The value enhancement and risks of heritage utilization: case studies of cultural tourism and the conservation of the ancient waterfront towns in China

The main goal of current heritage utilization in China is to develop tourism. However, built heritage faced numerous risks in the process of tourism development in China. The main risks brought by tourism is the loss of local characteristics led by excessive commercialization, as well as the issue of authenticity in architectural conservation. Thus, the utilization of built heritage should be based on a more comprehensive knowledge of tourism risks. The assessment and mitigation of tourism risk in architectural heritage should be considered a priority. This study investigates good practices of four ancient waterfron t towns, including Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Wuzhen, Xitang, to analyze the models and methods for heritage value enhancement, as well as to comprehensively assess the risks brought by tourism. Regarding heritage utilization as a resource for cultural tourism, the purpose is to find an equilibrium between the risk brought by the developing cultural tourism and heritage utilization, so as to explore more adequate strategies and appropriate guidelines for heritage conservation to mitigate the risk, and to enhance cultural and historical values in the process of cultural tourism.