Transformation of the Structural Functionalism of Cultural Heritage and the Sustainable Development of Historic and Cultural Cities

Authors

Jijiao Zhang, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, ChinaFollow
Yue Wu, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, ChinaFollow

Abstract

The traditional culture of cities has to be innovatively adapted to respond to the increasingly demanding needs of the modern world in order that its inherent value may function as a resource. The state-designated historic and cultural cities of China have a rich heritage which, if readapted appropriately in the modern context, may be exploited to promote the sustainable and endogenous development of these cities. By taking the flower fairs of the three historic and cultural cities of Guangzhou, Zhongshan and Luoyang as examples, this paper analyses the role of cultural heritage in urban socio-economic development from the perspective of neo-classical “structural functionalism.” The study demonstrates that innovative and high-quality adaptations of the traditional culture of Chinese cities can bring about a trajectory of tradition-modernity transformation of urban centres in a sustainable manner.

Recommended Citation

Zhang, Jijiao and Wu, Yue (2020) "Transformation of the Structural Functionalism of Cultural Heritage and the Sustainable Development of Historic and Cultural Cities," Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies: Vol. 9: No. 2, Article 4.
Available at: https://mjcs.newera.edu.my/journal/vol9/iss2/4