Search Results (18)

The tourism industries of the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and the Taiwan region are globally competitive yet diverse, but persistent developmental disparities have hindered robust inbound tourism cooperation. This study assesses the synergistic potential and driving factors of the joint inbound tourism market among the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Using panel data from 16 source countries (2000–2021), we construct a coupling framework for the inbound tourism relationship circle. We develop an inbound tourism relationship index and employ text analysis alongside ArcGIS Pro3.4.1-based spatiotemporal mapping to reveal the dynamic evolution of coupling coordination. A panel model is then applied to examine six influencing factors: economic, geographic, population, cultural, visa, and institutional. The results indicate that the coupling coordination degree remains generally high, though with stage-specific variations. Population, visa, and institutional factors exert significant positive effects, while economic and geographic factors show significant negative effects—economic because smaller-economy source countries are more likely to treat the four regions as a combined destination, facilitating inter-regional synergy, and geographic because greater distance raises travel costs and reduces visitor flows, thereby weakening coordination. Cultural factors are insignificant. Future efforts should prioritize visa facilitation and institutional building, providing a reference for market promotion, national integration, and sustainable regional cooperation. Full article

Mountainous cultural landscapes, characterized by fragmented heritage sites, present significant challenges for integrated conservation and regional planning. Taking the Mount Song Culture Circle in Dengfeng City, China—a World Heritage site embodying the core of Chinese ritual civilization—as a case study, this study proposes an adaptive minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) gravity model to optimize heritage corridor resilience against spatial fragmentation and development imbalances. Based on a spatial database of 294 cultural relic units, the adaptive model introduces a dynamic cultural value weight (CVIndex = 0.82) and a time decay function (λ = 0.05) to capture the interplay between cultural significance and ecological constraints—features absent in traditional static approaches. The model identifies three optimized heritage corridor networks—”Seeking Wisdom in the Mountains”, “Searching for Culture in the Landscape”, and “Exploring the City Along the River.” Compared with a traditional static MCR model (αindex = 0.42; core area node density = 0.74 nodes/km²), the adaptive approach improves network connectivity by 37% (α-index = 0.58, p < 0.01) and increases core area heritage node density to 1.12/km². Space syntax analysis further confirms that optimized network integration values strongly correlate with cultural dissemination efficiency (R² = 0.78, p < 0.01, n = 48). This research offers a methodological innovation for resilient conservation of complex cultural landscapes in World Heritage contexts. Full article

As cities strive for human-centered and fine-tuned development, Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) has emerged as a powerful tool for simulating pedestrian behavior and optimizing walkable neighborhood design. This study presents a comparative bibliometric analysis of ABM applications in block-scale walkability research from 2015 to 2024, drawing on both Chinese- and English-language literature. Using visualization tools such as VOSviewer, the analysis reveals divergences in national trajectories, methodological approaches, and institutional logics. Chinese research demonstrates a policy-driven growth pattern, particularly following the introduction of the “15-Minute Community Life Circle” initiative, with an emphasis on neighborhood renewal, age-friendly design, and transit-oriented planning. In contrast, international studies show a steady output driven by technological innovation, integrating methods such as deep learning, semantic segmentation, and behavioral simulation to address climate resilience, equity, and mobility complexity. The study also classifies ABM applications into five key application domains, highlighting how Chinese and international studies differ in focus, data inputs, and implementation strategies. Despite these differences, both research streams recognize the value of ABM in transport planning, public health, and low-carbon urbanism. Key challenges identified include data scarcity, algorithmic limitations, and ethical concerns. The study concludes with future research directions, including multimodal data fusion, integration with extended reality, and the development of privacy-aware, cross-cultural modeling standards. These findings reinforce ABM’s potential as a smart urban simulation tool for advancing adaptive, human-centered, and sustainable neighborhood planning. Full article

