Publications
Construct Users' Digital Sense of Place Through Immersive Virtual Cultural Heritage -- Taking "Digital Intelligence Yuanjing Gulangyu" as an Example
A digital sense of place in virtual cultural heritage follows the advanced path of 'cognitive consensus, emotional resonance, and co-creation identity,' with field experience serving as a key memory anchor that transforms visual stimulation into deep emotional immersion. The study, using 'Digital Intelligence Yuanjing Gulangyu' as an example, found that pure virtual users often lack meaningful engagement due to the absence of real-world references, leading to superficial Gamification interactions. To address this, the research proposes a narrative system oriented toward meaning construction and embodied interaction design, aiming to resolve the experience dilemma of 'being in the heart but not in the mind' in digital cultural tourism.
Educación Religiosa Femenina en Asentamientos Internacionales Chinos (1850–1940)
Christian missions in late 19th and early 20th century China used female education as both evangelization tools and social intervention instruments. A comparative study of Xiamen-Kulangsu and Shanghai international settlements revealed that while schools in Xiamen-Kulangsu provided refuge, literacy, and protection for abandoned girls, those in Shanghai integrated science, languages, and religious training, fostering public visibility for female students. The research, based on archival analysis, highlights a dual impact: the integration of these institutions into colonial agendas alongside their role in expanding educational access and mobility opportunities for young women.
Risk decision-making behavior in heritage tourism destinations based on eye-tracking experiments in Gulangyu, China
A groundbreaking study on Gulangyu, China—a UNESCO-listed heritage site—reveals critical insights into how individuals perceive and respond to risks in complex urban environments. Researchers found that people with stronger spatial orientation exhibit fewer hesitation behaviors during emergencies and maintain more stable heart rates, suggesting a link between cognitive ability and physiological resilience. The analysis also identified that buildings and signage are the most influential visual elements guiding decision-making, while vegetation and the sky play key roles in environmental observation. Unlike traditional studies, this research integrates eye-tracking technology with deep learning to quantify street view images, providing a novel 'P-P-P' framework (psychological cognition, physical space quantification, physiological response). These findings offer practical implications for enhancing disaster preparedness, tourist safety, and emergency response efficiency in heritage tourism destinations.
Study on emergency evacuation behavior in heritage tourism destinations based on agent-based modeling: the case of Gulangyu, China
A comprehensive study on emergency evacuation behavior in heritage tourism destinations, using Kulangsu's Gulangyu Island as a case study, reveals that enhancing building resilience and strategic signage can significantly improve evacuation efficiency by up to 79.6%. The research, combining seismic vulnerability assessments, field experiments, and agent-based simulations, found that panic responses, hesitation, and group behavior substantially impact evacuation outcomes. Under a seismic intensity VII scenario, most buildings remained intact or slightly damaged, but human factors like sustained tachycardia (indicative of panic) and group evacuation were prevalent. Simulations demonstrated that stronger heritage conservation measures and optimized signage could drastically reduce the number of remaining evacuees, providing critical insights for emergency management in complex historic districts.
A Hybrid Zero-Shot Profiling Framework with Generative ABSA for Tourism Marketing: Case of Gulangyu
Research reveals that the visitor population of Kulangsu (Gulangyu), a UNESCO-listed historic international settlement, exhibits a significant bimodal structure, primarily composed of couples and families. These groups experience distinct experiential conflicts: families balance nature interaction with physical fatigue, while couples navigate between visual gratification and commercial cost-performance. To address these challenges, the study proposes targeted strategies such as child-friendly barrier-free systems, immersive cultural spaces, and differential precision marketing, aiming to shift the destination from a volume-based traffic model to a value-driven approach. The framework underlying this insight integrates sociology-driven prompt engineering with large language models (LLMs), employing BERT-based natural language inference for zero-shot tourist profiling and Qwen-2.5-based generative aspect-based sentiment analysis (ABSA) to extract granular pain-gain points, offering a novel method for tourism market research that overcomes semantic shallowness and low timeliness.
A Spanish Dominican in Modern China: Manuel Prat Pujoldevall and His Mission
A Spanish Dominican in Modern China: Manuel Prat Pujoldevall and His Mission reveals that the long-term success of cross-cultural missionary work hinges on balancing religious commitment with culturally adapted management. The study, led by Huang (2025), examines Prat’s pragmatic strategies for governance, cultural adaptation, and resource allocation in early 20th-century Xiamen, including the Kulangsu International Settlement. By analyzing primary archival records and historical sources, the research highlights how Prat navigated the complexities of local community dynamics while addressing challenges posed by shifting political and social conditions. This work contributes to broader discussions on the interplay between faith and culture in historically complex contexts.
