Abstract: At present, emotional governance in old urban communities is facing multiple difficulties and challenges. This paper takes space construction as an interpretation perspective, builds an analytical framework for the effect of space construction on the emotional governance in old urban communities, and uses the case of Xiajiancao Community in Chengdu for interpretation and explanation. The research finds that the mechanism of the effect of space construction on the emotional governance in old urban communities lies in that space construction activities are completed by the cooperation of multiple subjects, including initiators, assistants, and receivers. Through the three stages of space planning, space production and space empowerment, physical space, political space, service space and cultural space are generated. Among them,physical space is shaped by community symbols, political space is constructed by collective action, service space is connected by internal and external resources, and cultural space is accumulated by social capital to interfere with the reproduction process of community residents sense of gain, trust, identity and belonging,and improve and enhance the emotional experience and emotional connection of residents in old urban communities as a whole.

Key words: old urban residential communities; emotional governance; community governance; space construction