Laura Liu L&S Social Sciences
Rural Tourism through Social Entrepreneurial Projects in China
During my internship in China, I witnessed villages that had declined from populations of 300–400 residents to fewer than 30. Rural areas occupy most of China’s land, yet urban-centered development has left many villages depopulated and economically fragile. My research evaluates tourism as a potential pathway for rural revitalization through the case of Librairie Avant-Garde (LAG) bookstores. In “Building Bookstores in the Countryside”, Qian Xiaohua, founder of LAG, describes how rural bookstores reconnect villages with outside visitors and generate new economic & social activity. Existing research on tourism in rural China largely focuses on large-scale development led by government or heritage recognition. Far fewer studies examine independent, or social entrepreneurial projects that introduce more gradual forms of tourism. My project addresses this gap by asking how such initiatives shape village life. Through interviews in two villages hosting LAG bookstores, I examine how tourism influences daily life, cultural identity, and socioeconomic changes. Through this focus, my research evaluates whether such modest tourism developments can meaningfully support rural revitalization.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much for your generous support of my project this summer! I’m truly grateful and excited about the opportunity to conduct my own research. Your support will enable me to further explore the topic of tourism and rural development in China, and to deepen my understanding of the questions and observations that have been on my mind for years.