A Study on the English Translation of Tourist Attraction Introductions from the Perspective of Eco-Translatology: A Case Study of Kulangsu
Translators of Kulangsu tourist attraction introductions must adapt language, culture, and communication dimensions to effectively convey Chinese heritage and tourism culture to international visitors. This adaptive approach, guided by Eco-translatology, enhances translation quality and supports the global promotion of UNESCO-listed sites. The study analyzed English translations using case-analysis methods, revealing that strategic transformations in these dimensions improve cross-cultural understanding and align with the goals of eco-translatology. These findings offer practical strategies for tourism translation, enriching both theoretical frameworks and industry practices.
Disjunction Between Official Narrative and Digital Gaze: The Evolution of Sense of Place in Kulangsu World Heritage Site
A study of Kulangsu reveals a significant disjunction between official heritage narratives and the perceptions shaped by digital platforms. Official accounts emphasize Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), while user-generated content on platforms like Dianping and Ctrip highlights visual landmarks and 'check-in' practices driven by the 'digital gaze.' This divergence underscores the dynamic nature of sense of place, co-constructed through pre-visit expectations, on-site experiences, and post-visit reflections. The research also demonstrates a shift in tourists' roles from passive consumers to active participants in heritage value creation, mediated by digital platforms. The findings advocate for integrating official narratives with user-generated content to strengthen OUV communication, enhance public engagement, and support sustainable development of World Heritage Sites.
Historical Practice, Cultural Characteristics and Contemporary Enlightenment of Music Education in Gulangyu: A Study Based on Oral History
Gulangyu, recognized as an 'International Historic Community' and 'Island of Music,' harbors a unique music education tradition rooted in folk life practices. This study reveals that Gulangyu's music education is characterized by non-utilitarianism, community participation, and the integration of Chinese and Western cultures. It operates through family concerts as its core carrier, supported by a cross-family network and community spaces, forming an enlightenment model that combines unconscious edification with conscious cultivation. Oral histories from key figures like Wen Lishan, Zhuang Dekun, and Sun Zhanshan provide insights into the development of this tradition across four dimensions: historical context, core carrier, educational mechanism, and cultural value. This tradition has significantly shaped the spiritual character of islanders and offers valuable lessons for contemporary intangible cultural heritage protection, community cultural construction, and music education reform.
Mixed-Frequency Model Forecasting of Coastal Tourism Demand Based on Network Index
A novel approach using mixed-frequency modeling demonstrates significant improvements in forecasting coastal tourism demand, particularly for UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The study leverages high-frequency Baidu Index data and low-frequency tourist growth rates to outperform traditional models like the ADL baseline. By employing a MIDAS model combined with XGBoost machine learning, researchers found that sudden health events notably impact predictive accuracy. This method offers valuable insights for sustainable tourism planning, balancing both academic rigor and practical applications.
Prediction of moisture content of brick walls of historical buildings in southern Fujian based on neural network
A high-accuracy neural network model successfully predicts moisture content in brick walls of historical buildings on Gulangsu Island. The model, trained and validated with field data from eight red-brick structures, demonstrated strong generalization (R² values) across training, testing, and verification phases. This approach offers a reliable method for assessing moisture levels in similar heritage sites in southern Fujian, aiding conservation efforts by providing precise predictions without destructive sampling.
Study on the gene mapping and formation mechanism of historical buildings influenced by multiculturalism: A case of Gulangyu, China
A groundbreaking study on Kulangsu’s multicultural architecture reveals that historical building floor plans follow a gene mapping formula, V = L × X % + F × Y %, where local (L) and foreign (F) prototypes blend proportionally. The research identifies three generative mechanisms—'Imitation,' 'Compromise,' and 'Variation'—shaping spatial layouts, connectivity, and topological structures. Using advanced methods like space syntax, cluster analysis, and regression modeling, the study decodes how multicultural influences manifest in World Heritage buildings, offering a quantitative framework for understanding architectural evolution.
The moderating effect of visual landscape and soundscape on place attachment in world cultural heritage: a case study in Kulangsu, China
A study on Kulangsu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, reveals that the interplay between soundscape and visual landscape significantly influences place attachment. Specifically, highly pleasant or minimally eventful soundscapes enhance the positive impact of visual satisfaction on emotional connection to the environment. Conversely, lower visual satisfaction intensifies the effect of an eventful soundscape on attachment. These findings suggest that both auditory and visual elements shape urban attachment differently, offering critical insights for sustainable city planning in culturally sensitive areas like World Heritage sites.
