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Reconstructing Tradition: Heritage Authentication and Tourism-Related Commodification of the Ancient City of Pingyao

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  • Xiaoyan Su

    (School of Land and Tourism, Luoyang Normal University, 6#Jiqing RD, Yibin District, Luoyang 471934, Henan Province, China
    Central Plains Economic Zones Smart Tourism Cooperative Innovation Center in Henan Province, Luoyang Normal University, 6#Jiqing RD, Yibin District, Luoyang 471934, Henan Province, China)

Abstract

This paper examines how the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (CCPWCNH) is implemented in China, with specific reference to tourism development at the local level in the Ancient City of Pingyao (ACP). Based on a qualitative methodology and constructivist paradigm, the research employs observation and semi-structured interviews to explore how the interaction between heritage authorization and tourism-related commodification shapes the transformation of the local community. Giddens’ theories, amongst others, on modernity, time–space distanciation, disembedding, and reflexivity, are employed to analyze this case study. The paper argues that the reconstruction of “traditional-style culture” has contributed to the transformative processes in the ACP. Traditional-style culture differs from “traditional culture” in that the former refers to cultural forms that are purposely (re)constructed to serve contemporary political or economic needs, while the latter refers to cultural forms that are rooted in the local contexts of premodern societies. One of the impacts of traditional-style culture, which is the product of the interaction between heritage authorization and tourism development, is the emergence of a commercialized environment. This environment confounds the notion of authenticity that is claimed in authorized concepts of heritage. There, construction of traditional-style culture demonstrates the relationship of powerful actors with hierarchical power, leading to an unequal positioning of external agents (such as heritage experts) and local residents.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyan Su, 2018. "Reconstructing Tradition: Heritage Authentication and Tourism-Related Commodification of the Ancient City of Pingyao," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:3:p:670-:d:134264
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rasoolimanesh, S. Mostafa & Jaafar, Mastura & Ahmad, A. Ghafar & Barghi, Rabeeh, 2017. "Community participation in World Heritage Site conservation and tourism development," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 142-153.
    2. Su, Rui & Bramwell, Bill & Whalley, Peter A., 2018. "Cultural political economy and urban heritage tourism," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 30-40.
    3. Wang, Yi & Bramwell, Bill, 2012. "Heritage protection and tourism development priorities in Hangzhou, China: A political economy and governance perspective," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 988-998.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jonathan Liljeblad & Khin Thinn Thinn Oo, 2020. "World heritage sustainable development policy & local implementation: Site management issues using a case study of Sri Ksetra at Pyu ancient cities in Myanmar," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(3), pages 468-477, May.
    2. Zhenzhen Qin & Yao Song & Yao Tian, 2019. "The Impact of Product Design with Traditional Cultural Properties (TCPs) on Consumer Behavior Through Cultural Perceptions: Evidence from the Young Chinese Generation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Xinpeng Li & Wei Hou & Meng Liu & Zhenlin Yu, 2022. "Traditional Thoughts and Modern Development of the Historical Urban Landscape in China: Lessons Learned from the Example of Pingyao Historical City," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Tianchen Dai & Taozhi Zhuang & Juan Yan & Tong Zhang, 2018. "From Landscape to Mindscape: Spatial Narration of Touristic Amsterdam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, July.
    5. Xiaoyan Su & Changqing Song & Gary Sigley, 2019. "The Uses of Reconstructing Heritage in China: Tourism, Heritage Authorization, and Spatial Transformation of the Shaolin Temple," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, January.
    6. Yongjun Su & Junjie Xu & Marios Sotiriadis & Shiwei Shen, 2021. "Authenticity, Perceived Value and Loyalty in Marine Tourism Destinations: The Case of Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Shuyi Xie, 2019. "Learning from Italian Typology- and Morphology-Led Planning Techniques: A Planning Framework for Yingping, Xiamen," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-29, March.
    8. Xiaoyan Su & Gary Gordon Sigley & Changqing Song, 2020. "Relational Authenticity and Reconstructed Heritage Space: A Balance of Heritage Preservation, Tourism, and Urban Renewal in Luoyang Silk Road Dingding Gate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-21, July.

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