Dancing in the Market: Reconfiguring Commerce and Heritage in Lijiang

This chapter asks what it means when a living town is inscribed as a World Heritage Site, when people find themselves on the global stage and are expected to preserve not only the architecture of their town, but also the authenticity of their traditional culture. Provincial and local authorities see Lijiang's heritage status as both an important commercial opportunity and a source of pride, UNESCO officials expect certain standards be upheld, and Naxi inhabitants seek to redefine identities in a globally recognized space. Meanwhile, tourists bring their own expectations. The chapter considers all three inscribed Lijiang spaces, Dayanzhen, Baisha, and Shuhe.