The　change　in　public　landscape　cognition　is　of　crucial　significance　in　achieving　sustainable　landscape　management,　but　it　has　not　drawn　enough　attention　in　China.　Landscape　cognition　was　recognized　as　a　cognitive　process　affected　by　both　objective　and　subjective　factors　in　this　study.　Information　processing　in　landscape　cognition　was　divided　into　two　parts,　which　were　measured　by　two　indicators:　perceptual　priority　(PP)　and　cognitive　preference　(CP).　Factors　impacting　this　process　were　analyzed　based　on　a　survey　of　227　subjects　with　diverse　backgrounds　and　life　experiences.　The　results　indicated　that　(1)　a　moderately　patterned　preference　for　natural　landscape　together　with　a　consistent　dislike　of　artificial　landscape　existed　among　the　sample　based　on　demographic　subjects＇　demographic　characteristics-in　particular,　age　and　education　showed　significant　influence　on　landscape　preference;　(2)　water　elements　and　elements　with　large　areas,　regular　shapes,　and　low　axial　ratios　were　more　easily　perceived　and　identified.　The　study　suggests　a　rationally　grouping　of　landscape　elements　based　on　PP　and　CP　values　and　illustrates　how　this　grouping　determines　landscape　valuation　in　a　Chinese　context.　The　results　contribute　to　a　general　picture　of　public　landscape　perception　and　preference　in　China,　which　can　be　applied　in　planning　practice　and　policy　making　to　achieve　sustainable　landscape　management.　©　2018　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.