Shandong Province and tourism: an examination of World Heritage Sites

Shandong Province, China, is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS): the temple and cemetery of Confucius and the Kong family mansion in Qufu, and Mount Taishan. The study evaluates these sites against UNESCO's ten criteria for WHS designation, finding that Mount Taishan meets seven criteria, including its role as a masterpiece of human creativity, its significance in landscape design, and its representation of traditional human settlement. Both sites are also linked to living cultural traditions with universal significance. While Shandong Province promotes tourism through a Mandarin-language website, the study highlights the need for strategic efforts to maximize the benefits of these WHS for the region. The research focuses on the criteria met by each site and suggests targeted strategies to enhance their impact on local tourism.

(Ed.). (2016). Shandong Province and tourism: an examination of World Heritage Sites. World Heritage Sites and Tourism, 165–175. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315546322-20