Research indicates that the rich, varied, and continuous spatial configurations of classical Chinese gardens infuence visitors' visual perception and viewing experience. However, these studies typically employ qualitative methods, leaving unclear the pathways and mechanisms by which garden spaces afiect visitors’ visual perception. n this study, we used the entrance space of theLingering Garden as an example and explored the mechanism of action by which changes in the sequence of the entrance spaceof clasical gardens afiect the visual perception and tour experience of garden visitors using a cross-over randomized controllecexperiment. Eye movement, heart rate, and subjective data from 30 subjects were analyzed as they watched VR videos of theentrance space and the main scenic area of the lingerng Garden using eve-tracking, a phvsiological recorder, and questiomairresponses. The results showed that: (1) The subjects’ eyes focused on key elements such as elements Ke Ting and the corridorafter passing through the entrance space. It was inferred that the spatial scale and the contrast between light and darkness afiected the visual attention of garden visitors; (2) The subjects’ sympathetic nerves were continuously active after passing throughthe entrance space. It is inferred that the contrast between the narow dark entrance space and the open main landscape areawill invigorate the visitors; (3) The contrast between the entrance space and the main landscape area does not have a signifcantefiect on the subiective emotion of the visitors, but it can keep the visitors excited: (4) The viewing of the main landscape areawill have a stres-reducing effect regardles of whether there is an entrance space or not. This study confirms that the spatial sequence design of classical gardens ca strengthen the comuication of garden design intention, enhance visitors' excitementenrich the touring experience, and achieve the purpose of creating a secluded path.