The urbanized and gentrified countryside: commercializing residential dwellings for tourism purposes in southwest China

With the expansion of tourism sector, many residential properties across the globe have been converted for tourist consumption. This paper, through a case study on Longkan Village in southwest China, unfolds the tensions and... [ view full abstract ]

With the expansion of tourism sector, many residential properties across the globe have been converted for tourist consumption. This paper, through a case study on Longkan Village in southwest China, unfolds the tensions and negotiations involved in the processes of commercialization and gentrification. Characterized by Bai culture and its proximity to Erhai Lake (a tourist attraction), Longkan Village has attracted non-local entrepreneurs to initiate tourism-related businesses. They rent houses (or lands) from local villagers and convert them into hostels, cafes, bars, or restaurants. It is worth noting that local villagers are not being displaced or passively exploited; instead, they appear to be quick learners and strategic decision makers who either negotiate rents with tenants or start their own businesses. In discussing the various ways in which local villagers adapt and make profits from their dwellings, this paper highlights that particular culture and activities have been retained among villagers, no matter how urbanized the built environment has become. Moreover, the inequalities and blurred boundaries between city and countryside that arise from house commercialization are also examined in this paper. Overall, this paper adds nuances and complexities to the debates on China’s urbanization and rural gentrification, as well as the impacts of tourism on local communities.