The Role of Psychological-Physical-Physiological Factors in Decision-Making Behavior in Disasters: Insights from an Experimental Study in Gulangyu
A novel quantitative approach reveals that the proportion of sky elements and interactions among plant-building, building-sky, building-other, sky-sign, and sky-road elements significantly influence risk decision-making behavior (RDMB) in disaster scenarios. Video-based simulations effectively immerse participants, while eye-tracking technology demonstrates that buildings and signs attract the most visual attention, increasing environmental complexity. This study highlights the impact of streetscape features on RDMB, offering a human-centered perspective to enhance resilience and emergency response strategies in heritage tourism destinations like Gulangyu.
TourismMinds: A Geo-augmented LLM Framework for Semantic-aware Trajectory Analytics and Generation
A groundbreaking LLM-driven framework, TourismMinds, achieves state-of-the-art performance in semantic-aware trajectory analytics and generation for tourism. By integrating GPS, social media, POI, and weather data through a five-stage spatiotemporal-semantic alignment pipeline, the model reduces hallucinations by 15% and boosts geographic reasoning accuracy. It introduces geo-spatially aware LoRA fine-tuning and hierarchical Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), enhancing intent recognition by 15% and landmark identification to 72% accuracy. The framework also demonstrates 89% similarity in generating spatially plausible, personalized trajectories compared to real-world data, even in data-scarce settings. Validated using Kulangsu's smart tourism system, this approach offers a scalable solution for personalized services and decision-making in digital tourism.
Urban soundscapes: bridging human perception, ecological patterns, and planning in urban environments
Urban soundscapes significantly influence both human well-being and ecological health, with distinct patterns of place attachment linked to soundscape characteristics. Residents on Kulangsu Island exhibit stronger attachment to natural sounds, while tourists favor artificial and mechanical sounds, reflecting differing perspectives. The study also reveals that pleasant soundscapes amplify the positive impact of visual landscape satisfaction on place attachment, whereas eventful soundscapes intensify this effect when visual satisfaction is low. Ecologically, urban bird dynamics vary seasonally and by habitat, with machine learning identifying four key patterns indicating ecosystem health or disturbance. These findings underscore the need for multisensory, ecologically informed urban planning to balance human well-being and biodiversity conservation.
Visualizing the Spatial Network of Cultural Heritage Based on Spatial Genes
A novel approach to visualizing the spatial network of cultural heritage, grounded in the concept of spatial genes, reveals the evolutionary trajectory and cultural significance of Kulangsu, a historic international settlement. By analyzing 51 core heritage elements across four dimensions—construction period, architectural function, stylistic features, and spatial layout—the study constructs time-series and spatial distribution maps that uncover the underlying characteristics of Kulangsu's transformation from an indigenous settlement to an international community. A hierarchical 'point-line-plane' identification method further demonstrates the integrity and diversity of its heritage network, encapsulating historical, social, and cultural values. This multi-dimensional visualization not only elucidates Kulangsu's historical evolution but also provides a robust framework for future heritage conservation and revitalization efforts.
Were Qing Ports Mere Gateways or Agents of Globalization? Silver, Coolies, and the Sino-Latin America Connection
Qing dynasty port cities, particularly Xiamen and Kulangsu, were not merely passive gateways but active agents in early globalization, shaping transoceanic exchanges between China and Latin America. This study reveals that these ports facilitated the influx of Spanish American silver in the late 17th and 18th centuries and later became central to the export of Chinese indentured laborers ('coolies') to Cuba and Peru during the mid-19th century. By comparing Xiamen and Kulangsu with other coastal hubs like Guangzhou and Macao, researchers demonstrate how these cities integrated overseas silver into local economies and adapted to global transformations despite imperial constraints and unequal treaties. The findings highlight the agency of local actors—officials, merchants, and intermediaries—in negotiating these exchanges, offering a nuanced perspective on China's role in early globalization.
Analysis of the Evolution Pattern and Regional Conservation of Cultural Heritage from the Perspective of Urban Sustainable Transformation: The Case of Xiamen, China
Xiamen's cultural heritage, primarily constructed between 1840 and 1949, exhibits a distinct 'north-south' directional trend with clustering patterns concentrated in Gulangyu and Xiagang areas of Siming District. This spatial correlation reveals a 'strong first, then weak' clustering trend over time. Using ArcGIS spatial analysis, the study optimizes urban planning for heritage protection and tourism routes by analyzing these spatiotemporal distributions.
Evaluation Model of Ancient Building Conservation in Gulangyu Island Based on Factor Analysis
A factor analysis-based evaluation model for ancient building conservation on Gulangyu Island, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kulangsu (a Historic International Settlement), identifies key indicators for preserving historical structures while maintaining cultural authenticity. The model integrates quantitative assessment with qualitative reverence, emphasizing the importance of heritage protection in safeguarding urban history and context. Researchers analyzed factors influencing conservation effectiveness to develop a framework that balances preservation needs with modern urban management challenges.
