Romantic Consumption and Heritage Performance in China

Heritage tourism in Lijiang shapes cultural values and romantic consumerism by transforming traditional Naxi wedding ceremonies into staged performances for tourists. This study reveals how heritage interacts with social change, influencing individuals' identities through daily practices like tourism and ethnic performance. The research highlights the rise of 'romantic consumerism' in China, driven by a longing for authenticity and tradition, while questioning the true meaning of tradition when it becomes commodified. The approach combines ethnographic observation and analysis of tourist interactions to explore these dynamics.

Zhu, Y. (2018). Romantic Consumption and Heritage Performance in China. https://doi.org/10.1515/9789048536825