highlights that the park’s value presentation is becoming more distinct and concentrated, while also suggesting significant potential for the dissemination and development of numerous resource value elements that are currently overlooked or underrepresented.

3.3. Semantic Association of Visitor Perception of Resource Value

As shown in Figure 4, the semantic network of high-frequency terms related to attraction resource value demonstrates a relational structure of “core elements”, “value aggregation zones”, and “value dispersion zones”. The core elements comprise attractions within the Three-River-Source National Park, serving as pivotal nodes that interconnect various resource value terms. These core attraction elements establish bridges between different resource values; for example, “Tibetan antelope” and “permafrost” form an indirect semantic connection through the “Hoh Xil Nature Reserve”. Supported by the gravity model, the core elements exhibit a clustering effect. Core mountain-related attractions, such as “Animaqing Snow Mountain”, “Kunlun Pass”, “Yuzhu Peak”, “Bayangara Mountain”, and “Huashixia”, show a clustered distribution within the semantic network (upper part of the figure). Similarly, water-related core attractions, such as “Zhaling Lake”, “Xingxing Sea”, “Xingxiu Sea”, and “Eling Lake”, also display a clustered distribution (lower part of the figure). In contrast, core attractions like the “Lancang River Bridge” and the “Lancang River Grand Canyon” are relatively isolated from other core attractions.

Within the value aggregation zones, most attractions share all resource value terms. The larger the node, the greater the intensity of visitor perception it represents. Terms such as “spectacular”, “good”, “clear”, “snow mountain”, “plateau”, and “Tibetan antelope” emerge as prominent resource values in the Three-River-Source National Park area. The closer a node is to the center, the more balanced its association with various attractions. Resource value terms such as “good”, “plateau”, “sacred”, and “scenery” are common across most attractions.

Additionally, the semantic network forms several resource value dispersion zones, highlighting the relatively unique resource values of specific attractions. As shown in the figure, resource value dispersion is most evident for the “Lancang River Bridge” and the “Lancang River Grand Canyon”. Both attractions are located at a considerable distance from the core area of the Three-River-Source National Park and traverse the complex terrain of the Hengduan Mountains. Unique resource values associated with the Lancang River Bridge include terms such as “sheer cliffs”, “deep ravine”, “vastness”, “rushing”, “Lawu Mountain”, and “watchtower”. Similarly, “Animaqing Snow Mountain”, “Nachitai Spring”, “Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve”, and “Eling Lake” form distinct resource value dispersion zones. Animaqing Snow Mountain particularly emphasizes Tibetan cultural values associated with the Tibetan region, including “Tibetan people”, “sunlight”, and “sacred mountain”. “Nachitai Spring” highlights characteristics related to springs, such as “crystal clear” and “spring water”. The “Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve” emphasizes ecological service values like “wild yak”, “barren grass”, “Tibetan fox”, and “Tibetan antelope”. “Eling Lake” underscores the geological and geomorphological, as well as aesthetic landscape values of the lake, with terms such as “rippling waves”, “blue sky”, and “magnificent beauty”.

3.4. Analysis of the Coordination Between Resource Value and Visitor Perception

As shown in Figure 5a, the overall coupling coordination degree between visitor perceptions and expert scores is higher for the aesthetic landscape value and geological and geomorphological value dimensions of the Three-River-Source National Park. In contrast, the coupling coordination degree between visitor perception benefits and expert scores is lower for the historical and cultural value and ecological service value dimensions. The Yellow River Source (Figure 5b), Lancang River Source (Figure 5c), and Yangtze River Source (Figure 5d) areas within the Three-River-Source region also reflect the park’s overall coupling coordination characteristics. However, for historical and cultural value, the Yellow River Source area (0.63) shows a higher coupling coordination degree compared to the Lancang River Source (0.49) and Yangtze River Source (0.49) areas. Conversely, its coupling degree is lower in terms of ecological service value.

In the dimension of geological and geomorphological value, as shown in Figure 5, the coordination degree between expert evaluation and visitor perception of resource value is relatively high at 0.68. This suggests that both experts and visitors share a high and generally consistent recognition of geological and geomorphological value. The primary resource carriers for this value dimension include the “Yellow River”, “snow mountains”, “glaciers”, “plateaus”, “peaks”, “mountain ranges”, “lakes”, and “passes”. The proportion of high-frequency terms related to geological and geomorphological value in visitor perception is 23.04%, effectively encompassing the basic categories and content of “geology and geomorphology”. Visitors have a particularly strong impression of the “Yellow River” and “snow mountains”, gaining significant perceptual benefits from areas such as “Eling Lake”, “Zhaling Lake”, “Yuzhu Peak”, “glaciers”, “plateaus”, and “lakes”.

