Taking Xi′an Shuyuanmen historical and cultural block as an example, the model of space syntax was used to analyze the spatial topological relations of route axes in the block. Then the tourist spatial cognition survey was designed and conducted which was corresponding with the spatial characteristics reflected by analysis variables of space syntax. At last, the feedback relationship between the results of two methods were compared. The results indicated the spatial cognition survey of tourists show a negative feedback to spatial syntactic analysis, but it is very consistent with the spatial characteristics of the tourist route axes.The reason is the spatial cognition of the tourist mainly comes from the tourist route.For the application of space syntax on such urban cultural block which is functional-mixed and based on old historical block as Shuyuanmen, the route axes should be divided into different types according to their functions, such as tour-service and life-service. In this way, the spatial characteristics from the space syntax analysis could be more consistent with the subject′s spatial cognition. And it would be more practical and effective for the spatial optimization of urban blocks.

integration of subject and object; space syntax; historical and cultural block; spatial characteristics