Perception of tourists and residents on the pedestrian environment of heritage cities
Pedestrian perceptions of the historic international settlement of Kulangsu vary significantly between residents and tourists, reflecting their distinct experiences and priorities. Residents' comfort is primarily influenced by factors such as lighting, building maintenance, commercial attractiveness, and the presence of historic buildings, while tourists prioritize road cleanliness, signage systems, building facades, and overall walking pleasure. These findings, derived from a logistic regression analysis using SPSS, highlight the nuanced relationship between environmental factors and pedestrian perceptions in car-free heritage sites. The study underscores the need for tailored urban planning to balance the diverse needs of both groups, ensuring a functional and enjoyable walking environment that respects historical integrity.
Research on Spatial Perception in Virtual Historical Streets Based on Eye-Tracking and Physiological Sensing Data
Historical streets significantly influence visitors' spatial perception through their architectural style, layout, scale, and lighting, with openness, vitality, and transparency being key factors. A study on Gulangyu Island's historic international settlement used a 3D virtual environment to analyze eye-tracking and physiological data, revealing that these elements positively correlate with visual attention while negatively affecting enclosure. The research confirmed the 'physical environment–eye-tracking fixation–emotional arousal' mechanism, providing optimization strategies for historical street renewals to enhance spatial quality and visitor experience.
Research on the Evolution of Music Education in the Historical Changes of Gulangyu Island
Music education in Gulangyu Island has undergone significant evolution, transitioning from its early stages to a golden period and now into a phase of inheritance and innovation. This study reveals that the interplay between foreign and local cultures during the island's history has been pivotal in shaping a unique music education system deeply integrated with community culture. By analyzing historical changes, the research outlines how this integration has contributed to the cultural development of Gulangyu Island, providing valuable insights for future practices in music education.
The Development of Bed and Breakfast Industry in Gulangyu Island: A Cultural Anthropology Perspective
A rapid expansion of the bed and breakfast (B&B) industry on Gulangyu Island reflects shifting cultural practices and economic behaviors among tourists and locals. Unlike previous studies that focused solely on tourism or economics, this research employs cultural anthropology to analyze how B&Bs integrate into the island's heritage community, particularly under pandemic conditions. By examining social interactions, spatial adaptations, and symbolic meanings tied to accommodation choices, the study reveals how B&Bs serve as microcosms of cultural negotiation between preservation and modernization. These insights offer a nuanced framework for balancing heritage conservation with contemporary hospitality development in international settlements.
The Optimization Strategy of Tourism Space
Gulangyu Island, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kulangsu, faces growing threats to its cultural heritage integrity due to expanding tourism. Research identifies key issues in tourism space optimization, including product type, design, and quality. The study proposes a three-pronged strategy: optimizing resource allocation to prioritize cultural heritage as the core attraction; establishing a multi-stakeholder governance model leveraging historical and cultural assets; and developing a linked tourism product system with improved infrastructure to manage visitor flow in high-traffic areas. This approach aims to balance tourism growth with heritage preservation, offering a scalable model for similar sites.
Digital Form Generation of Heritages in Historical District Based on Plan Typology and Shape Grammar: Case Study on Kulangsu Islet
Researchers have developed a digital form generation method for architectural heritage in historical districts, combining typological plan analysis with Shape Grammar and Grasshopper software. Focusing on Kulangsu the study categorizes modern Western-style houses into three main types—native, foreign, and mixed prototypes—with 39 subtypes. It establishes shape grammar rules ('S, L, R, I') to analyze layout plans and generates digital models through function clustering and connection. This approach offers a quantitative method for heritage culture analysis and rapid modeling, providing a foundation for heritage databases and digital management in historic districts.
Evaluation of Walkability on Gulangyu Based on Residents' Perceptions
Residents' perceptions of landscape factors significantly influence walking behavior on Gulangyu, a car-free historic international settlement. The study found that function is the strongest predictor of purposeful walking, while recreational walkers are influenced by a combination of function, safety, comfort, aesthetics, and pleasantness. Using descriptive statistics, correlation, and logistic regression analysis, researchers identified key landscape elements that enhance walkability, providing a basis for improving pedestrian-friendly environments in heritage sites.
Exploring Gendered Walking Behavior and Environment Perception in Heritage City: The Case of Gulangyu, China
A study on gender differences in walking behavior and environmental perception in Gulangyu, China—a car-free UNESCO World Heritage Site—reveals significant disparities between male and female walkers. Males were found to engage more frequently in walking behaviors and rated the walking environment higher than females, including perceptions of comfort. The research used ordered regression models and independent sample t-tests to analyze data, highlighting the need for greater attention to healthy walking behavior and environmental perceptions for women in Chinese heritage cities. This finding underscores the importance of designing inclusive urban spaces that cater to diverse needs and experiences.
