Amenity　refers　to　health　and　well-being　benefits　that　attract　recreationists　to　protected　areas.　However,　few　studies　have　explored　the　specific　components　and　characteristics　of　the　recreational　amenity　experience　from　the　perspective　of　Chinese　recreationists.　This　concept　is　crucial　for　promoting　protected　areas　as　contributors　to　health　and　well-being　and　for　advancing　the　well-planned　development　of　harmonious　coexistence　between　humans　and　nature.　The　study　used　semi-structured　interviews　and　grounded　theory　to　establish　the　recreational　amenity　experience　model,　through　analysis　of　25　qualitative　interviews.　The　recreational　amenity　experience　model　was　constructed,　including　four　dimensions　of　physiological,　psychological,　spiritual,　and　social　amenity.　The　recreational　amenity　experience　model　developed　in　this　study　is　based　not　only　on　the　recreationists’　perceived　health　and　well-being　but　also　on　the　leisure　and　aesthetic　aspects　of　traditional　Chinese　culture.　Moreover,　this　study　expands　on　the　theory　of　cultural　ecosystem　services　and　promotes　the　harmonious　coexistence　of　humans　and　nature.　Management　implications:　•　The　Recreational　Amenity　Experience　Model　(RAE)　provides　a　framework　for　understanding　how　amenity　elements　within　protected　areas　contribute　to　visitors＇　health　and　well-being.　•　By　recognizing　the　multifaceted　dimensions　of　recreational　amenity　experience,　managers　of　protected　areas　can　design　and　implement　programs　that　cater　to　a　wide　range　of　visitor　needs.　•　Managers　of　protected　areas　can　refer　to　the　RAE　to　comprehend　the　full　spectrum　of　visitors＇　expectations　and　identify　intervention　points　to　enhance　the　quality　of　recreation.　•　Understanding　the　critical　role　of　recreational　amenity　experience　in　delivering　cultural　ecosystem　services　can　inform　resource　allocation　decisions.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd