This fascinating study explores a minority population seeking to retain its identity, values and culture while performing their 'otherness' for millions of visitors annually and in a situation of unbalanced relations of power. Su’s insightful analysis of tensions between national and international ICH discourses and policies and the locals’ 'practitioner ICH making' will prompt readers to consider heritage tourism discordances elsewhere.

Based on empirical work from Yunnan Province, China, this singular volume delivers thoughtful insights into authenticity, cultural sustainability, commoditization, management challenges and opportunities, and many other profound concepts in ways other scholars heretofore have been unable to do. This book must have a place on the desks and reading lists of everyone interested in intangible heritage and tourism.

This book makes an exciting contribution to the study of intangible cultural heritage in China. The scale of domestic tourism growth in the country has been extraordinary, and Su's analysis really gets to the heart of how world heritage designation can profoundly transform the lives, livelihoods and the cultural fabric of a place, in this case Lijiang. To understand these complex relations, the book productively engages with, and thus nicely contributes to, the literatures on critical tourism and critical heritage studies.

This book makes a significant contribution to the literature on critical tourism and heritage studies, enriching our understanding of these complex fields. It should find a prominent place on the desks and reading lists of individuals intrigued by intangible heritage and tourism. Specifically, it offers substantial value to students, academics, and practitioners across a range of disciplines. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in heritage studies, tourism, anthropology, cultural management, and Chinese studies, both at the local and global levels.

This book provides a focused examination of China’s Lijiang ICH tourism, appealing to readers who may lack prior knowledge of Chinese culture or history but are intrigued by China’s ethnic ICH tourism. In general, this work has a commendable inclination towards good research taste and broad international horizons in its scholarly pursuits. This book is strongly recommended for postgraduates in the field of tourism and heritage studies, as well as scholars examining ICH tourism matters.

Su’s book provides a valuable contribution to the study of China’s ICH through a wealth of empirical data. It also highlights the Chinese state’s deep involvement in transforming ICH toward certain goals, although this transformation might be less dramatic than the demolition movements during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). The empirical chapters exemplify the complexity of ICH in the case of Lijiang, showing the difficult relationship among authenticity, commodification, integrity and continuity.

Junjie Su holds a PhD from the Cultural Heritage Centre for Asia and the Pacific, Deakin University, Australia. He is Associate Professor at the School of Ethnology and Sociology and Director of the Yunnan Provincial Research Base of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Yunnan University, China. His research interests include cultural heritage, heritage tourism, museum and arts management, cultural and creative industries and the sociology of heritage. 

Figures, Tables, Photos
Abbreviations

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. Critical Theorisation of ICH

Chapter 3. ICH Protection and ICH Tourism in China

Chapter 4. ICH and Tourism in Lijiang

Chapter 5. Typical ICH Tourism Programmes in Lijiang

Chapter 6. Value and Authenticity

Chapter 7. Commodification and Integrity

Chapter 8. Continuity and Transmission

Chapter 9. The Sustainable Development of ICH Tourism

References

Index