Cognitive and affective dynamics in city walk tourism

City walk travellers' cognitive appraisal process of their experiences has rarely been explored in relevant research, and the potential nonlinear interrelationships within these processes have remained largely overlooked. To address this gap, this study introduces a novel perspective that combines nonrepresentational theory with cognitive appraisal theory, and it employs grounded theory techniques, K-means clustering, and the DEMATEL method. The analysis identified seven core topics in city walk tourism. This study is the first to present a cognitive appraisal network that highlights the discontinuity and recurrence that characterise travellers' cognitive appraisal processes. The findings indicate that visual order is a key trigger of city walk sensory experiences. This study provides theoretical insights into walking tourism and offers practical guidance for designing immersive urban walking tour experiences.