Revitalizing Overseas Chinese Villages: Exploring the Role of Overseas Chinese Architectural Heritage as Tourist Attractions—Characteristics and Challenges—An Empirical Study of Five Villages in Taishan, Guangdong Province Based on the Actor-Network

The revitalization of Overseas Chinese villages in China is closely tied to the preservation and utilization of their architectural heritage, which serves as a crucial tourist attraction. However, existing research has inadequately explored the multifaceted role that Overseas Chinese architectural heritage plays in the rejuvenation of these communities. Based on a comprehensive 45-day field investigation across 20 Overseas Chinese villages, this study methodically selected five representative villages in Taishan City, Guangdong Province, and classified them into three categories based on the impetus of human engagement: self-organized, dual-drive, and multi-linkage. Using the actor-network theory as a framework, this study yielded the following findings: (1) The three types of Overseas Chinese villages exhibit distinct characteristics in the production and key actors associated with Overseas Chinese heritage. First, in the self-organized villages, the living and symbolic overseas Chinese property is the primary attraction of discrete tourism, and the revitalization efforts cater to the life and emotional sustenance of villagers and Overseas Chinese community. Key actors include villagers, Overseas Chinese, and the Overseas Chinese Federation, which plays an important role in coordinating efforts both locally and abroad. Second, in the dual-drive villages, Overseas Chinese heritage is leveraged by local governments as part of demonstration projects. The village committees actively cooperate to promote these villages as model tourism destinations, creating brand identity for government efforts. Village committees and the government are the key actors in this type of Overseas Chinese village. Third, in the multi-linkage villages, the productive and profitable overseas Chinese products, developed and operated as mass tourist attractions, drive economic growth for various stakeholders. Enterprises and their operators play a key role here, managing and capitalizing on these economic opportunities, ensuring that the development of the village meets the evolving demand for economic benefits. (2) The difficulties faced by self-organized, dual-drive, and multi-linked Overseas Chinese villages are "the struggle for the right to speak in construction," "the diaspora of Overseas Chinese property ownership," and "the conflict over Overseas Chinese property income rights," respectively. A critical factor in the revitalization process is the role Overseas Chinese brokers, particularly in dual-drive multi-linkage villages. These brokers bridge the gap between various stakeholders, including the government, entrepreneurs, villagers, experts and scholars, Overseas Chinese relatives, overseas Chinese families, and the complex of the multiple identities above. The article points out to the importance of paying attention to the development and utilization chain of Overseas Chinese resources, which is "Overseas Chinese-Overseas Chinese property brokers-actual users of Overseas Chinese houses." Future research should focus on evolving the role of Overseas Chinese heritage as a discrete tourist attraction, the needs of Overseas Chinese people as tourists, and the dynamics of power conflicts related to property rights in Overseas Chinese houses.