Wuyi Mountain in China is listed on the World Natural and Cultural Heritage List. With the vigorous development of urban cultural tourism, the sustainable development of heritage sites has become the focus of academic and industry circles, among which the rational use and scientific planning of natural resources have become increasingly prominent. In this context, in-depth research on resource development and protection strategies in the Wuyishan area has important practical significance and theoretical value. Therefore, this paper presents a case study of the tourist tea garden landscape design practice at the Wuyistar Chinese Tea Garden, located in Wuyishan City. This paper underscores the significance of incorporating the site’s existing natural environment resources, particularly its plant resources, into the tea garden landscape design, while adhering to principles within the framework of world heritage. The research method includes extensive field surveys combined with GIS analysis and biodiversity surveys, covering the topography and slope of the tea plantation, current natural resources, statistics on the number of tourists after completion, and the related benefits of local enterprises. These planning concepts are realized through a series of infrastructure measures, which are divided into four angles: restoring mountains and rivers, rereading cultural context, sorting out style and appearance, and improving functions. The design practice is carried out in different areas. Simultaneously, the creation of a distinctive tourist destination enables tourists to fully engage with nature and tea culture, while simultaneously fostering the growth of cultural tourism in world heritage sites. This study proposes a planning practice case, which provides a framework and ideas for designing tea gardens. From the aspects of resource protection and utilization, cultural inheritance and display, and tourism service improvement, it provides a model and method that can be used as a reference for the landscape design and planning of similar tea gardens, which will help promote the healthy development of the Chinese tea culture tourism industry. It also provides useful practical experience for the protection and development of world heritage sites. Full article

This paper analyzes the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) within the Arctic Cultural Circle by comparing three influential texts: the Russian travelogue Dersu, the Trapper (1923); the Canadian memoir People of the Deer (1952); and the Chinese novel The Last Quarter of the Moon (2005). By examining these texts, which depict the Indigenous cultures of the Nanai, the Ihalmiut, and the Ewenki, the study identifies shared ecological perspectives. These include an emphasis on the sacredness of nature, as seen in their animistic worship and spiritual connection to the environment; a holistic relationship between humans and nature, characterized by a wise and sustainable use of resources and a minimal sense of ownership; and a sense of reciprocity among all living beings, fostering mutual care and respect within the natural world. The paper further contends that the TEK of the circle offers valuable reference for addressing contemporary environmental and social challenges posed by climate change and biodiversity loss, particularly in the context of modernization and globalization. Full article

Urban business circles are important locations for economic and social activities. Improving the vitality of urban business circles is conducive to stimulating the potential of the consumer market and promoting sustainable economic development. However, targeted research on the factors influencing business circle vitality is lacking. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to quantitatively examine the impact of the number and diversity of urban amenities on business circle vitality at the street block level using open-source geospatial big data from 32 Chinese metropolises. We found that the number of residential, transportation, educational, cultural, and recreational amenities and the diversity of catering and retail amenities had significant positive impacts on business circle vitality. Catering and retail diversity were the two most critical factors, followed by the number of transportation, cultural, and recreational amenities. However, the effect of urban amenities on business circle vitality varied considerably across different cities and business districts. The results of this study contribute to a holistic understanding of how to improve the vitality of business circles by optimizing urban amenities at the street block level. Full article

