Page 32 - JCAU-6-4

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Residents’ perspectives on heritage strategies

4. Findings conservation and utilization of heritage sites while taking
into account the city’s development needs.
Through thematic analysis, key implementation measures
for heritage conservation in the Guancheng district were A heritage site management staff (Interviewee 08)
identified, and a framework for heritage conservation described the complex process of implementing a heritage
initiatives was constructed accordingly. The findings are conservation plan:
presented under five themes, which include: (i) overall “The process of implementing a plan is complex
planning and coordination of heritage conservation; and long-term. It is difficult to determine and
(ii) execution of conservation for heritage sites and discuss the results all at once. It requires the
sustainable community development; (iii) restoration, assessment and cooperation of several sectors
maintenance, and management of heritage sites; (iv) and also involves coordination and constraints
education; and (v) urban cultural branding and promotion at the provincial, municipal, and even national
for economic development (Figure 2). level, including financial support and other
4.1. The framework of the Guancheng district coordination.” (interviewed, January 12, 2023)
government’s heritage conservation strategies: Five Interviewees 06, 07, 09, 10, 11, and 12 echoed this
dimensions opinion, emphasizing that the development of a heritage
4.1.1. Overall planning and coordination of heritage conservation plan involves multiple consultations and
conservation cascading considerations.
This theme highlights the complexity of heritage Interviewee 01 further elaborated on the development
conservation efforts in the Guancheng district, emphasizing of the heritage conservation plan:
the intricate nature of the process. It stresses the “The bidding and tendering for the conservation plan
importance of coordination among different stakeholders of the Shang Dynasty city wall site alone took several
to achieve effective heritage conservation and utilization. months and involved the participation of several
Interviewees generally declared their involvement in departments. The plan’s finalization also took several
heritage conservation discussions and meetings at different discussions and months, including the area chosen,
levels, including with residents, government departments, the selection of materials, and the expectation of
commercial entities, and heritage site management bodies. results.” (interviewed, December 16, 2022)
These collaborative efforts aim to achieve the effective
Interviewee 06 highlighted that government concerns
usually center on balancing heritage conservation with urban
Table 3. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (n=40) economic development. Interviewee 15 pointed out that the
Likert items dimension Cronbach’s Number government’s piecemeal planning in Guancheng district
alpha of items lacks an overall strategy, and it tends to emphasize generating
Overall planning and coordination of 0.930 5 commercial benefits around major heritage sites. According
heritage conservation to Interviewees 13 and 14, urban development and city image-
Execution for conservation of heritage sites 0.821 4 building rely on improving the surrounding environment and
and sustainable community development upgrading supporting facilities through local efforts.
Restoration, maintenance, and management 0.852 4 Overall, the findings under this theme relevantly reflect
of heritage sites the complexity of overall planning and coordinating
Education 0.933 4 heritage conservation, which requires collaborations
Cultural urban branding and promotion for 0.910 3 across multiple stakeholders, cascading considerations,
economic development and integrated planning.

Figure 2. The framework of the Guancheng district government’s heritage conservation strategies. Source: Chart by the authors.

Volume 6 Issue 4 (2024) 11 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3421