The relationship between built environment and physical activity has become a focus in the research of healthy cities. Based on Web of Science and CNKI, this paper charts out recent research progress by literature review using the keywords of built environment, physical activity and walkability. The built environment factors affecting physical activity areclassified into ‘2D spatial elements’ and ‘3D spatial elements’. The future research needs to: 1) deepen the research about ‘3D elements’ with a focus on spatial perception; 2) carry out more detailed research based on individual spatiotemporal behavior; 3) pay more attention to the comprehensive health effect of physical activity under multiple impacts of built environment, air pollution and other factors.

built environment  /  physical activity  /  health  /  urban planning