ABSTRACT
This chapter reviewed previous scholars’ research of Xidi and Hongcun after the World Heritage designation, in which they clearly identified that World Heritage designation brought dramatic increasing of tourism development in both villages. In contrast to the earlier research that focussed on the economic benefits or the negative effects of tourism in Xidi and Hongcun, my interviews with domestic tourists in those two villages shows the majority of tourists have agency and they actively engaged in social and cultural work. A key issue that the interviews with tourists illustrated is that the cultural moments created by tourists are multi-dimensional. A large number of tourists are engaged in the recognition of the culture and history of the two villages or Anhui province, performing their own identity or memory work and engaging in building social connections.
