Objective  To evaluate the visual aesthetic quality of landscape and its physiological impact on the public, so as to provide decision-making reference for constructing landscape resources evaluation system of national parks.

  Methods  The visual aesthetic quality of Qianjiangyuan National Park and its influence on the physiological response of the public were investigated by using the techniques of beauty degree (SBE), K-mean clustering, ArcGis spatial analysis and physiological response measurement.

  Results  The results showed that: (1) the visual aesthetic quality of national park landscape was in the medium and high level, cultural landscape (SBE=76.33) > water landscape (76.15) > forest landscape (74.57) > rural landscape (72.29). (2) The visual aesthetic quality of the national parks showed a spatial pattern of high quality in the central part and low quality in the north and south. The recreational display area (SBE=76.84) > traditional use area (75.63) > ecological conservation area (74.57) > core protection area (69.16). (3) Landscape visual aesthetic perception can cause physiological response changes such as decreased skin conductance level and increased respiratory rate. The cultural landscape with the highest aesthetic quality had the largest change in respiratory rate (0.907 resp). The rural landscape with the lowest aesthetic quality had the lowest variation in respiratory rate (0.528 resp). This study has important reference value to realize the scientific management of national park landscape.

  Conclusion  Compared with landscape area and scale, the diversity of landscape elements and the visual coordination between elements have more influence on landscape aesthetic quality evaluation, and promote the change of physiological indicators such as skin conductivity and respiratory rate of the public. It is suggested to strengthen the management of multifunctional landscape from the perspective of visual sense and promoting human health, especially the fine management of recreational forest and healthy forest.