With the continuous acceleration of China’s economic development and urbanization process, although people’s material living standards have significantly improved, the pressure from studies and work, as well as the fast - paced lifestyle, have led to increasingly severe challenges to public health. Among them, mental health problems are particularly prominent. At the same time, with the growing convenience of China’s transportation network, rural tourism has gradually become an important form of entertainment for people to relieve stress and adjust their emotions. People’s requirements for the environment of rural tourist attractions are no longer limited to merely meeting basic functional needs. The satisfaction and sense of happiness in the tourism environment experience are also receiving more and more attention. Against this backdrop, enhancing the cultural connotation in the design of public spaces in rural scenic areas and realizing cultural innovation in the application of poetic imagery in the design of public spaces in rural scenic areas and its mental health benefits have become key research topics in the environmental design field. In the long history of Chinese traditional culture, poetry has always been a shining pearl. It not only carries historical memories but also contains rich philosophical thoughts and humanistic emotions. Therefore, inheriting and developing excellent traditional culture, including poetry, is of great significance for promoting the development of rural landscape public spaces, enhancing the cultural connotation of the design of public spaces in rural tourist attractions, and improving the cultural cultivation of tourists. Based on this, this paper puts forward the design concept of “poetic countryside”, aiming to integrate poetic imagery into the design of public spaces in rural scenic areas. This not only enriches the cultural connotation of the public spaces in the scenic area but also enables tourists to imperceptibly improve their cultural cultivation and experience positive emotional fluctuations during the tour, thus making tourists feel a sense of happiness in their hearts and ultimately achieving the design goal of promoting tourists’ mental health. To specifically elaborate on the application and practice of the design concept, this paper selects the public spaces of the Shuanglong Bridge rural scenic area in Jianshui, Yunnan as the research object for design. It deeply understands and explores the local unique culture and natural resources, extracts their essence, and applies it to the specific design. By re - interpreting poetic imagery, a series of spatial layouts that can trigger emotional resonance and provide psychological comfort are constructed, enabling tourists to enjoy both the natural beauty and the profound cultural heritage during their travels. At the same time, to ensure the safety of tourists’ experiences, modern safety facilities and technologies with convenience and accessibility are introduced into the design, guaranteeing the personal safety of tourists.