Preserving Cultural Traditions in Landscape Design: Authenticity and Development Strategies

The purpose of this article is to study the authenticity of Chinese cultural landscapes using the examples of Slender West Lake Gardens and the Lijiang River Scenic Zone and to develop strategies for their conservation. For this, historical documentary evidence was analyzed. Visual observations were carried out, and modern evidence of the state of landscapes was collected. Different groups of visitors were interviewed about their perception of the authenticity of cultural landscapes, satisfaction with the visit, and the quality of the experience. For statistical processing of the survey results, dispersion and correlation analyses of data were used. The frequency of previous visits to the sites and participants’ level of awareness regarding the cultural and historical significance of these sites prior to participating in the survey were included as covariates in the statistical analysis. Statistically significant differences in the context of the perception of the authenticity of Chinese cultural landscapes were observed among different participant groups concerning the variables of Satisfaction and Quality of Experience. Specifically, tourists and landscape designers reported significantly higher ratings of Satisfaction and Quality of Experience compared with historians, whereas tourism managers exhibited intermediate results. Based on the data obtained and previously published literature, a three-component traditional landscape model of sustainable development and prosperity was proposed. Based on the observed relationships, planners, policymakers, landscape designers, and tourism managers who strive to provide a quality experience for visitors should pay attention to the objective and existential components of perceived authenticity. This study makes a significant contribution to the understanding of authenticity as a multidimensional construct within the context of cultural heritage, highlighting differences in the perceptions of authenticity between professional and nonprofessional visitors. The developed three-component model of sustainable development and the flourishing of traditional cultural landscapes provide practical recommendations for enhancing tourist experience at cultural heritage sites. This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the differing perceptions of authenticity and experience quality between professional and nonprofessional visitors and by proposing a three-component sustainability model applicable to cultural landscape management. These findings support planners, designers, and tourism managers in tailoring interpretation strategies and experience design to diverse visitor groups.