In the dimension of aesthetic landscape value (Figure 5), the coordination degree between expert evaluation and visitor perception of resource value is the highest, reaching 0.85. This indicates a strong and consistent recognition of aesthetic landscape value by both experts and visitors. The primary carriers of aesthetic landscape value include meteorological and phenological features such as “sunrises”, “seas of clouds”, “twilight”, “green grass”, “blue skies”, and “tranquil lakes”. Comparative analysis of “resource value assessment” and “visitor perception benefits” reveals that visitors experience a diverse range of perceptions at the Three-River-Source National Park. These range from surface-level elements, like “blue skies” and “white clouds”, to emotional responses evoked by the scenery, such as “spectacular”, “clear”, and “cold”, and even extend to deeper spiritual beliefs like “mystery”, “sacredness”, and “freedom”. Overall, visitors demonstrate a high level of recognition of the park’s aesthetic landscape value, largely due to its strong uniqueness and visual dominance.

The coupling coordination degree for historical and cultural value is relatively low at 0.59 (Figure 5), indicating a degree of misalignment between expert assessments of resource value and visitor perceptions. Key carriers of historical and cultural value include “Tibetan culture”, “traditional villages”, “folk customs”, “folk arts”, “intangible cultural heritage”, and “festivals”. Visitor recognition of the historical and cultural value of the Three-River-Source National Park is relatively weak and limited in scope. This may be attributed to a traditional management model and administrative control mechanisms that prioritize conservation over development, resulting in limited promotion of cultural values and activities within the park. Consequently, these aspects are not widely known to the public. Additionally, the region’s sparse population (only 723,000 people as of 2020) [31] and the dispersed distribution of ethnic communities hinder the development of branded, large-scale cultural experience activities.

The coupling coordination degree for ecological service value is the lowest, at 0.51 (Figure 5), suggesting a significant misalignment between visitor perception and expert evaluation. Core carriers of ecological service value include “Tibetan antelope”, “yak”, “forests”, “grasslands”, “marshes”, “wetlands”, and “wildlife”. Experts generally place substantial emphasis on the ecological service value (biodiversity) of the Three-River-Source National Park; however, high-frequency terms related to ecological service value account for only 6.85% of visitor perceptions. While this percentage encompasses the primary categories and content of the park’s ecological service value, it is less prominently represented in online discussions. The primary reason may be that the visibility of biodiversity within the landscape is limited and unstable, often overshadowed by the park’s striking geological and geomorphological features, which obscure the unique characteristics of its ecological service value.

4. Discussion and Conclusions

4.1. Discussion

Recreational resources form the material foundation for developing and managing recreation in national parks. Since the 1960s, research on the recreational value of national parks—an area within natural resource economic value studies—has primarily relied on the contingent valuation method and the travel cost method to assess resource value unilaterally [45]. However, from a management perspective, such research often isolates the relationship between national park recreational resources, visitor mobility behavior, and service management, leaving the intrinsic logical relationships and mechanisms among these aspects unclear [46]. By employing a model that assesses recreational resources and visitor perceptions, a more three-dimensional, comprehensive, and accurate evaluation of the disparity between resource value and tourists’ perceived value can be achieved.

This study distinguishes itself from traditional academic approaches, such as expert or visitor rating methods, by combining qualitative and quantitative approaches that fully consider factors such as recreational resources, visitor perception, visitor behavior, and service management. From a human–environment relationship perspective, it constructs a recreational resource evaluation model. Using UGC data, the study analyzes visitors’ perceived benefits and the coordination state of recreational resource value. This approach provides a reference for other national parks in terms of recreational resource value classification, value assessment, and coordination state analysis.

The research findings offer a basis for decision-making to effectively align demand-side management with supply-side reform in the Three-River-Source National Park. They support specific measures to optimize visitor perception value, develop and utilize resources scientifically, promote environmentally responsible behaviors, and enhance service management. Additionally, the results provide valuable insights for establishing a recreational resource management model for national parks that embodies ecological ethics with Chinese characteristics.

