From Heritage to Resource: Study on the Tourism Functions of Lingqu Canal Project in China

Abstract

Lingqu Canal Project, constructed during the reign of Emperor Shihuang of Qin, remains well-preserved  to this day and has now become one of the most important cultural heritages in contemporary times. Unlike  other cultural heritages that are in urgent need of protection, it sustains considerable vitality in  contemporary society. In this paper, field investigation and literature analysis methods are adopted to study  Lingqu Canal Project. The research has found that it is no accident that Lingqu Canal Project has endured  for millennia. Throughout its historical development spanning over 2,000 years, the project has gradually  evolved beyond its original function of military shipping. Additional functions have derived, such as civil  transportation, tourism, farmland irrigation, and urban water supply and drainage. Today, it has further  become a renowned tourist attraction, thus keeping its vitality consistently. From the perspective of the  "Heritage to Resource" concept, this paper explores the mechanisms and paths through which Lingqu  Canal Project has transformed from a "heritage" in the previous historical period to a "resource" in the  modern new era. This case provides a typical example for the research on the resource rendition of domestic  cultural projects and confirms the possibility that a cultural heritage can activate its elements to regain  vitality in modern society.