Publications
Forestry Tourism Resource Carrying Capacity Prediction Model Based on Multi-Source Data Algorithm
A novel prediction model for forestry tourism resource carrying capacity, integrating multi-source data fusion with advanced machine learning techniques, demonstrates exceptional accuracy and stability. The framework combines a modal-level multi-head cross-attention mechanism with a GAT-Transformer model to adaptively weigh and fuse heterogeneous data, suppressing noise and capturing long-term temporal dependencies. Tested on two years of multi-source observation data from Wulingyuan National Forest Park, the model excels in temporal scale adaptation, spatial generalization, and resilience against missing data and noise. Its lightweight structure ensures low inference latency, balancing prediction accuracy with engineering practicality.
Integrating World Natural Heritage Conservation into the General Planning of China’s Scenic and Historic Areas
A new coordination framework successfully bridges the gap between China's Scenic and Historic Areas (SHAs) general planning and World Natural Heritage (WNH) conservation requirements, enhancing the protection of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). The study identifies structural misalignments in current SHA practices—such as underemphasis on OUV attributes, zoning prioritizing aesthetics over ecological integrity, and marginalization of local communities—and proposes a multi-level resource evaluation system, coordinated zoning approach, and community-inclusive strategies. Applied to Wulingyuan, this framework demonstrated practical effectiveness by clarifying conservation priorities, aligning spatial boundaries with WNH management objectives, and integrating OUV interpretation into sustainable tourism and livelihoods. The findings provide an empirical model for China's protected area reform, advancing a value-based coordination approach that harmonizes international conservation standards with domestic landscape traditions.
The social and environmental impacts on local residents from tourist accommodation near protected areas
Tourism, while beneficial for local economic development and living conditions, can exacerbate social inequities and environmental challenges near protected areas. A study on Longweiba village within China's Wulingyuan Historic and Scenic Area reveals that the presence of boutique rural hotels and bed-and-breakfast enterprises, intended to offset conservation impacts, has led to significant concerns among residents, including unfair regulations, inconsistent governance, and environmental degradation such as sewage pollution and water shortages. The research, employing ethnographic methods and interviews with 30 residents and a government official, highlights that poor planning, inequitable policies, and inconsistent enforcement have worsened these issues. The findings underscore the need for better governance, inclusive community engagement, and clear policies to ensure sustainable and equitable tourism development near protected areas.
Ecological Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, a World Natural Heritage Site
Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, faces significant ecological challenges despite its high environmental value. Research identifies key issues such as the tension between regional development and environmental protection, as well as the growing impact of tourism on fragile ecosystems. To address these, the study proposes strategic solutions including optimized tourist carrying capacity management, eco-tourism implementation, strengthened environmental monitoring, biodiversity conservation, livelihood transformation for local residents, and enhanced public awareness campaigns. These measures aim to foster sustainable development while preserving the site's ecological integrity. The findings emphasize the need for a balanced approach that harmonizes human activities with nature, offering a model for similar World Heritage Sites globally.
Effects of the epidemic and obstacle factors on the evolution of livelihood resilience of scenic farm households: a case study of the Wulingyuan scenic area, China
A study on the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area reveals that COVID-19 significantly impacted the livelihood resilience of scenic farm households, with resilience peaking during normal tourism (2019) at 0.449, dipping during epidemic disruption (2021) to 0.395, and slightly recovering in 2023 to 0.415. The research analyzed data from 364 farm households across five villages using an index system evaluating buffering, learning, and self-organizing capacities, alongside the obstacle degree model. Key factors influencing resilience included per capita forest land area, skill training opportunities, borrowing chances, and migrant work or entrepreneurship. Findings highlight imbalanced resilience among different livelihood strategies and underscore the need for diversified approaches to sustain rural development amid external disruptions.
Evolutionary Patterns and Influencing Factors of Livelihood Resilience in Tourism-Dependent Communities Affected by an Epidemic: An Empirical Study in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, China
Livelihood resilience in tourism-dependent communities within the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, China, showed moderate overall stability despite significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A study analyzing 365 households across five towns revealed a 6.38% decline in resilience during the epidemic disruption stage (2020–2022), followed by a 4.54% recovery post-2022. Key drivers of resilience included increased material capital, improved organizational management, and proactive attitudes toward livelihood challenges, while constraints such as reduced tourist numbers, inefficient ecotourism management, and limited financial resources hindered progress. The research highlights the importance of interactive pathways—buffering, adaptation, and transformation capabilities—in enhancing resilience under exogenous shocks like pandemics.