A harmonious human–environment relationship is essential for human survival and sustainable development. In the context of the Three-River-Source National Park—marked by ecological fragility, a long history, and diverse civilizations—this relationship encompasses unique and complex dimensions [31]. From a human–environment perspective, this paper explores the construction of an evaluation model for recreational resources and visitor perception, thereby enhancing the value assessment system and research methodology for national parks.

A classification study of the recreational resource value in the Three-River-Source National Park reveals that the diversity of terrain and landforms, as fundamental aspects of the geographic environment, underpin other recreational resource values through their inherent geological and geomorphological significance. Aesthetic landscape value captures visitors’ comprehensive aesthetic perception of these diverse resource elements. The four types of resource values—geological and geomorphological value, aesthetic landscape value, historical and cultural value, and ecological service value—mutually influence, constrain, and interact with one another, thereby forming the recreational resource value system of the Three-River-Source National Park. For instance, “Animaqing Snow Mountain”, rich in geological and geomorphological value, and the “yak”, with its ecological service value, are revered by Tibetans as the “sacred mountain” and “representative of the gods”. This reverence is expressed through traditional rituals and attire, illustrating the interaction between natural ecological elements and cultural elements. Ultimately, this interaction is embodied in the park’s aesthetic landscape value.

4.2. Practical Implications

(1) Promoting the Development of a Scientific Cognitive System for Visitors Regarding Recreational Resource Values. The “cognition-affection” theory posits that people first recognize their surroundings and then develop corresponding emotions [47]. When individuals form an emotional connection with local natural resources, their behaviors in daily life tend to become more environmentally responsible [40]. Therefore, enhancing visitors’ understanding and appreciation of the ideas and values associated with national park recreational resources is essential to guiding a positive trajectory for human–environment interactions [48]. Ecological service value is a central component of recreational resource value in national parks. However, research reveals that visitor perception of ecological service value is currently lacking. Optimizing the visitor perception value system for national park recreational resources is necessary. This can be achieved by continuously innovating natural display methods, providing scientifically grounded nature education and public outreach, and promoting ecotourism and recreational services. Further, improvements in recreational signage, interpretive systems, ecological literacy, and fostering active participation are essential. Providing superior or new value satisfaction will actively position the Three-River-Source National Park as a leading area for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Regarding historical and cultural value, approaches such as ecological migration to support the spatial reconstruction of settlements could help to uncover the intrinsic value of authentic plateau ethnic ecological cultural resources. Enhancing folk performances, cultural customs experiences, and intangible cultural heritage displays will enable visitors to deeply appreciate Yellow River culture and Tibetan historical culture, thereby increasing the perceived benefits of “visitor historical and cultural value”. For aesthetic landscape value, it is essential to maximize the role of natural aesthetic education. Leveraging the unique aesthetic landscape value of the Three-River-Source National Park, geological and geomorphological value, ecological service value, and historical and cultural value can be integrated. By utilizing information technologies such as big data, augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, alongside online service models like cloud tourism and live streaming, visitors can transcend time and space to experience the beauty and explore the culture. This approach will deepen visitors’ overall understanding of the scientific significance of resource values.

(2) Focusing on Developing a Recreational Experience Product System for Visitors. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) emphasizes two fundamental objectives for national parks: ecological environment protection and the provision of recreational opportunities [49]. Currently, visitors to the Three-River-Source National Park show greater interest in its aesthetic landscape and geological and geomorphological values, with relatively low emotional engagement in its historical and cultural values. The limited mention of recreational experience activities in visitor reviews also reflects the park’s primary focus on sightseeing tourism and highlights a significant gap in recreational product offerings. To address this, it is necessary to continually adapt to visitors’ diverse and high-quality recreational needs—including connecting with nature, seeking knowledge and aesthetics, relaxing, and exploring curiosities. This can be accomplished by enriching recreational activities and interactive experiences and integrating sightseeing tourism with ecotourism, leisure tourism, sports tourism, wellness tourism, and educational tourism. In this way, visitors can be offered a variety of diversified, personalized, and customized recreational products. For example, by developing experiential ecotourism education products, visitors can engage fully with the natural philosophy and lifestyle of grassland herders—such as respect for life, reverence for nature, and harmonious coexistence—through interactions with local Tibetans. This approach supports cultural preservation and promotes sustainable development values, thereby increasing public awareness of ecological protection. This approach creates a cycle where enhancing “recreational resource value” strengthens “value perception” among visitors, which in turn fosters positive “ecological protection behaviors”, ultimately reinforcing and transmitting “recreational resource value”. This process supports the sustainable development of national park resources and recreational management, fostering a harmonious relationship between humans and the environment.