Harmonious Degree of Sound Sources Influencing Visiting Experience in Kulangsu Scenic Area, China
A study on Kulangsu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic international settlement, reveals that natural sounds—such as birdsong and sea waves—enhance visitors' experiences more effectively than artificial or mechanical sounds. Using data from 195 interviewees, researchers found significant relationships between the harmonious degree of sound sources (SHD) and visiting experience indicators, including soundscape perception, visual landscape satisfaction, and overall impression. Natural sounds were strongly linked to pleasant and comfortable perceptions, while mechanical sounds contributed to eventful and varied soundscapes. Structural equation modeling further showed that natural sounds had the most substantial positive impact on both soundscape and visual landscape perception, with human and mechanical sounds also playing significant roles in shaping visitors' experiences. These findings suggest that targeted management of soundscapes—integrating natural, human, and mechanical elements—could significantly improve the multi-sensory experience for visitors to historic scenic areas.
Public policies and conservation plans of historic urban landscapes under the sustainable heritage tourism milieu: discussions on the equilibrium model on Kulangsu Island, UNESCO World Heritage site
A proposed equilibrium model for historic urban landscapes integrates public policy, conservation plans, and sustainable heritage tourism to address dynamic challenges on Kulangsu Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The study highlights the need for adaptive, flexible frameworks that balance social, economic, environmental, and cultural concerns under the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach. Through desktop studies, field surveys, participant observations, and interviews, researchers identified gaps in current heritage practices, advocating for a holistic collaborative framework to stimulate effective management mechanisms. This model aims to resolve imbalances among policymaking, conservation, development, and tourism, offering potential solutions for other UNESCO sites facing similar tensions.
Understanding the spatial structures and morphological changes of historic Chinese built environments using angular segment analysis
Angular segment analysis (ASA) reveals unique spatial and morphological characteristics of historic Chinese built environments (HCBEs), offering critical insights for heritage conservation and tourism planning. This study, featuring four case studies—Pingyao, Lijiang, Kulangsu, and Wuzhen—demonstrates how ASA can systematically quantify medium-scale spatial structures and morphological changes in HCBEs. The findings highlight the influence of traditional Chinese design principles on urban layouts, providing actionable guidance for preserving cultural value while supporting sustainable development. This approach bridges a gap in quantitative spatial analysis, offering practical applications for policy and project planning.
Who generates your video ads? The matching effect of short-form video sources and destination types on visit intention
Short-form videos that match the source of content with the type of destination can significantly boost user engagement and intention to visit, according to new research. The study found that for hedonic destinations like Kulangsu, user-generated content (UGC) or professional user-generated content (PUGC) yields higher engagement and visit intention, while professionally generated content (PGC) or PUGC is more effective for utilitarian destinations such as the Xi'an City Wall. Perceived credibility and usefulness mediate these effects, highlighting how content sourcing influences marketing outcomes. The research used a 3 × 2 experimental design on TikTok to test these hypotheses, offering practical insights for marketers and researchers in destination promotion.
A Syntactical Spatio-Functional Analysis of Four Typical Historic Chinese Towns from a Heritage Tourism Perspective
Historic Chinese towns (HCTs) increasingly prioritize tourism, with tourist-focused functions clustering in urban cores while cultural relics remain dispersed. This study reveals that heritage tourism shapes the spatio-functional distribution of HCTs, offering insights for land-use optimization. Using space syntax—a quantitative method to analyze spatial characteristics—the research systematically examined four UNESCO-listed towns: Pingyao, Lijiang, Kulangsu, and Wuzhen. Findings indicate that while tourist-oriented areas expand over time, cultural relics maintain a stable distribution, suggesting a need for balanced preservation strategies.
An Island Far Away From the Hustle and Bustle of the City: Design of the Rest Installation in the Street Space of Gulangyu Island
Gulangyu Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic international settlement, faces challenges in its street space due to increased tourism and leisure activities. This study proposes innovative rest installations that integrate historical design elements from the island's old buildings, enhancing both resident comfort and cultural preservation. Field investigations across three central streets—Huandao Road, Longtou Road, and Fuzhou Road—revealed key issues in street space functionality. The research introduces a design strategy that responds to Gulangyu’s unique terrain while preserving its historical memory, offering a model for optimizing other Chinese historical and cultural blocks. This approach bridges traditional aesthetics with modern leisure needs, providing actionable insights for urban planners and heritage conservationists.
