Tourism, heritage, and sacred space: Wutai Shan, China

Abstract

This paper analyzes the development of a Buddhist pilgrimage destination, Wutai Shan, China, as both a world heritage site and a tourist destination. We examine the impact this process has had on local residents and the types of visitors world heritage status attracts. This research points to two findings: (1) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization world heritage status can lead to spatial conflicts in societies in which the separation of cultural sites, commercial activity, and local life are not part of the social landscape and (2) the majority of visitors to this site are domestic tourists with religious intentions.