Unpacking the Dynamics of Heritage-Led Regeneration: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach for Traditional Villages of Hebei, China

Yang Yang, Nur Farhana Azmi (), Hazwan Ariff Hakimi and Liyue Pan
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Yang Yang: Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Nur Farhana Azmi: Department of Building Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Hazwan Ariff Hakimi: Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Liyue Pan: Faculty of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang 11700, Malaysia

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-25

Abstract: Unlike widely examined urban settings, heritage-led rural regeneration remains an urgent yet insufficiently explored challenge. Grounded in stimulus–response theory, this study examines how heritage capacity influences the regeneration of traditional villages in Hebei Province, China. Drawing on community-building theory, heritage capacity (stimulus) is conceptualized through five dimensions: Public Participation, Media Platform Construction, Adaptive Reuse, Heritage Industry Development, and Landscape Maintenance. Village regeneration (response) is evaluated across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Using PLS-SEM analysis of questionnaire data and expert consultations, the study shows that regeneration outcomes arise from an integrated system in which tangible and intangible capacities reinforce each other. It further highlights that the most effective strategy combines priority investment with strategic repositioning. For economic sustainability, Adaptive Reuse and Media Platform Construction serve as immediate drivers, while Heritage Industry Development and Landscape Maintenance provide long-term foundations. For social sustainability, Public Participation and Media Platform Construction act as key enablers by strengthening social connections. For environmental sustainability, Adaptive Reuse offers the most direct benefits, whereas Landscape Maintenance and Public Participation contribute gradual but essential outcomes. This study offers practical guidance for the regeneration of Hebei’s villages, proposing a scalable model for sustainable rural development that has broad implications for similar historical regions worldwide.

Keywords: heritage-led regeneration; traditional village; sustainable development; Hebei Province; China; stimulus–response theory; SEM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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