Under the Snow Mountain

Development of a Sustainable Tourism Model

Under the Snow Mountain

• Sustainable Tourism Defined

• Lijiang’s Old Town

• Naxi Culture and History

• Presenting/Representing Naxi Culture

• Eco-tourism, Ethno-tourism and the Environment

Sustainable Tourism

• Definition: low impact, income and employment generation, conservation

• UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Risk and Reward with UNESCO designation

• LEAP (Local Effort And Preservation)

Sustainable Tourism

• Trend in consumers selecting environmentally and culturally sensitive travel

• Tourism offers unparalleled opportunities for the economic development of local communities living in or near heritage sites

• …and in China

Lijiang, Yunnan

Location, Location, Location

• Yunnan: South of the Clouds

• International borders• Multi-Cultural history• Crossroads

(Trade and WWII)• Environmental factors• 1996 Earthquake• 1998 and 2003

UNESCO designation

Gucheng, Old Town• Venice of the East• Traditional Architecture• Limited Infrastructure• Living vs. Created Atmosphere• Public vs. Private Space

Venice of the East• Traditional water systems• Unique architecture• Historic importance• Cultural Crossroads

Traditional Architecture• Earthquake “proof”• Building

requirements• Space restrictions

• Re-creation of the Mu Family Palace

Limited Infrastructure

• Public bathrooms• Water supply• Power lines and

other visual “pollution”

• Increased population with tourists

Living vs. Created Culture• Daily use vs.

tourism• Dancing in the

public square• Photographs

• Stores and restaurants for tourists vs. living space for residents

Public vs. Private Space• Personal history• Laws and regulations• Cost

Naxi Culture• Tibetan-Burmese Language• Women’s Dress• Food• Cultural traditions• Language• Song and dance

Naxi Culture• Women’s Dress• Traditional vs.

tourist style• Selling clothes• Fashion vs. identity• Claimed to be a

Matrilineal culture

Dongba Culture• Dongba Pictographs• “Living” pictographic language• Ritual and religious use• Role of Dongba

Environment• Three Rivers

area: the Yangzi, Mekong and Salween

• UNESCO 2003• Tourism:

Tiger Leaping Gorge

• Naxi Myth

Environment• Hydro-power and mining pressure• Earthquake risk• Elevation

Environment

• Urban vs. Rural• Power and development• Roads• Negative impact of regulations

Next Steps

• Practical training in heritage preservation and management

• Community participation in heritage preservation

• Tourism as a tool for the preservation and enhancement of physical and intangible heritage

• Sustainable conservancy while promoting tourism

Under the Snow Mountain

Development of a Sustainable Tourism Model