IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i10p4292-d1652011.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Urban Revitalization of World Heritage Cities Through Cultural and Creative Industries: A Case Study of Pingyao Under the Cities, Culture, and Creativity Framework

Author

Listed:
  • Li Zhao

    (Department of Performing Arts and Culture, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si 14662, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea)

  • Eunhye Kim

    (Department of Performing Arts and Culture, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si 14662, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

World Heritage plays a vital role in promoting sustainable urban development. Cultural and creative industries (CCIs) have gained recognition as an effective instrument for urban revitalization in recent years. The Cities, Culture, and Creativity (CCC) framework introduced by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Bank emphasizes the core role of culture and creativity in enhancing urban competitiveness, attractiveness, and sustainability. Based on that framework, this study takes Pingyao as a case study, using a literature review and non-participatory observation, systematically examines its assets and resources, assesses the outcomes at the spatial, economic, and social levels, and explores how CCIs, with the support of enabling factors, contribute to urban revitalization. The findings indicate that Pingyao, relying on its historical and cultural heritage, promotes the development of CCIs, resulting in significant spatial optimization, economic growth, and social benefits, while also shaping unique cultural brands. This study verifies the applicability of the CCC framework in analyzing the urban revitalization mechanism, further reveals the role of CCIs in the revitalization of World Heritage cities, enriches the urban regeneration theory, and offers theoretical and practical reference for the revitalization and sustainable development of other World Heritage cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Li Zhao & Eunhye Kim, 2025. "Urban Revitalization of World Heritage Cities Through Cultural and Creative Industries: A Case Study of Pingyao Under the Cities, Culture, and Creativity Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-26, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4292-:d:1652011
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/10/4292/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/10/4292/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christer Gustafsson & Elisabetta Lazzaro, 2021. "The Innovative Response of Cultural and Creative Industries to Major European Societal Challenges: Toward a Knowledge and Competence Base," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-20, November.
    2. Quang Hai Nguyen, 2021. "Impact of Investment in Tourism Infrastructure Development on Attracting International Visitors: A Nonlinear Panel ARDL Approach Using Vietnam’s Data," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Monika Klein & Monika Spychalska-Wojtkiewicz, 2020. "Cross-Sector Partnerships for Innovation and Growth: Can Creative Industries Support Traditional Sector Innovations?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-19, December.
    4. Marko Nikolić & Boško Drobnjak & Irena Kuletin Ćulafić, 2020. "The Possibilities of Preservation, Regeneration and Presentation of Industrial Heritage: The Case of Old Mint “A.D.” on Belgrade Riverfront," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-36, June.
    5. Silvia Cerisola & Elisa Panzera, 2021. "Cultural and Creative Cities and Regional Economic Efficiency: Context Conditions as Catalyzers of Cultural Vibrancy and Creative Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-23, June.
    6. Jason Potts, 2011. "Creative Industries and Economic Evolution," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12977, December.
    7. Rianne Van Melik & Philip Lawton, 2011. "The Role of Public Space in Urban Renewal Strategies in Rotterdam and Dublin," Planning Practice & Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(5), pages 513-530.
    8. Jan Fazlagić & Elżbieta Izabela Szczepankiewicz, 2020. "The Role of Local Governments in Supporting Creative Industries—A Conceptual Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Christopher Meyer & Laima Gerlitz & Monika Klein, 2022. "Creativity as a Key Constituent for Smart Specialization Strategies (S3), What Is in It for Peripheral Regions? Co-creating Sustainable and Resilient Tourism with Cultural and Creative Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-31, March.