In Ying Xian Fogong Si Shijia Ta 應縣佛宮寺釋迦塔 (Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple in Ying County), Shanxi, there are statues set on each floor, and 26 exist in total, with six murals painted on the first floor. The pagoda was designed as a vertically rising Buddhist temple, and the interior space of each floor was customized for the statues. Based on previous research and through surveying and mapping of the architecture and statuary (including the murals on the first floor) combined with geometric design analysis, this paper proposes the following: First, there exists a clear geometric proportion among the interior space and statues on each floor of the pagoda. Second, clear proportional relationships also exist among the statues on each floor, and each of the 26 statues has ‘classical’ proportion rules. Third, the height of the giant Buddha statue on the first floor is the module for not only the height of the statues on each floor but also the construction of the whole pagoda such that the height of the statue on the first floor is 1/6 of the total height of the pagoda (excluding the base). And the ratio of the pagoda’s total height to the first floor’s diameter, the ratio of the total height to the top-story height under the column capital, and all the other geometric proportions are closely related to the architectural modeling. And finally, in the construction of the pagoda, statues, and murals, the scale is deduced to be 1 chi 尺 (Chinese foot) = 29.5 cm. These values give clear scale logics not only to the construction but also to the details of the statues. Accordingly, the most frequently used proportions in the architectural space, statues, and murals of the Pagoda of Fogong Temple are $\sqrt{2}$, 3:2, 5:3 (or 8:5), and 9:5, which are imbued with cultural messages, like Zhou Bi Suan Jing 周髀算經 (The Mathematical classic of the Zhou shadow-gauging instrument), Ying Zao Fa Shi 營造法式 (Treatise on Architectural Methods or State Building Standards), the ancient Chinese world view—tian yuan di fang 天圜地方 (the dome-shaped heaven and the flat, square earth) reflected from “ yuan fang tu 圓方圖 (rounded-square map)” and “fang yuan tu 方圓圖 (squared-circle map)”, ancient Chinese ideas that ”san tian liang di er yi shu 參天兩地而倚數 (‘three’ is the number of the heaven and ‘two’ is the number of the earth, and all numbers are based on them)” and “jiu wu zhi zun 九五之尊 (nine and five are the numbers of the honorable central position)”, and most probably related to the “mandala” of Esoteric Buddhism and to the Western “Golden Ratio”, which all need further research in depth. Full article

For a long time, scholarly research on Buddhism in Luoyang during the Tang Dynasty has mainly focused on eminent monks and Buddhist temples. This focus is evident in the recorded literature of ancient times, such as The Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks and The Biographies of Eminent Monks. Based on stone inscriptions, this paper examines the dissemination and development of Buddhism in the Eastern Capital of Luoyang during the Tang Dynasty. This article presents the following viewpoints and findings: Firstly, the epitaphs and pagoda inscriptions provide historical details that are not widely known, such as the names of temples in the suburb, the identities of prominent monks who propagated Dharma in Luoyang, the Buddhist scriptures chanted and learned by the Luoyang people, and the people’s motivation to adopt Buddhism. Secondly, the epitaphs and pagoda inscriptions supplement important historical materials on Chan Buddhism, confirming the widespread popularity of the Northern Sect of Chan Buddhism in the Luoyang region. Thirdly, the epitaphs and pagoda inscriptions reveal that Luoyang Buddhist practice was popular, characterized by the succession of blood-related monastic companions; that is, many families had two or more relatives who became monks or nuns simultaneously or successively, a phenomenon that has not attracted attention from academic circles. Fourthly, the blood-related monastic companions of Buddhist practice affected the mentoring relationships and organizational management of temples and monasteries, promoting communication and interaction between Buddhism and traditional Chinese culture. Full article

Tourism development is an effective way to protect intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Research on the relationship between these two factors and related issues is of great significance to promoting the sustainable development of ICH. Based on literatures collected from the CNKI database (381 articles) and the Web of Science core collection (545 articles), this study used CiteSpace analysis software to analyze the published volume of ICH tourism research and extract hot keywords and hotspot research topics. Results showed that the number of articles published in Chinese and foreign journals had three stages, namely, steady development, rapid growth, and fluctuating decline. Judging from the research keywords, “cultural tourism”, “authenticity”, “sustainable development” and “protection (or conservation)” are common topics at home and abroad, whereas “loyalty”, “motivation” “conservation” and “quality” are the emerging keywords of foreign journals in recent years. In terms of content, research on the relationship between ICH protection and tourism development, research on the development model, and stakeholder research in tourism development are the focus of Chinese academic circles. This study systematically summarizes the ICH tourism research under different cultural backgrounds and proposes suggestions for the future development of ICH tourism in China. Full article

