The Conflict and Development between Resource, Environment and Tourism: A Case of the Ruins of Koguryo as the World Cultural Heritage Site in Ji'an, China

Abstract

The fairly-well preserved ruins of the royal cities of the ancient kingdom of Koguryo, together with imperial tombs and nobles’ tombs all bear witnesses testifying the existence of a lost civilization. Archaeological findings include the remains of three cities used as capitals where 14 mausoleums of kings of different dynasties and 26 tombs of the royal family members stand to this day. With the exception of the Wunu Mountain city lying outside Ji'an in nearby Huanren County, the other two cities, Wandu mountain city and Guonei city, together with all the mausoleums and tombs are all located within Ji'an City, Jilin Province. The present paper attempts to carry on a comprehensive yet profound analysis on the development strategies as an overall tourism program in order to display the great advantages and potentials to turn the site into a tourist attraction while attaching great importance to a detailed analysis of the disadvantages including a warning of treat facing the historical relics worthy of the name of a world cultural heritage site. Development strategies are put forth as to the steps in the orientation for the establishment of Koguryo as a great scenic spot with historic and cultural significance. Promotional programs are also offered which include improvement on the city image of the whole area of Ji'an, together with the uplifting of its urban infrastructure especially its traffic amenities, namely, a whole road network leading in all directions. Suggestions are also put forward to set up a whole chain of tourist products linking with the construction of the cultural relics as well as cooperation programs for regional development.