Space, Place, and Tourism: A Visual Ethnography of Linguistic Landscapes in West Lake, Hangzhou, China

Linguistic landscapes in West Lake, Hangzhou, China, reflect a dynamic blend of classical and modern elements, shaping immersive tourist spaces. The study found that Chinese language dominance integrates traditional and contemporary features, while bilingual/multilingual signs create a globalized environment. Digital signs foster a dialogical space, whereas legend signs evoke cultural romance, and environmental information constructs an ecological harmony between humans and nature. These combined elements—classical, modern, cultural, dialogical, and ecological—enhance tourist experiences. The research urges local authorities to prioritize language service competence to improve comfort and atmosphere for visitors. This work advances the understanding of linguistic landscapes in tourism space-making.

Li, J., Wang, Z., & Ai, B. (2025). Space, Place, and Tourism: A Visual Ethnography of Linguistic Landscapes in West Lake, Hangzhou, China. Journal of Language Service Studies, 1(1), 55–73. https://doi.org/10.63385/jlss.v1i1.99