Before Becoming a World Heritage: Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Spatial Dependency of the Soundscapes in Kulangsu Scenic Area, China
Kulangsu, a historic international settlement and UNESCO World Heritage Site, exhibits significant spatiotemporal dynamics in its soundscapes, which are closely tied to landscape perceptions. Research reveals that biological sounds dominate during the day, while human sounds prevail in the evening, indicating a thriving night-time economy alongside a preserved natural environment. Soundscape quality is influenced by the dominance of sound sources and landscape satisfaction but not directly by landscape characteristics such as green spaces or vegetation index. Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) models outperformed traditional Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) models, suggesting non-linear relationships between soundscape pleasantness and perceived sound sources or landscape satisfaction. The study underscores the importance of spatial stationarity in modeling soundscape dependencies and advocates for comprehensive temporal data to enhance model accuracy. These findings provide critical insights for future planning, design, and management strategies for scenic areas and World Heritage Sites.
Complex Social Value-Based Approach for Decision-Making and Valorization Process in Chinese World Cultural Heritage Site: The Case of Kulangsu (China)
A novel approach to evaluating community engagement in heritage management reveals that transparency, bottom-up participation, and alignment with residents' interests significantly influence willingness to engage and support. This study introduces a multivariate evaluation model using online questionnaires and interviews to assess Digital Community Engagement (DCE) at Kulangsu. The findings highlight the importance of multi-disciplinary, value-based methods in enhancing community involvement and sustainability. Such an approach offers a sustainable framework for integrating diverse stakeholder perspectives, ensuring that heritage management processes are both authentic and inclusive.
Effects of tourism experiences on tourists’ subjective well-being through recollection and storytelling
Tourism experiences at UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Kulangsu, significantly enhance tourists' subjective well-being by fostering recollection and storytelling. A study involving 830 respondents from two Chinese destinations—Kulangsu and Dr Sun Yat-Sen’s Mausoleum—revealed that positive tourism experiences directly boost recollection and storytelling, which in turn positively impact well-being. While recollection alone does not directly influence well-being, storytelling serves as a crucial mediator between recollection and well-being. The findings highlight the psychological benefits of tourism, particularly through narrative engagement, and validate the robustness of this model across different sites.
Is colonial heritage negative or not so much? Debating heritage discourses and selective interpretation of Kulangsu, China
Colonial heritage, particularly in postcolonial nations, is not inherently negative according to a study on Kulangsu, a historic international settlement in Xiamen, China. The research reveals that while the authorized heritage discourse (AHD) promoted by local authorities and the perceptions of tourists are not necessarily negative when considering the site's colonial history, there exists an implicit tension between tourists' demand for comprehensive information and the authorities' selective interpretation. Most tourists seek more complete and neutral narratives to form their own conceptions of colonial legacies, highlighting a power imbalance that necessitates rethinking heritage tourism and conservation practices. This study underscores the need for critical reflection on the legitimacy of selective interpretation in heritage discourse.
Research on Evaluation Model of Road Congestion of Tourism Scenic Spots Based on Spatial Syntax and Artificial Neural Network Method—A Case of Kulangsu Island, Xiamen, China
A novel evaluation model combining Spatial Syntax and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) effectively predicts road congestion in tourism scenic spots, addressing the disconnect between land-use and transportation planning. The study reveals that high-attractiveness areas in Kulangsu Island are concentrated along its edges, while the model accurately identifies issues with road distribution. By leveraging ANN's dynamic assignment and Space Syntax's accessibility analysis, the approach provides a robust tool for future tourism space management, offering insights into crowd flow patterns and network structure inconsistencies.
Research on the construction countermeasure and patterns of smart famous scenic site—A case study of Gulangyu scenic area in Xiamen
A composite model for smart scenic area development—'government-led, market-oriented, and construction-focused'—can address key challenges such as poor network coverage and fragmented data infrastructure. This approach, tested on Gulangyu Island (Xiamen), integrates regulatory frameworks, intelligence services, and resource protection to enhance visitor experiences while preserving heritage integrity. Field surveys identified critical gaps in connectivity and data management, leading to targeted recommendations for infrastructure, supervision, and marketing strategies.
Visual Preference Analysis and Planning Responses Based on Street View Images: A Case Study of Gulangyu Island, China
Tourists' visual preferences for street environments on Gulangyu Island, China, are significantly influenced by specific features such as variety, green view index, crowdedness, sky openness, and enclosure. Variety has the strongest positive impact, while crowdedness has the most substantial negative effect. The study used street view images and a stated preference survey to analyze these preferences, revealing that streets with high visual utility typically feature an ideal natural environment, spacious roads, open skies, and limited architecture. Additionally, there is a balance between green view and enclosure, where excessive enclosure reduces the positive impact of green views.
A Study on Psychological Evaluation of Street Space and Composition of Indication Elements on Gulangyu Island and Xiamen Island in Xiamen City
Psychological evaluation experiments and indication method studies reveal distinct characteristics of street space on Gulangyu Island and Xiamen Island, both part of the UNESCO-listed Kulangsu Historic International Settlement. The research quantifies how spatial composition and visual elements influence perception, offering insights into urban design and heritage preservation. By analyzing responses to street environments, the study identifies key factors that shape public experience in these culturally significant areas.
