Cultural reinvention or cultural erasure? A study on rural gentrification, land leasing, and cultural change

Abstract

Gentrification has become a major force in shaping rural China, but less understood is why the processes and outcomes of gentrification vary so much from village to village. There is a growing academic interest in rural gentrification, but most of this research treats land primarily as an economic variable, while the cultural aspect of rural gentrification has also not been fully discussed. Based on a comparative study of tourism-led rural gentrification and charity-led rural gentrification, this paper explores the interrelationships among rural gentrification, land leasing and cultural change. It finds that during the process of gentrification, both villages undergo cultural changes characterised by aestheticisation, commercialisation and segregation. However, while Bei Village experiences disconnection from the land and cultural erasure due to tourism-led gentrification driven by private interests, Nan Village benefits from reconnection with the land and cultural reinvention supported by charity-led gentrification with a focus on the public good. The differences between the two villages are closely linked to the drivers of gentrification, cultural attitudes, spatial rent gap, and the different roles of local government. This study highlights the need to carefully examine the primary drivers of gentrification in different rural areas, while recognising land as a crucial cultural element beyond its economic, property and livelihood aspects.