Disjunction Between Official Narrative and Digital Gaze: The Evolution of Sense of Place in Kulangsu World Heritage Site

Hanbin Wei, Wanjia Zhang, Xiaolei Sang, Mengru Zhou () and Sunju Kang ()
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Hanbin Wei: School of Architecture, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
Wanjia Zhang: School of Architecture, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
Xiaolei Sang: School of Architecture, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
Mengru Zhou: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, China
Sunju Kang: Department of Architecture, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-26

Abstract: The rise of digital platforms has transformed heritage interpretation from a single official narrative to multi-stakeholder participation. This study investigates how such platforms mediate the formation of a sense of place at the Kulangsu World Heritage Site (WHS). Data were collected from official narrative texts and user-generated content (UGC) on Dianping and Ctrip, and analyzed using high-frequency word statistics and semantic network analysis. The results reveal a clear divergence between official narratives, which emphasize Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), and tourist perceptions, which focus on visual landmarks and “check-in” practices shaped by the “digital gaze.” Moreover, the sense of place is shown to be a dynamic process, co-constructed through pre-visit expectations, on-site experiences, and post-visit reflections. The findings also highlight a transformation in tourists’ roles, shifting from passive cultural consumers to active participants in the co-construction of heritage values, with digital platforms serving as critical mediators. Theoretically, the study advances digital heritage scholarship by clarifying the mechanism of the digital gaze and the dynamic nature of sense of place. Practically, it underscores the importance of integrating official narratives with UGC to strengthen OUV communication, foster broader public engagement, and support the sustainable development of WHSs.

Keywords: digital gaze; official narrative; sense of place; World Heritage Site; user-generated content (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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