Research on the evolution and influencing factors of the spatial form of typical tourist towns: a case study of Wulingyuan district, China
Urban expansion in Wulingyuan, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, has followed distinct spatial and temporal patterns driven by urbanization, tourism, and policy factors. Between 2000 and 2022, the district experienced four phases of growth, with the period from 2015 to 2022 marking peak expansion. Expansion primarily occurred in a belt-like form, predominantly toward the southwest and northeast, while other directions were constrained by terrain and heritage protection measures. The study reveals a 'V'-shaped change in urban compactness and a declining fractal dimension, indicating shifts from edge-dominated to internal infilling expansion patterns. Policy factors, while not directly driving growth, shaped its direction and scale through guidance and constraints. These findings propose a conservation-oriented development (COD) model for heritage cities facing ecologically sensitive tourism pressures.
The social impacts of protected areas on local communities
Governance structures in protected areas significantly influence social impacts on local communities, shaping land use policies, economic opportunities, and power dynamics. A study of the Wulingyuan World Heritage Site and the Giant Panda National Park reveals that while tourism-driven economic growth is promoted, it often fails to improve community well-being due to inequitable benefit-sharing or restrictive management policies. Local concerns about fairness, empowerment, and livelihoods persist, particularly with strict housing regulations and land acquisition actions. Additionally, the loss of cultural identity and intergenerational knowledge transfer in communities surrounding these areas has been overlooked, further complicating conservation efforts. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating policy analysis, surveys, and interviews, to highlight the need for fair and inclusive governance, effective community participation, and equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms to balance ecological conservation with community well-being.
Heritage as a development engine for people in nature: A case study of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, China
A new management strategy for UNESCO World Heritage Sites, demonstrated at Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, successfully integrates heritage conservation with community development and sustainable tourism. By establishing the Traditional Eco-agricultural Heritage Zone, the approach fosters the coexistence of culture and nature while empowering local communities through initiatives like traditional handicraft revitalization and culinary innovation. This model not only enhances biodiversity protection but also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, offering a scalable framework for other Natural World Heritage Sites. The study highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement, conflict resolution, and capacity building in achieving long-term sustainability.
Tourism-induced land acquisition in protected areas: Land rent dynamics and state monopoly rent around the Wulingyuan world heritage site in China
A significant land rent gap driven by tourism-induced green land acquisition exists around the Wulingyuan World Heritage site, with state actors playing a pivotal role in capturing 'state monopoly rent' despite conservation priorities. This research reveals how governments strategically acquire land and resettle communities to maximize economic gains from tourism, reinforcing the symbiotic relationship between protected areas and tourism development. Using Marxian land rent theory, the study highlights the political economy of tourism, where state power and land characteristics enable profit extraction in conservation zones.
User Experience Analysis of Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Tourism Brand Based on Emotional Design Theory
A study reveals that while Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan's natural landscapes are highly appealing, its tourism brand faces challenges in functional design and internationalization. Using Norman’s emotional design theory, researchers analyzed visitor experiences across sensory, functional, and cultural-emotional dimensions, identifying gaps in digital services and interactive elements. The research, combining literature reviews, case studies, and KJ method analysis, suggests that enhancing service design—particularly through digital integration and localized offerings—could significantly boost the site's brand competitiveness. These findings offer a framework for optimizing other UNESCO World Heritage Sites' visitor experiences.
Born in a tour guide’s family: how can tourism employment fuel intergenerational social mobility?
Tourism employment, particularly as a tour guide, can significantly boost intergenerational social mobility by fostering economic growth, expanding social and cultural capital, and enhancing symbolic capital (mianzi). A study of 22 tour guide families in Wulingyuan, China—a site where tourism has been the primary economic driver for over four decades—revealed that such jobs enable households to accumulate financial resources, build valuable professional networks, acquire workplace knowledge, and improve social standing. These benefits can be passed down to offspring, facilitating upward mobility across generations. Effective parenting plays a crucial role in transferring these advantages. The research underscores the long-term societal benefits of frontline tourism roles, offering insights for sustainable development policies.
