Sustainability and Revitalization: Insights From a Multifaceted Tourist Data Survey of the Grand Canal, Hangzhou, China

ABSTRACT This study aims to identify the barriers to sustainable development in the Grand Canal historic and cultural districts, part of the World Heritage Grand Canal in China, and to advance their urgently needed sustainable revitalization. This study employs a methodologically robust and data triangulation approach, drawing from multifaceted data sources including students' on‐site observations, online reviews, and expert opinions. Through qualitative analysis, this study identified four major barriers to the sustainable development of the Grand Canal: infrastructure, planning and management, integration of culture and tourism, and innovation and digital revitalization. This study proposes a theoretical model for the sustainable development of the Grand Canal historic and cultural districts and offers specific suggestions for their sustainable revitalization. The findings of this paper have profound theoretical and practical implications for the sustainable development of world canals.