Adapting to social media: the influence of online reviews on tourist behaviour at a world heritage site in China
Online reviews significantly influence tourists' destination choices and purchasing behavior at UNESCO World Heritage Site Kulangsu (Gulangyu), according to a study published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research. The research, which extended narrative transportation theory, found that prior knowledge and perceived usefulness of online reviews further enhance their impact on decision-making. Analyzing data from 432 tourists through structural equation modeling, the study confirmed the positive effect of online reviews on travel-related behaviors. This insight offers valuable implications for both theoretical understanding and policy development, particularly in how tourists utilize digital platforms to shape their experiences at heritage sites.
Chinese tourists’ perceptions and consumption of cultural heritage: a generational perspective
Chinese tourists' interest in cultural heritage is increasingly experience-driven, particularly among younger generations (Post-80s and Post-90s), who prioritize unique experiences over historical or literary significance. While all age groups value World Heritage designation positively, the older 'Lost Generation' remains more focused on cultural heritage's educational and historical aspects. The study analyzed 705 self-reported surveys at Kulangsu, a historic international settlement, revealing that younger tourists seek immersive, experiential engagement with heritage sites, contrasting with older generations' preference for traditional cultural exploration.
Information Technology and Cultural Education Model Based on World Heritage Site Kulangsu
A novel C-STEAM curriculum, integrating art history, architecture, gardening, programming, and engineering design, was developed to enhance students' creative thinking and comprehensive Internet application skills using Kulangsu as a model. This interdisciplinary approach leveraged the cultural background of Kulangsu to foster an IoT mindset in problem-solving. The curriculum included a sandbox teaching aid with 150 architectural puzzles, Arduino boards, and expandable sensors, which was evaluated for its effectiveness through statistical analysis of students' performance.
Modeling the perception of walking environmental quality in a traffic-free tourist destination
Tourists at Kulangsu, a traffic-free historic international settlement, prioritize cleanliness and crowding levels when evaluating walking environmental quality. These factors, previously overlooked in literature, emerged as critical areas needing improvement to enhance satisfaction. The study used an ordered probit model on pooled cross-sectional data from surveys conducted in 2017–2018, revealing that addressing these attributes could significantly boost tourist experience. This research provides actionable insights for policymakers aiming to optimize walking systems in similar traffic-free destinations.
Research on the Evolution and Ptotection of Kulangsu Historic International Settlement Under the Influence of Tourism Development
Kulangsu, a UNESCO-listed Historic International Settlement, faces significant challenges from tourism-driven commercialization that threaten its cultural authenticity and integrity. This study identifies four distinct stages of the settlement's evolution under tourism influence, revealing an 'alienation crisis' where traditional community values are eroded. By analyzing historical literature and urban development patterns, researchers construct a dynamic mechanism linking tourism pressures to cultural transformation. The work proposes sustainable strategies for post-heritage-era preservation, balancing economic benefits with heritage protection. This research offers critical insights for similar sites navigating the tensions between tourism growth and cultural conservation.
Sentiment Analysis of Online Comments through Semantic Networks and ROST Text Mining Software
Sentiment analysis of online comments reveals that tourists' satisfaction with Gulangyu Island is significantly influenced by its historical and international settlement image. The study used ROST ContentMining software to extract high-frequency feature words from tourist reviews, identifying key themes such as cultural heritage, scenic beauty, and unique architectural charm. By constructing social and semantic networks, researchers mapped the emotional tone of tourists' experiences, highlighting positive sentiment toward Gulangyu's preservation efforts and international significance. This approach provides a data-driven method to assess tourism perception, offering insights for heritage management and visitor experience enhancement.
Spatial evolution path of Gulangyu Island historical international community: from the perspective of actor-network theory
Gulangyu Island's transformation from a traditional Minnan community to a multicultural international settlement was driven by shifting key actors and their network dynamics. Research applying actor-network theory reveals that foreign nationals (1840–1902) and returning overseas Chinese (1903–1940) acted as pivotal agents, reshaping the island's spatial evolution through administrative influence and cultural integration practices. The study highlights how these actors' roles in governance and community management fostered a unique blend of Chinese and Western cultures, setting a precedent for multicultural coexistence. By analyzing historical maps and geographic data, the research offers insights into the island's development, providing a model for other coastal cities to promote sustainable, culturally diverse urbanization.
