Research on Sustainable Protection and Inheritance of Overseas Chinese Hometown Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Xiangshan Ancient City

Abstract

Due to its unique nature, the protection and utilization of overseas Chinese hometown cultural heritage face many practical challenges and ongoing debates. In the past, the protection of overseas Chinese hometown cultural heritage primarily focused on the material aspect and achieved significant short-term results, but it was not sustainable in the long run. Building upon the shortcomings of three previous approaches, a transformation is proposed towards a sustainable mode. Using Xiangshan Ancient City as a case study, this research analyses the sustainable potential and impact of overseas Chinese hometown cultural heritage from both the supply and demand sides. It considers both material and social aspects, covering three dimensions: people, objects, and events. Subsequently, sustainable protection and inheritance strategies are proposed, including 5 aspects. Keywords: sustainability; overseas Chinese hometown cultural heritage; protection and inheritance; Xiangshan Ancient City