Abstract Glocalisation represents a dialectical relationship between global and local interactions. Scholars have examined the glocalisation process within tourism, while broader globalisation dates back to 1000 BC and shows distinct characteristics across various phases. This article explores the dynamic evolutionary logic of the glocalisation process in the Lushan Mountain Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated as a Cultural Landscape. Using primary data from three field surveys and semi-structured interviews, along with secondary sources like local chronicles and documentary footage, this study employs Roland Robertson’s theory of glocalisation. It identifies four phases of Lushan Mountain’s glocalisation evolution: Formation (pre-late 15th century), Development (late 15th century to 1660 s), Transformation (1660 s to late 1940s), and Regeneration (late 1940s to present). Each phase aligns with different globalisation eras—classical, maritime, industrial, and information—showing unique characteristics. Three structural drivers underpin Lushan Mountain’s evolution: cultural reconstruction, power negotiation, and state-led brand shaping. This research enhances the explanatory power of glocalisation theory within regional tourism studies, challenging Eurocentric biases by recognising globalisation as a multi-directional process. It highlights that transformations in local cultures, especially in the Global South, arise from the selective acceptance, rejection, or reshaping of global influences, underscoring the strength of local cultural autonomy. Through the Lushan Mountain case, the study offers a more nuanced understanding of glocalisation, incorporating non-Western perspectives into the broader discourse.
Xu et al. (Wed,) studied this question.