River corridors, recognized as “blue–green infrastructure,” have become a crucial support system for urban sustainability in contemporary urbanized societies. Understanding the factors influencing the recreational experience along urban river corridors is paramount for enhancing visitors’ health and well-being. This study focuses on the Hutuo River Corridor in Shijiazhuang, China, collecting 3006 valid reviews from Dianping, a prominent review platform. We developed a text-based thematic model and conducted content analysis using this dataset. The main social (visiting time, duration of stay, motivation, safety, and visitors’ types and activities) and physical (natural elements, artificial facilities, maintenance and management, accessibility, distance, models of transportation, weather, and seasons) factors associated with recreational experiences were identified. We assessed visitor perceptions of urban river corridors and elucidated facilitators or barriers through textual content analysis in reviews. The results indicate the feasibility of employing social media data to study visitors’ recreational experiences along urban river corridors. This comprehensive exploration from a qualitative ecological perspective contributes valuable insights for urban planning and management. Moreover, the findings hold significant implications for understanding the usage patterns of river corridors in China and potentially in other countries.

River corridors, acknowledged as "blue-green infrastructure," have gained increasing attention due to their potential benefits on individual quality of life and social well-being in urban areas. However, there remains a lack of a comprehensive synthesis of evidence through a systematic literature review on the usage and associated constraints of urban river corridors. The paper aims to systematically review those attributes that influence the usage of urban river corridors and to analyse their complex interactions from a socio-ecological perspective. Results comprise an overview of the reviewed literature, including authorship, journal, geographical distribution, sample characteristics, data collection and analysis methods, and critical findings. Fifty-nine peer-reviewed papers published between 2012 and 2023 met the authors' inclusion criteria. The findings highlight the significant influence of individual, social, and physical factors on the usage of urban river corridors. Additionally, time reason also impact users' decisions regarding the usage of urban river corridors. Finally, a conceptual framework was proposed to guide urban planners, designers, and policymakers in enhancing urban river corridors' design and management standards, ultimately creating a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive leisure space catering to diverse needs.