Spatial Evolution Path of Historical International Community from the Perspective of Actor Network: A Case Study of Gulangyu Island
Gulangyu Island exemplifies the spatial evolution of an international community shaped by cultural diversity and modernization. The study reveals that the transformation from a traditional Minnan community to a multicultural hub was driven by key actors—foreign nationals during the foreign culture dissemination phase (1840–1902) and returning overseas Chinese during the multicultural integration phase (1903–1940). Actor network theory, combined with historical map analysis and geographic data integration, demonstrates how administrative recruitment and spatial practices facilitated this evolution. The findings offer insights for coastal cities aiming to develop islands while fostering multicultural integration in local communities.
Understanding the influence of user-generated content on tourist loyalty behavior in a cultural World Heritage Site
User-generated content (UGC) significantly shapes tourist loyalty at UNESCO World Heritage Sites, particularly by enhancing destination image and satisfaction. Research on Kulangsu, a historic international settlement in China, found that both factual and emotional UGC positively influence perceived value, with emotional UGC having a stronger impact. The study reveals that UGC indirectly drives tourist loyalty through its effects on destination image and satisfaction, highlighting the power of online narratives in shaping visitor behavior. Data from domestic tourists were analyzed to examine structural relationships between UGC, destination image, satisfaction, revisit intention, and word-of-mouth publicity.
Which search queries are more powerful in tourism demand forecasting: searches via mobile device or PC?
Search queries from personal computers (PCs) significantly enhance tourism demand forecasting accuracy compared to those from mobile devices or aggregated data, according to a study analyzing search behavior at UNESCO World Heritage Site Kulangsu and Mount Siguniang geopark in China. The research decomposed Baidu search volumes by terminal type—mobile vs. PC—and found that models using PC-generated queries outperformed others, while multi-terminal approaches did not consistently improve predictions. This insight offers tourism industry stakeholders a data-driven strategy for refining demand forecasting, with practical implications for operational planning and decision-making.
From Functional Space to Experience Space:
A novel approach to museum design emerges, transforming functional spaces into immersive experience spaces. This study applies space syntax—a mathematical framework analyzing spatial logic—to the Gulangyu Organ Museum in Xiamen, China, revealing structural insights through topological depth, visual graph analysis, and agent simulation. Key findings suggest rearranging layouts to enhance visitor engagement, bridging the gap between static functionality and dynamic spatial experiences. The methodology offers a scalable template for optimizing cultural institutions like galleries, promising broader applications in heritage conservation and urban planning.
Mediating effect on landscape experience in scenic area: a case study in Gulangyu Island, Xiamen City
Research on Kulangsu (Gulangyu) Island, Xiamen City, reveals significant mediating effects of service provision—particularly catering and recreational facilities—on the relationship between visual and auditory landscape perceptions. Catering experiences notably mediate between sculpture appreciation and auditory comfort (13.87%), while recreational facilities influence natural scenery perception and auditory harmony (15.64%). These findings underscore the integrated nature of sensory and psychological experiences in landsenses ecology, offering critical insights for scenic area planning, design, and management to enhance visitor satisfaction.
Optimal visual perception in land-use planning and design based on landsenses ecology
Researchers have identified optimal visual perception parameters that can guide sustainable land-use planning and design (LPD) by aligning human perception with natural elements. The study combines conventional optical theory and contemporary visualization technology, integrating binocular visual angles, distance, and cell phone camera field of view to determine an ideal perceptual framework. Three case studies—Institute of Urban Environmental (IUE), Welcoming-Guests Pine on Huangshan Mountain, and Sunlight Rock of Gulangyu Island—demonstrate how landscapes that meet these criteria enhance harmony with human perception, while those that do not exhibit spatial chaos. The findings provide actionable insights for planners, architects, and sustainability scholars to create more cohesive and resource-efficient designs.
Research on smart navigation system based on AR technology
A smart navigation system leveraging augmented reality (AR) technology has been successfully developed for Kulangsu, a historic international settlement in Xiamen. The system integrates Unity3D for Android app development and Vuforia toolkit for AR modules, combining sensor-based and natural image feature tracking to enhance tourism navigation and scenic spot guidance. By merging geographic information services with panorama technology, the system offers an innovative approach to navigating and exploring this UNESCO-recognized site. This dual-module system—comprising route navigation and scenic spots guide—demonstrates the potential of AR in preserving and showcasing cultural heritage through interactive digital experiences.
Toward a model of destination resident–environment relationship: the case of Gulangyu, China
A groundbreaking study on Gulangyu Island, Chinareveals that residents' environmentally responsible behavior and willingness to sacrifice for the environment are significantly influenced by destination environmental quality and eco-friendly reputation. The research demonstrates that both factors directly impact resident environmental identification and commitment, which in turn shape their behaviors. Notably, environmental identification and commitment fully mediate the effects of environmental quality on these outcomes, while partially mediating the influence of destination reputation. This suggests that fostering a strong sense of environmental belonging among residents is key to promoting sustainable practices in heritage destinations.
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