Cultural route perspective: heritage tourism value evaluation and route optimization of the Silk Road (Shaanxi section)

Abstract

Spanning millennia, the Silk Road connected Eastern and Western civilizations. Xi’an served as its eastern terminus, while the Shaanxi province segment stands as the core protection zone for the route. Existing research often focuses on isolated heritage sites, neglecting their historical links to the route and undermining its cultural integrity. From the perspective of cultural routes, the study identifies 82 potential heritage sites and establishes a three-tier evaluation system. The tourism value of each heritage resource is quantified through an analytical model incorporating historical significance, route connectivity, and visitor experience metrics. Through quantitative analysis, we assess their tourism value and optimize routes to enhance visitor experiences, strengthen cultural coherence, and offer a model for global cultural route tourism planning.