From the perspective of production technology, the god image usually has two manifestations: paintings and sculptures, while there are two main forms of paintings: murals and prints. In this paper, the engravings of gods named “Guan-yin-ma-lian” (觀音媽聯) were taken as the research object. The origin of “Guan-yin-ma-lian” is traced back. The form of plane composition of this type of engraving is analyzed from the perspective of iconology. The image of Mazu (媽祖) and its implied meaning in “Guan-yin-ma-lian” are discussed from the perspective of folk beliefs. As one of the plane images of Mazu, “Guan-yin-ma-lian” is not only a very important religious art in folk culture, but also an important link closely connecting Mazu belief circles at home and abroad. It is also an important cultural asset of Chinese people who worship Mazu. Full article

From genre to interdisciplinary and trans-medial artistic practice, “autotheory” has attracted great attention for formally distilling a troublesome contradiction of dualistic opposition between theory and practice in arts and attempting to solve it. In this paper, autotheory is understood as the joining of reflective thinking through the “collective self” and the reflective thinking of “theory”. Based on Lauren Fournier’s research, this paper investigates two kinds of art practices in contemporary Chinese art. The first developed from the art movements of the late 1970s to the late 1980s, when there was a rethinking of collective selfhood in Chinese art circles. This “collective self” in Chinese culture expands the parameters of autotheory’s individualized, autobiographical “self”, as described by Fournier. The second example of autotheory discussed in this paper explores contemporary Chinese feminist art. Due to its cultural background and historical trajectory, different dimensions of individualized autotheoretical practices have developed in feminist contemporary art in China in the new era. The case studies presented in this paper show the flexibility of autotheory as a methodology, the complex conditions it applies to, and the potential to generate theory from expanded notions of “self” in art practice. Full article

As social innovations that help to transition towards a more sustainable food system, alternative food networks (AFNs) in China have attracted much scholarly attention in recent years. However, studies of the community building behavior of AFNs at the micro-level in the Chinese social context are scant. Through in-depth case studies conducted between 2017 and 2021 and social network analysis, our study examines how founders of AFNs successfully facilitate community building among their customers. We find that in China, the traditional social-cultural construct, guanxi, plays a critical role in AFNs’ community formation and expansion. The study identifies a three-stage framework for understanding the community building process of AFNs. First, a group of guanxi of the same kind would form a guanxi-circle. Second, the initial guanxi-circle is enhanced and expanded to multiple secondary guanxi-circles. Third, these multiple guanxi-circles together and the interactions among them constitute the community of AFNs. We argue that to strengthen the community, AFNs operators should inspire key members to form secondary guanxi-circles by enhancing their cognitive trust and emotional trust. Full article

From the Yuan to the mid-Ming period, the people of Huihui (回回人) in mainland China gradually Sinicized in terms of their languages, family names, marriages, costumes, and ethical values. There was close interaction between these Muslims and Confucian scholars in China. Most of the mosque inscriptions in this period were written by Confucian scholars, who were the first to try to interpret Islam in Confucian terms. Around the mid-Ming period, the Chinese language became the lingua franca of Muslims in mainland China, and the teaching of Arabic and Persian classics in Chinese became an urgent need at this time. It was at this time that the Confucian academies were revived with the government’s permission. Thereupon, the Muslim scholar Hu Dengzhou (胡登洲) founded a rejuvenated educational system known as Jingtang education (經堂教育), which produced a group of Muslim scholars who wrote in Chinese. Islam thus entered the historical arena of interaction with traditional Chinese religions. During the middle and late Ming period, changes in political and economic structures led to changes in the general mood of society. The rise of Wang Yangming’s Mind Study (心學) brought a lively academic atmosphere and a relaxed cultural environment to intellectual circles. The concept of “The same mind and the same principle of the sages in the East and the West” advocated by Lu Jiuyuan (陸九淵) and Wang Yangming (王陽明) was taken seriously by Muslim scholars and became a crucial theoretical reference in their writing process. In the late Ming and early Qing periods, the classical learning of the Shandong school and the Jinling school of Jingtang education focused on the study of Xingli (性理學). The theory of Sufism shared many common ideas with the Three Teachings (Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism) which showed a tendency towards confluence in the Song, Yuan, and Ming periods. Chinese Muslim scholars, known as Huiru (回儒), drew intellectual resources from all of these traditions to construct their study of Xingli. Full article

