Spatial evolution and influence mechanism of tourism in historic quarters from the postmodern consumption perspective: a case study of Pingjiang road and Shantang Street, Suzhou, China

ABSTRACT

This paper compares the evolution of tourism space on Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street in China from the postmodern consumption perspective. It explains the inner logic of evolution with space production theory. Findings show that two historic quarters have been influenced by postmodern consumption in varying degrees. Pingjiang Road presented consumer culture and de-consumption culture simultaneously. While Shantang street showed the gradual increase of postmodern consumption's control over its tourism space. Capital, power, and subjects are crucial factors facilitating tourism spaces' evolution. Besides, evolutions can be illustrated by the triadic framework, representation of space, spatial practice, and space of representation.

KEYWORDS:

• Historic quarters
• space production
• postmodern consumption
• tourism space evolution
• influence mechanism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 41930644].