Page 39 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Top-down rural heritage

1. Introduction

Dongguan, a significant industrial center within the
Pearl River Delta economic zone of Guangdong, China,
has experienced rapid urbanization and a gradual
transformation of its rural villages since the establishment
of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. In 2006, Tangwei
village (塘尾村), along with the adjacent Nanshe village
(南社村), was designated as a Major Cultural Heritage
Site under National-level Protection (全国重点文物保
护单位) by the State Council of the People’s Republic of
China (PRC) in 2006 (Jiang & Cheng, 2014) (Figure 1). Figure 1. Main gate of Tangwei village, Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
The preservation strategies in Tangwei village have been Source: Photo by the authors (2024)
shaped by a combination of provincial government policies
and local planning efforts. For example, the Shipai town official media over the past decade (Xi, 2024), serving as
(石排镇) government released the Shipai Town Tangwei a top-down impetus for rural tourism and revitalization
Ancient Town Area Detailed Control Plan (石排镇塘尾古 efforts in recent years. External factors, such as travel
城片区控制性详细规划) (Li, 2010) in 2010. restrictions related to COVID-19 (Tang et al., 2022) and
Following China’s reform and opening up, the concept enhancements to the high-speed rail network (Yao et al.,
of “nongjiale” (农家乐; farmhouse tourism) began gaining 2022), have further invigorated domestic rural heritage
traction among Chinese scholars. However, the term “rural tourism in China.
tourism” did not become prevalent in Chinese academic Previous studies have found that promoting heritage
discourse until the 1990s. Rural tourism in China initially tourism and rural tourism can help increase the visibility of
emerged in the 1980s with a clear focus on poverty villages and boost villagers’ income (Su et al., 2016). Such
alleviation through tourism rather than serving alternative measures can also enhance villagers’ sense of belonging,
functions (Yang et al., 2021). Economic policies enacted serving as a driving force for preserving traditional village
post-reform period expanded possibilities for rural appearances (Qin & Leung, 2021). However, in South
livelihoods and the introduction of a 5-day workweek in China, it remains unclear whether the preservation models
the mid-1990s popularized weekend tourism. In 2001, the of these villages reflect the collective will of the villagers or
PRC government underscored the significance of tourism a top-down approach driven by economic goals. Tangwei
in the new century, establishing it as a pivotal element in village, a historical village with minimal commercial
economic development and rural revitalization under and economic elements, offers a unique opportunity for
national policy promotion (Gao et al., 2009). reflection.
In 2018, the State Council unveiled a strategic plan Current research in Chinese academia has yielded
for rural revitalization, recognizing the protection and significant findings on the revitalization and architectural
utilization of traditional rural culture as a means to conservation of Tangwei village. For instance, Luo et al.
promote the excellent traditional Chinese culture (Xue (2019) conducted on-site investigations to assess the
et al., 2021). This plan emphasized the preservation of effectiveness of implemented measures in Tangwei village.
original architectural styles and villages, uncovering Their study highlighted issues arising from the idealization
historical charm, fostering humanistic spirit, and of revitalization policies, particularly noting that the overall
integrating intangible cultural heritage and ethnic planning paid insufficient attention to residents’ daily lives.
activities to ultimately develop cultural industries. In Similar observations were made in Chen et al. (2023) study
2022, the Guangdong Provincial Government initiated the on the theory of “darning” and the restoration of Tangwei
High-Quality Development Project for 100 Counties, 1000 village’s landscape spaces.
Towns, and 10,000 Villages to promote rural revitalization,
address urban–rural disparities, and render rural areas In addition, Tian et al. (2024) employed social network
suitable for habitation and work. Commonly referred to analysis and spatial structure perspectives to explore
as the Hundred-Thousand-Ten Thousand Project, this transformation patterns in traditional clan-based living
initiative provides a framework for revitalization strategies settlements. This approach sought to identify new methods
in Tangwei village. Concurrently, Chinese President Xi for sustaining and revitalizing local traditional settlements.
Jinping’s discourses on the preservation of historical While these studies primarily treat Tangwei village
villages and towns have been prominently featured in as a case study for practical architectural and village

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.5029