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| CULTURAL ROUTES: THEORETICAL EVOLUTION, CONTENT SYSTEM AND RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE |
| WANG Li-ping |
| The Tourism Department of Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China |
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Abstract Cultural Routes was the most important concept in the conservation of world heritage in recent years. The concept of Cultural Routes provided a new idea and a new method for world heritage conservation in theoretical and practical aspects. Under the mutual efforts of the institution of ICOMOS and world heritage experts, the theory of Cultural Routes formed a complete theoretical system with distinct definition and rich nature on the basis of nine international seminars about Cultural Routes, and the evolutionary process revealed the evolution features of the theory. The concept of Cultural Routes was put forward to satisfy the need of conserving large-scale heritage in line-shape and the need of reaffirming and respecting what is particular to each culture in world heritage field. After penetrating analysis and interpretation of the "2008 The ICOMOS Charter on Cultural Routes" ratified by the 16th General Assembly of ICOMOS, the article introduced the key points to understand the Cultural Routes and its types, specific identification.The article discussed the theoretical and practical significance of the Cultural Routes. In theoretical aspects, Cultural Routes is innovative, complex and multidimensional in nature and has become an essential tool for understanding cultural relationships and exchanges between two or more groups linked by an intentionally-established historic route. As a combination of history and geography, the Cultural Routes can explain the culture spread and unity along the route. In practical aspects, the article pointed out our country should use the Cultural Routes theory for re-constructing heritage conservation system, multiple-culture protection, protection and usage of heritage tourism resources, promoting the communication and links between different nationalities throughout the world.
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Received: 10 September 2010
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2011, Vol. 26 
