Historic towns under pressure : a case study on the influences of development on the indigenous people and their lifestyles : case studies of Lijiang and Shaxi

Abstract

As visiting historic towns and villages has become increasingly popular in China in recent decades, the tourism industry is thriving and leading to rapid development in these historic towns. As a result there is an outflow of indigenous people from these towns and changes in their lifestyles taking place. However, indigenous people and their lifestyles are the most important intangible elements to these historic towns. It is through the people and the ways they interact with the town that the atmosphere and culture of the historic towns can be conveyed. The outflow of indigenous people and changes in their lifestyles have often been described as a “loss of the spirit” of the historic towns, and have put the authenticity of the historic towns in question. Using Lijiang Historic Town and Shaxi Historic Village as case studies, this paper investigates the specific reasons, both external and internal, for the outflow and changes of lifestyles in their indigenous Naxi and Bai population, including their customs and festivals, their community bonding and their way of make a living. Based on this, this paper also discusses whether or not the authenticity of these historic towns is affected. Suggestions are made and inspirations given in ways to retain the indigenous population, not only for the cases of Lijiang and Shaxi, but as well for many of the historic towns in China that are facing, or will be facing, the influence of tourism development.