“Saving” Lizhuang: Local preservation and resistance in a historical Sichuan town under tourism development

In recent years, the relationship between tourism and locality has garnered significant scholarly attention; however, few studies have analyzed a single tourist destination by integrating multiple locality-related concepts. This article examines the historical town of Lizhuang, Sichuan, China, as a case study, employing a research methodology that combines in-depth interviews and virtual ethnography. The concepts of “locality,” “placelessness,” and “relocalization” are utilized to elucidate how Lizhuang retains its sense of locality amid tourism development. In addition, the current study analyzes the strategies implemented in Lizhuang to preserve its locality and counteract the forces of placelessness and relocalization resulting from tourism expansion. The findings indicate that capital authority, local culture excavation, and the role of daily life form a three-pronged structure shaping Lizhuang’s locality in the context of tourism. Furthermore, architectural homogenization, inauthentic attitudes, mass media influences, and the role of community education and atmosphere are identified as key factors contributing to placelessness in Lizhuang. Finally, the study discusses the current relocalization measures undertaken by Lizhuang’s local authorities. This article contributes to the theoretical discourse on localization in tourism studies in historical towns and enriches empirical research by providing insights from the case of Lizhuang’s historical town. The findings offer valuable local experiences for guiding localization efforts in tourism development within historical towns.