The spatial pattern and geographical diffusion of Chinese traditional food culture are important manifestations of population migration and cultural chain remodeling. Taking the national roast duck stores and Beijing Quanjude and Bianyifang brand chain roast duck stores as the research objects, the spatial distribution characteristics and geographic diffusion patterns of roast duck stores, and the spatial association characteristics of the chain stores are analyzed by using spatial analysis methods and mathematical statistics. The results of the study showed that: (1) The roast duck stores in the mainland show an overall northeast-southwest direction, and the spatial distribution is extremely uneven. The eastern coast of China shows a high-value continuous distribution, from the Bohai Bay Economic Circle and the Yangtze River Delta Economic Circle, gradually radiating westward to the middle and showing the clustering characteristics of “point + surface”. (2) Using the point cluster analysis method, the diffusion pattern of roast duck stores in the three major economic zones of China is explored, and roast duck stores in the western region show the characteristics of contact diffusion combined with hierarchical diffusion. Contact diffusion is the main diffusion mode of roast duck stores in the east. The central region shows the diffusion characteristics of contact diffusion combined with hierarchical diffusion. Overall, the roast duck stores in mainland China show a composite diffusion pattern. (3) Quanjude and Bianyifang stores have spatial agglomeration characteristics, Quanjude chain stores have a slightly stronger central pointing, while Bianyifang roast duck chain stores have slightly wider spatial diffusion. Both brands significantly show spatial orientation close to transportation facilities and high consumption markets. The street population has a slightly weaker influence on the spatial distribution of the two brands. (4) Through the multivariate spatial analysis method, it is found that the spatial correlation of mutual attraction between Quanjude and Bianyifang roast duck chain stores is presented, but there are differences in the formation mechanism and weak asymmetry in the attraction intensity, which is related to the consumer population and corporate positioning of Quanjude and Bianyifang. With the advent of the big data era, it is possible to obtain and use big data analysis methods to reshape the deep information under the surface logic. Attention should be paid to the location choice of traditional restaurant chains in the new era, to explore the possibilities of enterprise development, and to improve the efficiency of urban space. Full article

The city is a fundamental regional unit of development. Urban spatial structure is a relationship performance among the physical environment, functional activities, and cultural values. Identifying the urban spatial structure and functional areas accurately is of great significance for optimizing urban planning and promoting urban development. Previous studies have focused on the distribution for the single-functional area in some big cities and urban agglomerations from a view of a static time node, with little focus on multifunctional areas’ distribution from the perspective of comprehensive evolutionary in underdeveloped regions, especially in provincial capitals in the Central Chinese region. Therefore, taking Zhengzhou, a representative National Central City in the undeveloped central part of China as an example, we investigate urban spatial sprawling in the main urban area. Our interest is twofold. Firstly, we investigate the urban center as to whether, and to what extent, scaling in the spatial structure. The second point of importance concerns the comparison of specific types of functional area in the spatial structure and morphology from a microlevel perspective. The identification framework has been constructed to identify and evaluate the urban spatial structure. The research shows the following: (i) There is a strong correlation between the urban center which is extracted and the density in spatial distribution. The density value of POIs decreases from the urban center to the suburbs. This result is in line with objective facts. (ii) The urban center area has expanded by 25.16 km² in 2 years. In the center of the main urban area of Zhengzhou, it is generally accepted that the spatial structure pattern monocentric, but is polycentrically patterned in function. The compactness is increasing in the urban center area. (iii) By identifying the mixed functional area, it presents a circle-layer expanded layout with the comprehensive functional area as the core in 2016 and 2018. The comprehensive functional area has developed significantly and maturely, and in the multifunctional area, the development of the public–residential–business functional area and the public–residential–leisure functional area is relatively mature. In short, this study not only helps strategic planners to strengthen refined management, practical planning, construction, and management integration but also to assess whether policies or actions have been delivered as effectively as planned by identifying the urban spatial structure and revealing the evolution regulation. Full article