Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• An integrative hazard-ecology-perception framework for cultural landscape planning

  A novel framework, Hazard-Ecology-Perception Landscape Planning (HEPLP), has been developed to address the growing vulnerability of cultural landscapes to climate change and urbanization. This integrative approach combines geographical hazards, ecological sensitivity, and heritage value perceptions—both expert and public—to guide sustainable conservation strategies. Applied to Chengde Mountain Resort, HEPLP identified nine distinct landscape clusters through GIS-based hazard and ecology mapping alongside large language model analysis of heritage perception. The framework reveals critical trade-offs between ecological sensitivity and heritage value, offering spatially explicit guidance for balancing conservation priorities. Unlike previous models that focus on single or dual dimensions, HEPLP provides a holistic tool for navigating environmental and social challenges in cultural landscape management.

  Lian, J., Nijhuis, S., Shan, X., & Bracken, G. (2026). An integrative hazard-ecology-perception framework for cultural landscape planning. Ecological Indicators, 183, 114681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114681

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• Materials and installation of the brick-and-stone imitation timber components in the Yongyou Temple Sarira Pagoda

  A groundbreaking analysis reveals the sophisticated materials and construction techniques used in the brick-and-stone imitation timber components of the Yongyou Temple Sarira Pagoda, a historic structure within China's UNESCO-listed Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples. The study identifies crystal- and glass-rich volcaniclastic tuff for monolithic carvings like Chuanwang and dougong, while high-fired bricks with amorphous phases and mullite/cristobalite were used for e-fang and bawangquan components, suggesting a firing temperature of 900–1000 °C. Joint mortars, rich in calcium lime with intentional sand additions, also show traces of organic starch, hinting at advanced craftsmanship during the Qianlong emperor's reign (1751–1771). The research employs a multi-disciplinary approach, including X-ray diffraction, petrographic microscopy, thermomechanical analysis, and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, to unravel the material composition and assembly logic of these architectural elements.

  Zhou, W., Li, H., Liu, Y., Bai, H., Liu, X., Zhang, P., & Yu, Y. (2026). Materials and installation of the brick-and-stone imitation timber components in the Yongyou Temple Sarira Pagoda. Npj Heritage Science, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-026-02552-1

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• Knowledge-Intensive 3D Reconstruction for Ancient Chinese Architecture

  A groundbreaking approach to ancient architectural heritage preservation achieves unprecedented precision and semantic richness, bridging the gap between geometric accuracy and historical knowledge. The study introduces a dual-loop collaborative mechanism that synchronizes high-precision 3D reconstruction with semantic enrichment using LiDAR, UAV imagery, and historical maps, achieving 1.2 cm geometric accuracy and 97% semantic completeness across multiple sites. By leveraging CIDOC CRM-extended ontologies and JSON-LD standards, the framework encodes component hierarchies, decorative patterns, and color pedigrees, enabling traceable knowledge representation. A hybrid U-former and meta-learning model further enhances reconstruction by learning from cross-site morphological priors, while t-SNE clustering quantifies stylistic evolution from Song to Qing dynasties. Validated at Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Foguang Temple, and Chengde Mountain Resort, this method demonstrates effective knowledge reuse across heterogeneous heritage sites.

  Liu, S., & Jin, X. (2026). Knowledge-Intensive 3D Reconstruction for Ancient Chinese Architecture. International Journal of Knowledge Management, 22(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijkm.416288

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• Influence of Visual Communication Used in Designing Cultural Products on the Purchase Behavior of Consumers: A case of Chengde Mountain Resort Museum

  Visual communication strategies significantly enhance visitor experiences and purchase intentions for cultural product replicas, particularly in museum settings. A study focusing on the Chengde Mountain Resort Museum found that incorporating visual elements resembling historical or imperial identities, along with technologies like VR and natural elements, positively influences consumer behavior. The research applied a deconstructed theory of planned behavior to analyze qualitative data from visitor reviews, revealing that these attributes stimulate cognitive and normative processes, driving desire for replicas. While the study was limited in scale, it suggests broader implications for future comparative research on visual communication's role in cultural product marketing.

