Uses of the past: negotiating heritage in Xi’an

Abstract

The recent urban development in Xi’an illustrates how local authorities are rebuilding an imagined and ancient capital of China which is tied to the remote Tang dynasty, a symbol of the glorious Chinese civilization. Based on instrumental uses of the past, the municipal government has implemented heritage plans to create an aesthetically pleasing and economically valuable destination for display and consumption. This study contributes to an understanding of the contested nature of heritage in the rapidly shifting urban landscape of contemporary China. Rather than fully following the official script, participants in the heritage industry have different responses to the changing social and living environment in Xi’an. Despite the nation-state’s overwhelming involvement in people’s daily lives, I suggest that there is still space where individuals may challenge the dominant narrative. While such challenges might not replace the existing official discourse, people adapt, negotiate and contest these heritage discourses and practices to pursue their own interests.

Keywords:

• Uses of the past
• heritage tourism
• urban renewal
• Xi’an
• China

Acknowledgments

The author would like to acknowledge the generous support of Australian National University and Australian Academy of the Humanities. Special thanks to Paula Mota Santos, Michael Herzfeld, Luigi Tomba, Yang Yang, Christina Maags and the two anonymous reviewers for their comments.

Notes

1. Ethnographic fieldwork was conducted in the city of Xi’an in August 2011, July-August 2014 and March 2015. In order to understand the ongoing implementation of the Imperial City Restoration Plan, fieldwork included participant observation while living in the Muslim Quarter and visiting most of the heritage sites, park and museums of Xi’an. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with local authorities, scholars, local residents, business people and domestic tourists. These interviews explore people’s attitudes and motivations of engaging in various heritage practices in Xi’an.

2. China has participated in the World Heritage nomination of Silk Road since late 1980s. Xi’an’s governments have played a leading role in the nomination procedure because they intended to claim the city as the starting point of the Silk Road.

3. Being well versed in Chinese culture and language, these Chinese Muslims are not much distinguishable from the Han except in their practice of Islam.

4. Most residents of the Muslim Quarter are engaged in family businesses. To do so, many residential buildings facing the streets have been transformed into residential-commercial compounds, mainly restaurants and street food.

5. Conversation held on July 2014.

6. Conversation held on August 2014.

7. Conversation held on March 2015.

8. Conservation held on August 2014.

9. See https://english.china.com/special/xian/english/line04.html.