    2. Francesca Nocca & Martina Bosone & Manuel Orabona, 2024. "Multicriteria Evaluation Framework for Industrial Heritage Adaptive Reuse: The Role of the ‘Intrinsic Value’," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-26, August.
    3. Olasunmbo Adhuze & Adebayo Adewole & Olawale Adeaga, 2023. "Infrastructure as Drivers for Economic Growth: A Way to advancing Tourism," International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science, International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science (IJLTEMAS), vol. 12(09), pages 86-93, September.
    4. Bertschek, Irene & Ohnemus, Jörg & Erdsiek, Daniel & Rammer, Christian & Andres, Raphaela & Kimpeler, Simone, 2019. "Monitoringbericht Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft 2018," ZEW Expertises, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, number 203157.
    5. Abdullah Uslu & Emrullah Erul & José António C. Santos & Sanja Obradović & Margarida Custódio Santos, 2023. "Determinants of Residents’ Support for Sustainable Tourism Development: An Empirical Study in Midyat, Turkey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-14, June.
    6. Buscema, Massimo & Ferilli, Guido & Gustafsson, Christer & Massini, Giulia & Sacco, Pier Luigi, 2022. "A nonlinear, data-driven, ANNs-based approach to culture-led development policies in rural areas: The case of Gjakove and Peć districts, Western Kosovo," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    7. Jason Potts, 2017. "Institutions hold consumption on a leash: an evolutionary economic approach to the future of consumption," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 239-250, April.
    8. Oco, D.M.C. & Delos Reyes, J.A. & Sevilla-Nastor, J.B. & Roquiño, E.F., 2024. "Valuation of Reef Tourism: A Preliminary Review and Lessons Learned for a Study in the Philippines," ASEAN University for Sustainable Food System, Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand, April 18-19, 2024 344443, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
    9. Marcos Valdivia López, 2015. "Creation and Diffusion of Knowledge across Creative Industries in Metropolitan Areas: the cases of Mexico and Spain," Working Papers 08/15, Instituto Universitario de Análisis Económico y Social.
    10. Monika Klein & Laima Gerlitz, 2021. "Creative Industries in a Pandemic: Cross Sectoral Innovation," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 2), pages 758-766.
    11. Valentina Montalto & Pier Luigi Sacco & Michaela Saisana, 2022. "Cultural, Creative, and Sustainable Cities: Assessing Progress and Measurement Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-7, April.
    12. Kabanda,Patrick, 2016. "Creative trade for human development," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7684, The World Bank.
    13. Homero Rodríguez-Insuasti & Néstor Montalván-Burbano & Otto Suárez-Rodríguez & Marcela Yonfá-Medranda & Katherine Parrales-Guerrero, 2022. "Creative Economy: A Worldwide Research in Business, Management and Accounting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-27, November.
    14. Wu, Yuanyuan & Wu, Shikui, 2016. "Managing ambidexterity in creative industries: A survey," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 2388-2396.
    15. repec:osf:socarx:h5nq4_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Man Wei & Tai Huang, 2025. "Impact of High Temperatures on Tourist Flows in Urban and Rural Areas: Climate Adaptation Strategies in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-22, April.
    17. Krisiukėnienė Deimantė & Pilinkienė Vaida, 2020. "Export Competitiveness Analysis of Creative Industries in the European Union," Economics and Culture, Sciendo, vol. 17(1), pages 28-37, June.
    18. Juchniewicz Małgorzata & Łada Magdalena, 2022. "Competitive potential vs. the competitive position of the high-tech sector in European Union countries," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 58(4), pages 371-380, December.
    19. Nurlykhan Aljanova & Emina Yessekeyeva & Yerkinay Ernst, 2023. "A Process Model of Combining Life Trauma and Life Passion into Cultural Entrepreneurship: A Case Study of Art-Shelter Bunker Theatre," South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases, , vol. 12(2), pages 152-165, August.
    20. Terry Flew & Adam Swift, 2013. "Cultural policy," Chapters, in: Ruth Towse & Christian Handke (ed.), Handbook on the Digital Creative Economy, chapter 14, pages 155-161, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    21. Hongjia Liu & Yongheng Fang & Jiamin Liu & Yaqian Chen, 2023. "The Interaction of Cultural and Creative Industries Clusters and Regional Economic Resilience from the Perspective of Spatial Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4292-:d:1652011. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.