Page 79 - JCAU-5-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Chinese troglodyte villages toward tourism

provincial lists of historical and cultural towns and villages, (i) Bottom-up initiative. This is the case of Lijiashan
and that of traditional villages, starting from 2003 (Yan et al., village, historically devoted to a farm-based economy
2017; Zhang et al., 2021), such as the case of Lijiashan, fits and developed due to the economic influence of the
into this scenario. Likewise, the National List of Intangible nearby Qikou town. Recently, it has been attempting to
Heritage of Pinglu technological culture and craftsmanship attract tourists visiting Qikou in a bid to improve local
in building silo-houses in 2021 (“Cave Building Technique,” tourism. The first form of promotion was through word
2021), as well as the candidacy and inclusion in UNESCO of mouth among visitors. Then, the increasing number
Lists of numerous architectural and cultural expressions of of visitors motivated the conversion of a yaodong
various ethnic groups linked to regional and rural, might courtyard at the top of the village into a family guest
be considered (Chinese Paper-cut, 2009). In this context, house (Figure 7B). Nonetheless, occasionally, ordinary
although conservation and enhancement practices are people offer hospitality to trippers. Nowadays, it is
mainly seen in the function of tourist-oriented economic recognized as one of the historical and cultural towns
development – the aim is to support and increase the “lost” and villages (HCTVs).
national cultural identity (Zan et al., 2018; Varriale et al., (ii) Provincial/local government initiative. Several
2019) – relevant cases emerged, in which the communities villages in the Shanzhou district, Sanmenxia city of
have been involved in preserving details that give meaning Henan province have been included in the national
and quality to yaodong’s lifestyle and in testing solutions or provincial traditional village list since 2012,
for sustainable development (Yong et al., 2019). Rarely, including Beiying, Qu, and Liusi villages in the
bottom-up initiatives were found, which were subsequently Zhangbian township. More than 80 silo-caves in
supported by local policies, as found for various types of the Beiying village have been renovated and turned
rural settlements affected by tourism development (Yin & into tourist attractions that display the folk lifestyle
Wu, 2008; Huang, 2021; Li et al., 2021; Qi, 2023). and craftsmanship. The village is a famous tourist
On the other hand, early attention of the country toward attraction (Li & Li, 2018; Zhang et al., 2021).
underground heritage should be noted, highlighting the (iii) Central governmental initiative. This is the case
importance of the troglodyte culture, which is part of the of the Laoniuwan Deshengbao fortress and village
national identity. In this perspective, of the 56 sites inscribed mentioned above, having been restored in the context
in the UNESCO World Heritage list, 18 include the word of the national project on the protection of the Great
“rock” in its description, and 14 have the word “cave”. Wall zone, together with other Deshengbao villages
Between the cultural and mixed sites (cultural/natural), there close to the Great Wall, and enhanced to attract
is evidence of prehistoric settlements, rock sanctuaries, and tourism (Genovese et al., 2021).
Buddhist cave temples. Among these kinds of underground 5. Discussion of results: Contextualization
heritage, yaodong is included: the serial site “Silk Roads:
the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor” (“Silk of Chinese troglodyte settlements in the
Roads,” 2014) includes, which remains of terrain and semi- national and international scenario and
terrain settlements. In this regard, a 20-year tradition of opportunities for the future
academic study has been focused on yaodong settlements. Nowadays, the conservation and sustainable development
The interest was concentrated on deepening technical of folk villages in rural and remote areas, as well as the
and performance characteristics in internal insulation need to manage underground spaces in rural and urban
and environmental sustainability, evaluating solutions to contexts, have become a global issue. Chinese yaodong
replicate cave dwellings in a contemporary way (Golany, settlements combine two issues that are not simple to
1992; Li & Sun, 2013; Wang, 2014; You et al., 2019). deal with. Settlement pattern, plan layout, façades, and
Nonetheless, a recent attitude has spread toward internal organization of the artificial cavities express
considering the intangible values that they represent, such local human abilities and craftsmanship in dealing
as those on the cultural landscape. Thus, solutions for with the Plateau’s physical and climatic characteristics
conserving livability, historical memory, and the sense of (Wang, 2016).
place have been explored (Qi, 2023). In this context, social Yaodong settlements express an entire vulnerable
participation in recovery processes and enhancement cases complex territorial system comprising geographical,
was individuated. economic, political, social, and cultural elements. Let’s call
Concerning selected cases, the analysis evidenced this system Historic Underground Landscape (Genovese,
three principal scales of intervention for tourism-oriented 2021). Investigating this complex system has many
strategies for rehabilitation and reuse: challenging aspects and criticalities, which do not strictly

Volume 5 Issue 2 (2023) 11 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.0940