4.3. Conclusions

Our study makes several theoretical contributions that deepen the understanding of visitor perception and resource value differentiation within protected areas. By adopting a visitor-centered perspective, this study reveals significant variations in visitor perception across four types of resource values. Visitors demonstrate the highest level of attention to aesthetic landscape value, followed by geological and geomorphological value, with lower levels of attention directed toward historical and cultural value and ecological service value. The distribution of attention is as follows: aesthetic landscape value (43.6%) > geological and geomorphological value (26.7%) > historical and cultural value (19.3%) > ecological service value (10.4%). This hierarchical pattern enhances our understanding of visitor–resource interactions, indicating that aesthetic and geological values are more readily perceived by visitors. Within each dimension, high-frequency terms display a “long-tail” distribution, underscoring how visitor attention is concentrated on a few prominent features. This finding contributes to theoretical frameworks on resource perception and visitor engagement.

This study introduces the concepts of “value dispersion zones” and “value aggregation zones” to capture the spatial differentiation of resource value recognition among visitors. Scenic areas within the park that are characterized by distinctive core resources are highly recognized by visitors, forming “value dispersion zones”. In contrast, areas with lower distinctiveness, similar product forms, or limited visitor perception fall into “value aggregation zones”, where resource value is less differentiated. This framework provides a novel lens for understanding spatial patterns in visitor perception and offers practical guidance for protected area managers to identify under-recognized zones, enhancing resource management and promotional strategies.

The coupling coordination degree analysis of the “visitor-resource” human–environment relationship reveals strong coordination for aesthetic landscape value and geological and geomorphological value, yet weaker coordination for historical and cultural value and ecological service value. This discrepancy between visitor perception and expert evaluation—particularly in the case of ecological service value—highlights a potential misalignment in interpretative strategies, underscoring the need for enhanced communication of resource values. This finding enriches human–environment relationship theories by emphasizing the importance of aligning expert knowledge with visitor perceptions to foster a comprehensive appreciation of protected area resources.

This study identifies key factors contributing to perception discrepancies, including media influence, infrastructure limitations, and insufficient interpretative support, all of which shape visitor focus and engagement. Geological landscapes, such as glaciers and lakes, tend to dominate visual attention, while ecological and cultural elements, although present, receive less recognition due to limited visibility or interpretative framing. These findings suggest that targeted improvements in educational resources, interpretive signage, and staff training may help bridge the gap in visitor understanding of diverse resource values, providing a basis for future research on sustainable tourism, resource management, and alignment of visitor perception in protected areas.

4.4. Limitations and Future Research

This study has several limitations: (1) Although review data from Mafengwo and Ctrip provide a broad and representative view of visitor perceptions in the Three-River-Source region, many unique resource values at a micro-scale may remain unperceived or overlooked in these reviews. (2) This study primarily examines the recreational resource value of the Three-River-Source National Park from a broad, abstract perspective of user perception. However, it lacks in-depth analysis of the impact of resource value perception on environmental behavior. Future research should focus on enhancing big data collection technologies for national park recreation. This can be complemented with methods such as field surveys and questionnaires to further refine and complete the catalog of recreational resource values for the Three-River-Source National Park. Additionally, using semantic network analysis, it will be essential to segment the types of scenic areas within the park from the perspective of recreational value perception and conduct in-depth analyses of their similarities, differences, and interrelationships. Employing spatiotemporal big data analysis of visitor behavior will also allow examination of the impact of perceived recreational resource value on local identity and environmental behavior in the Three-River-Source National Park. This approach will continuously enhance the perceived value benefits of the park, foster a virtuous cycle of “value perception—environmental awareness—environmentally friendly behavior”, achieve the goals of resource conservation and scientific utilization, maximize the marginal benefits of visitor recreation, and ensure the sustainable development of recreational management. Ultimately, this will promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.