Article: A cross-cultural analysis of hutong tourism at Nanluoguxiang, Beijing, China: comparison between Beijing, other Chinese and international visitors Journal: International Journal of Tourism Anthropology (IJTA) 2019 Vol.7 No.2 pp.89 - 114 Abstract: Hutongs, a representative street layout with traditional houses of ordinary Beijing residents, have increasingly used as cultural tourism attractions. The role of cultural distance in co-creating such heritage experience for tourists from different backgrounds is important. Taking a cross-cultural perspective, this study compares use patterns, motivations, perceptions and evaluations of Beijing, other domestic and international visitors at Nanluoguxiang hutong tourism site in Beijing through onsite questionnaire surveys. Research indicates that most visitors are young and well educated. Perceptions of the authenticity of the experience decreases and recognition of Nanluoguxiang's representation of Beijing character increases with cultural distance. Activities, such as visiting hutong and interacting with hutong residents, have a stronger influence on perceptions and evaluations of tourists with a greater cultural distance from the host culture. Results support the important role that cultural distance plays in shaping visitor perceptions and evaluations of heritage tourism sites. Practical implications are discussed to inform planning and management of hutong tourism in Beijing. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: A cross-cultural analysis of hutong tourism at Nanluoguxiang, Beijing, China: comparison between Beijing, other Chinese and international visitors

Authors: Ming Ming Su; Geoffrey Wall

Addresses: School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, 59 ZhongGuanCun Dajie, Haidian District, 100872 Beijing, China ' Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada

Abstract: Hutongs, a representative street layout with traditional houses of ordinary Beijing residents, have increasingly used as cultural tourism attractions. The role of cultural distance in co-creating such heritage experience for tourists from different backgrounds is important. Taking a cross-cultural perspective, this study compares use patterns, motivations, perceptions and evaluations of Beijing, other domestic and international visitors at Nanluoguxiang hutong tourism site in Beijing through onsite questionnaire surveys. Research indicates that most visitors are young and well educated. Perceptions of the authenticity of the experience decreases and recognition of Nanluoguxiang's representation of Beijing character increases with cultural distance. Activities, such as visiting hutong and interacting with hutong residents, have a stronger influence on perceptions and evaluations of tourists with a greater cultural distance from the host culture. Results support the important role that cultural distance plays in shaping visitor perceptions and evaluations of heritage tourism sites. Practical implications are discussed to inform planning and management of hutong tourism in Beijing.

Keywords: hutong tourism; visitor; cultural distance; Nanluoguxiang; China.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTA.2019.101231

International Journal of Tourism Anthropology, 2019 Vol.7 No.2, pp.89 - 114

Received: 29 Mar 2018
Accepted: 12 Sep 2018
Published online: 29 Jul 2019 *

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Title: A cross-cultural analysis of hutong tourism at Nanluoguxiang, Beijing, China: comparison between Beijing, other Chinese and international visitors

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