Place construction in the context of world heritage tourism: the case of ‘KaipingDiaolouand Villages’

Heritage tourism in Kaiping has transformed the Diaolou into a highly symbolized local icon, yet this process lacks authentic representation of local cultural connotations. While government-led initiatives have established 'Diaolou Country' as a dominant image, it fails to resonate with residents or fully capture the site's heritage significance. Tourism consumption further distances the Diaolou from its original place identity, shaping it into a hollowed-out landscape that accommodates external narratives rather than preserving local meaning. The study highlights the need for deeper integration of heritage tourism development with local communities to fulfill its potential in place construction and cultural representation.

Sun, J., Zhou, Y., & Wang, X. (2017). Place construction in the context of world heritage tourism: the case of ‘KaipingDiaolouand Villages’. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 17(2), 115–131. https://doi.org/10.1080/14766825.2017.1395441