Tourist Gaze at Chinese Classical Gardens: The Embodiment of Aesthetics (Yijing) in Tourism

Keywords

Aesthetics; artistic conception; Chinese classical gardens; tourist gaze; Yijing

Abstract

Classical gardens offer ample cultural and natural landscapes for visitors to appreciate. Taking the tourist gaze as a theoretical lens, this study assumes a netnographic approach and conducts narrative analysis on travel blogs to explore visitors' experiences at Chinese classical gardens. Findings revealed key domains of the gaze object (i.e., macro-level structural design and micro-level elements) and the way of gaze (i.e., spatial and temporal), which formed the Chinese gaze in the tourism context. Results further showed how gaze contributed to Yijing development, a unique Chinese aesthetic concept. This study enriches the tourism and aesthetics literature by positioning a classical aesthetic concept (Yijing) within a modern tourism practice (gaze). Practical implications for tourism development and destination marketing are provided.

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Original Citation

Zheng, Y., Wei, W., Zhang, L., & Ying, T. (2024). Tourist Gaze at Chinese Classical Gardens: The Embodiment of Aesthetics (Yijing) in Tourism. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 48(2), 353–379. https://doi.org/10.1177/10963480221085958.

Document Type

Paper

Language

English

Source Title

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research

Volume

48

Issue

2

College

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Location

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

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