  Yu, L., & Chung, W. (2025). Influence of Visual Communication Used in Designing Cultural Products on the Purchase Behavior of Consumers: A case of Chengde Mountain Resort Museum. Studies in Media and Communication, 14(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.11114/smc.v14i1.7956

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• Understanding historic gardens for the sustainable land management of cultural landscapes: Chengde Mountain Resort (CMR) as a case study

  Researchers have developed a three-level management model that connects dynamic authenticity and modern functionality, offering a systematic approach to sustainable land management for complex cultural landscapes where UNESCO's three categories coexist. The study used landscape mapping, digital reconstruction, and statistical analysis to characterize the Chengde Mountain Resort (CMR) based on four environmental factors: topography, accessibility, visibility, and land use changes. By identifying six distinct groups of scenes with targeted indicators, the research revealed how land use changes reflect ecological-dynamic authenticity and illuminated various landscape dynamics corresponding to all three UNESCO cultural landscape categories. This model provides valuable insights for urban policymakers navigating pluralistic cultural landscapes.

  Lian, J., Nijhuis, S., Bai, N., Bracken, G., Zhang, H., Wu, X., Chen, D., & Li, J. (2025). Understanding historic gardens for the sustainable land management of cultural landscapes: Chengde Mountain Resort (CMR) as a case study. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 28, 100952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.100952

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• A Study on the Analysis of Cultural Products Based on Cultural Heritage IP Utilizing Hofstede’s Culture Onion Model: Focusing on the Chengde Mountain Resort

  A study analyzing cultural products and content based on UNESCO World Heritage Site Chengde Mountain Resort reveals significant gaps in leveraging its heritage IP effectively. Using Hofstede’s Culture Onion Model, researchers identified shortcomings across symbolic, heroic, ritual, and value layers—such as insufficient multicultural integration, limited historical figure exploration beyond the Qianlong Emperor, and lack of innovative festival content. While the study highlights the potential for modern storytelling to enhance cultural significance, it also notes critical limitations: consumer perspective gaps, absence of comparative case studies, and underutilization of digital technologies. Recommendations include diversifying IP development with multicultural elements, deeper historical narrative exploration, and tech-driven sustainability strategies.

  Yu, L., & Chung, W.-j. (2025). A Study on the Analysis of Cultural Products Based on Cultural Heritage IP Utilizing Hofstede’s Culture Onion Model: Focusing on the Chengde Mountain Resort. Journal of International Culture & Arts, 6(3), 253–271. https://doi.org/10.46506/jica.2025.6.3.253

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• Introducing a Perceptual–Spatial Landscape Planning Model (PSLPM) for cultural landscapes’ route optimization: The case of Chengde Mountain Resort

  A novel Perceptual–Spatial Landscape Planning Model (PSLPM) demonstrates significant potential for optimizing cultural landscape routes by integrating public perception with spatial characteristics. Using Chengde Mountain Resort as a case study, researchers analyzed 144 scenes and 43,879 social media comments to generate perceptual scores via few-shot learning and large language models. These scores were then coupled with heritage spatial data using advanced graph neural networks, leading to optimized routes that outperformed conventional methods in terms of spatial diversity, perceptual coherence, and coverage. The model avoids overconcentration in popular areas while enhancing interpretive richness across varied spaces, offering a transferable framework for balancing public perception and heritage preservation in urban cultural landscapes.

  Lian, J., Nijhuis, S., Bracken, G., Bai, N., & Zhang, H. (2026). Introducing a Perceptual–Spatial Landscape Planning Model (PSLPM) for cultural landscapes’ route optimization: The case of Chengde Mountain Resort. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 15(5), 1572–1588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2025.10.004

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