Local people’s sense of place in heavily touristified protected areas: Contested place meanings around the Wulingyuan World Heritage Site, China
A significant mismatch exists between the 'traditional' place meanings recorded for residents of the Wulingyuan World Heritage Site and their current sense of place, shaped by economic shifts due to tourism. This study reveals that local people's landscape values are diverse and dynamic, influenced by changes in livelihoods and the economy. The co-evolution of protected areas and tourism complicates efforts to balance economic development, nature conservation, and community concerns. Adaptive co-management planning is essential but challenging in heavily touristified areas, highlighting the need for inclusive governance that acknowledges evolving place meanings.
Observations on the development of townships around mega-tourist attraction caused by land use change—the case of Zhangjiajie, China
A study on Zhangjiajie, China, reveals that the rapid growth of construction land—particularly around its dual-core central structure (DCC)—has led to significant land use changes, transforming cultivated and grassland into tourism-focused development. Analyzing remote sensing data from 2000, 2010, and 2020, researchers found that limited agricultural and industrial land was repurposed for tourism, posing challenges for balanced regional growth. The findings suggest that integrating industrial belts around the DCC could foster coordinated development while supporting sustainable tourism expansion in surrounding townships.
The embeddedness and hidden political economy of the world heritage site inscription boom in China
China's rapid increase in UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) inscriptions since the mid-1980s is driven by embedded political and economic interests across multiple scales, rather than solely by heritage protection or tourism development. This study reveals that WHS nominations serve as a strategic tool for addressing diplomatic agendas, enhancing national prestige, and balancing regional development at international and national levels. Locally, inscriptions provide a pretext for ambitious developmental projects, enabling local governments to bypass financial constraints and accelerate growth in tourism and real estate industries. The research employs the concept of embeddedness to analyze how China's decentralized institutional environment—marked by power shifts, fiscal reforms, and cadre evaluation systems—fuels this boom. By examining cases like Wulingyuan and the South China Karst, the study exposes the hidden political economy underpinning China's WHS inscription craze.
Understanding community capacity-building at a local level for sustainable tourism in World Heritage Site: the case of Wulingyuan in China
A strong local demand for sustainable tourism was identified within the Wulingyuan World Heritage Site (WHS) through a community capacity-building (CCB) initiative. The study, conducted with residents and stakeholders, highlights the necessity of integrating sustainable practices to preserve the site's Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). This research contributes to global discussions on implementing CCB in WHSs by introducing a demonstration project that targeted critical stakeholders. The findings align with UNESCO's WH + ST programme, emphasizing the importance of community-driven approaches in balancing tourism development and conservation.
Analyzing the Spatio-Temporal Distribution and Network Structure of Ecotourism Flow in Zhangjiajie
Ecotourism flow in Zhangjiajie, including the UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, exhibits a distinct 'core-edge' polygonal distribution with high traffic accessibility but low coordination. The study, using travel journal data from popular tourism websites, analyzed spatio-temporal patterns and network structures through standard deviation ellipse, social network analysis, kernel density estimation, and spatial coupling models. It found that while ecotourism flow is concentrated in Wulingyuan–Tianmen Mountain–Huanglongdong, longer stays correlate with increased connection intensity to other scenic spots, though radiation remains limited. A significant mismatch exists between tourism flow and traffic accessibility, indicating potential for improved coordination in sustainable ecotourism planning.
Sustainable Livelihood of Households in Tourism Destination: Evidence From in the Wulingyuan World Heritage Site
Research at Wulingyuan reveals that rural tourism development has significantly enhanced the livelihood capital of households, with notable variations among different household types. Tourism-dominant households exhibit the highest levels of livelihood capital, followed by working-dominant and agricultural-dominant households. The study identifies social capital, particularly online social media and social network support, as the primary obstacle across all household types, while family farmland area also poses significant challenges. Using a participatory farmer survey method, the research constructs a livelihood evaluation index system to assess household livelihood strategies, capital, and obstacles, providing critical insights for sustainable development in World Heritage Sites.
Opening a new era of investigating unreachable cliff flora using smart UAVs
A groundbreaking study reveals the diverse cliff flora of Wulingyuan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in China's mid-subtropical region, using smart unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Analyzing 9200 high-resolution images from 197 cliffs, researchers identified 267 vascular plant species across 140 genera and 58 families, excluding herbaceous plants. The findings highlight unique floristic patterns and morphological adaptations on cliffs, emphasizing the potential of UAS technology for large-scale global studies. This study marks a significant advancement in documenting undisturbed cliff ecosystems, which are considered one of the 'Last Unknown' environments due to their extreme conditions and inaccessibility.
