Vernacular house as an attraction: illustration from hutong tourism in Beijing

Abstract

This paper discusses the recent experiences of vernacular house tourism in China, based on a case study of hutong tourism in Beijing. It is argued that the vernacular house could be an important cultural resource for tourism development. The theoretical implications of vernacular house tourism are examined. It is suggested that vernacular house tourism helps to communicate local cultural identity to visitors, to reduce the negative impact of modernization upon local traditions and traditional styles of houses, and to satisfy tourists' demands for greater authenticity. However, vernacular house tourism is a highly fragile type of tourism. If it is to be sustained, sound and careful planning and management is needed.