Under the background of new urbanization, protection historical and cultural districts is crucial to the urban development. The purpose of this study is to explore the public’s visual preference for block space, providing empirical insights and technological innovation for protection and regeneration. A hybrid method of environmental behavior and evidence-based design theory is used to capture the visual behavior of participants in virtual reality through eye tracking technology, revealing perceptual experience and choice preference. Focused on representative historical and cultural districts in Changsha, our investigation delves into the nuanced interplay between design elements imbued with cultural significance such as architectural style, facade materials, color palettes, and street layouts and their capacity to captivate visual attention within these urban enclaves. The analysis highlights the pivotal role of culturally characteristic design elements in engaging visual interest in these districts. Furthermore, data comparison reveals a strong correlation between visual appeal, emotional resonance, and cultural identity. These insights provide a scientific basis for strategies to preserve and regenerate historic and cultural districts. This study quantitatively analyzes the challenges of block space design from a humanistic perspective. In the renewal of historical and cultural blocks, designers need to emphasize the display of historical and cultural elements in buildings and protect historical buildings in order to realize the effective inheritance and activation of blocks.