Research on the Tourist Flow Feature of Scenic Area Based on Fractal Statistical Model — A Case of Zhangjiajie
Tourist flow in Zhangjiajie's Wulingyuan and Tianmen Mountain scenic spots exhibits distinct seasonal patterns, with significant fluctuations in spring and autumn, low visitor numbers in winter, and a pronounced peak during April-May and September-October, accounting for over half of annual tourism. Fractal analysis reveals three non-scale ranges tied to tourist flow dynamics, highlighting persistent peak-season congestion despite efforts to optimize scenic area performance. The study applies wavelet transform to uncover nonlinear cyclical patterns in tourist behavior, offering insights for sustainable management of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Social network of female residents in Wulingyuan under the influence of ecotourism: Scale, connection and structure
Ecotourism has significantly expanded and diversified the social networks of female residents in Wulingyuan World Natural Heritage Site, with Yuanjiajie Village exhibiting the largest network scale, strongest ties, and most stable structure. This finding emerged from a study combining quantitative data and qualitative analysis of female residents across three villages: Yuanjiajie, Longweiba, and Maershan. Researchers used sampling questionnaires and snowball interviews to assess network centrality, density, and heterogeneity, revealing that ecotourism fosters broader social interactions and more complex relationships. The study highlights the transformative impact of tourism on local social dynamics, particularly for women in heritage areas.
Resident Relocation of Wulingyuan World Natural Heritage Site Based on Community Participation Theory
Resident relocation in UNESCO World Heritage Sites poses significant challenges, particularly in balancing ecological protection with the interests of local communities. A study on Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area reveals that community participation theory can effectively address these issues by aligning relocation plans with resident needs. The research analyzed panel data and field interview information to assess the reasons for relocation, resettlement strategies, and outcomes, while also identifying existing problems. Recommendations were proposed to enhance relocation processes through greater community involvement, aiming to mitigate ecological disruption while supporting residents' livelihoods.
Study on Optimization Method of Spatial Structure Characteristics of Peak Forest Landform in Wulingyuan Scenic Area
A new optimization method for the spatial structure of peak forest landforms in Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area has been developed to protect its ecological integrity. The study reveals that Wulingyuan's karst peak forests exhibit stronger karstification and greater surface fragmentation compared to non-karst areas, with vegetation showing lower fragmentation but artificial landscapes becoming increasingly fragmented over time. Researchers used GIS, digital topographic analysis, and tree theory to assess landscape patterns, identifying depression zones through contour tree node serialization. The proposed optimization strategy balances centralization and decentralization while enhancing the quality of artificial ecosystems, aiming to mitigate environmental degradation in this unique geological formation.
Temporal and Spatial Evolution of Carbon Emissions and Their Influencing Factors for Tourist Attractions at Heritage Tourist Destinations
Carbon emissions at heritage tourist destinations exhibit significant temporal and spatial variations, with differences observed both monthly and interannually. A study focusing on the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (WSHIA) found that carbon emissions per visitor vary greatly across different types of tourism attractions, influenced by factors such as tourism seasonality, market growth, and heritage tourism trends. The spatial evolution of these emissions can be divided into three stages, primarily driven by functional zoning, environmental regulations, and the diversified development of tourist attractions. These findings provide valuable insights for low-carbon tourism strategies and sustainable development policies at heritage sites.
Algorithm improvements and applications for biological conservation security patterns
A novel approach to biological conservation, leveraging gradient descent algorithms and utility formulas, identifies critical areas for ecological restoration within buffer zones. The study maps landscape security patterns for Macaca mulatta in the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (WSA), pinpointing four core habitats and three potential source candidates while delineating key ecological corridors to enhance connectivity between populations. By categorizing regions based on resistance levels and proximity to suitable sources, the research provides a strategic framework for conservation efforts, emphasizing high-resistance areas within buffer zones as priority restoration targets. This method offers practical significance for preserving biodiversity, exemplified by its application to the Macaca mulatta population in WSA.
Multi-agency management of a World Heritage Site: Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, China
Shared management among multiple agencies at heritage sites, while common in China, often leads to inefficiencies and inconsistencies. A study on the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area reveals that the current grid management system results in inefficient use of human and financial resources, as well as inconsistent application of management measures due to the lack of an effective coordination agency and collaboration mechanism. The research, based on semi-structured interviews with management staff, proposes a multi-agency management model that emphasizes the roles of a coordination agency and a robust collaboration framework to enhance management efficiency. This study highlights the need for improved coordination and collaboration in multi-agency management contexts to optimize heritage tourism management.
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