New Lives, New Landscapes. Landscape, Heritage and Rural Revitalisation: Whose Cultural Values?

Ken Taylor

doi:10.1186/bf03545727

Abstract

Worldwide interest in the cultural landscape concept—covering rural and urban spheres—is now a major theme in considerations of the management of cultural heritage places. The roots of this interconnection lie in the social, political and economic relationships between people and landscape which, in turn, is related to how human attachment to landscape plays a major role in determining our sense of place. Notably the fundamental actuality of place attachment through landscape is cross cultural. Epistemologically it crosses the boundaries of differing values across diverse cultures underscoring the fundamental cross cultural significance of landscape. Co-incidentally the phenomenon of the ‘rise of cultural landscapes’ (Jacques 1995) has been intimately interconnected with the way in which thinking has changed— philosophically and professionally—on what heritage is. There is in effect a clear link between heritage and landscape. It is in this context that this paper addresses challenges of thinking and acting associated with China’s commitment to a rural revitalisation program.

Highlights

We should never tinker with the landscape without thinking of those who live in the midst of it
There is the policy of alleviating poverty in rural areas, which is a phenomenon of all levels of government: local, provincial and national
Do the locals see it in this vein when they have income from heritage tourism that sustains them, allows them to fund schooling for children and brings jobs? in Xijiang and other villages there is some involvement of local people and communities in tourism management

Summary

Introduction

We should never tinker with the landscape without thinking of those who live in the midst of it. KEYWORDS landscape, culture, heritage, identity, authenticity, rural revitalisation, tourism, traditional villages.

Results

Conclusion